I've realized I should get at a new post over the past several days, but am keeping busy enough that's it's hard to find the time. I have several glass projects that must get finished prior to garden season and this eats up a lot of my days and evenings. I love glass work but it can be quite slow going and involved so I have a great many hours of work before me.
At any rate, for a lack of a new idea this evening, I've decided to post some photos from last season that are mostly new to the blog unless you've seen them on Facebook. I try to publish a photo or two there most days. I have some friends that I know appreciate seeing images of warmer weather… hopefully this brings them a bit of joy in this cold winter we're experiencing.
Speaking of cold… the photo above was from April 10th 2013 as are the ones below. Give me what we are experiencing now any day over an ice storm…
Thankfully it wasn't long and by April 22 spring had definitely sprung, starting with croci, chionodoxa, and other minor bulbs throughout the gardens…
Pictured below behind the croci is Picea abies 'Hillside upright'. I really like the form of this plant which may eventually reach 10-20 feet in height and 4-8 feet in width. It has all the qualities of a great piece of sculpture and not unlike bronze pieces in the garden, it's pretty hardy as well!
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Below are two photos of hellebores that explain why allowing them to go to seed can be a concern. The first is a clone and pretty nice to look at when in bloom… the second is a random cross with the clone and not nearly as nice… perhaps a move to the garden fringes would be ok but it definitely doesn't belong where it and its band of cronies can take over nicer cultivars.
How often do you stop to look at the form of your trees? There are many deciduous trees available that are as delightful (or even more) so out of foliage as in full leaf. I'd say the European beeches rank high on this list… the tree below is Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain', an amazing weeper. I especially enjoy it in this season just as the buds are plumping up…
I'll close for today with a photo of 'Ivory Prince' hellebore… more and more hellebores are being bred for up-facing blooms. Now that's not especially good for keeping rain away from their pollen… after all, there is a reason their blooms point towards the ground… but they sure are easier to photograph and enjoy when that's not the case… Also, don't forget to trim back the old foliage as soon as the weather allows for it, and a good tablespoon of Osmocote timed released fertilizer in April is a wise investment in the health and beauty of each of your plants.
One other thing… we're having lots less bunny traffic in the gardens this season and I am convinced part of the reason has to do with a pile of arborvitae branches and logs that I piled behind the gardens. They are meant to be used in new arbors I'm planning on constructing. I didn't get around to removing all the foliage from them last fall and I'm convinced they are providing shelter and food to the rabbits, keeping them away from the plants in the gardens to a greater extent than normal. I may make this a tradition….
With that, I'll close. I am hoping to publish shorter posts more frequently for the next couple months… we'll see!
Larry
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