I suppose I should be careful with this post. Be sensitive to all of you who are buried in snow up to your eyeballs right now as the grip of winter obstinately flaunts its white knuckles. I probably shouldn't mention the Daphne odora or the Wintersweet or the Snowdrops. There is even an early daffodil variety that is... oops. I got carried away there for a second.
Kudos to all of you who shared photos of the garden show in Seattle. That moss recliner had me drooling as the idealistic side of my brain incessantly roared its, "How can I do that in my garden?" mantra. Any of you got one of those? It's kind of annoying actually, always getting me to do things that cost too much money, time and stress. I tell it to go away but it always returns with a vengeance when I look at you all's cool photos!!
Kudos to all of you who shared photos of the garden show in Seattle. That moss recliner had me drooling as the idealistic side of my brain incessantly roared its, "How can I do that in my garden?" mantra. Any of you got one of those? It's kind of annoying actually, always getting me to do things that cost too much money, time and stress. I tell it to go away but it always returns with a vengeance when I look at you all's cool photos!!
This is Hydrangea 'Buttons & Bows' from last summer. "Shade!" it kept screaming. Predisposed with louder tasks, I didn't quite get its SOS until one noonday-scorcher too many. The dang thing is in a container, on wheels, for gosh sakes. How hard would it have been to slide it to a shady spot? My poor plants. I don't know how they put up with me.
Here is the aforementioned Chimonanthus praecox or Wintersweet. From the photo below you can see that the shrub is not exactly a standout. Its in-leaf state is equally prosaic. But the scent of these diminutive flowers...ooh, la, la.
A humongous thank you to Randy of Randy & Meg's Garden Paradise. Would you believe little ole me is now in the presence of greatness? Yes it's Randy's very own interactive butterfly CD. I'm honored. How is your flamingo doing now, Randy?
One last thing. I can't resist posting my TARP of the month. Brilliant blogger Christine @ Last Frontier Garden, this one's for you.
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Only a cruel woman would lord a hydrangea over us snow-bound gardeners! For shame! Actually, I'm just jealous you can grow them at all. They're just a greenhouse dream up here in snow-ville. But what a stylishly draped tarp! Hope it's not across the street from you or out your bedroom window though. (As a completely irrelevant aside: the "cocoon" variety of tarp styling seems more prevelant here than the "blanket" type in your photo.)
Thanks for the spring fix.
Christine in Alaska
Your Hydrangea look so beautiful.
I don't mind hearing these flowers screaming at me everyday with their glorious blooms.
They sure must be very hardy!
Spring has come early that's for sure. I've looked at 'Buttons and Bows' many times at the nursery, it's a pretty one.
The flower of the Wintersweet looks very similar to Corylopsis that's getting ready to bloom now. I love that yellow.
I loved this post! Despite cold wind and rain almost every day this month (the sun has only peeked out a couple days when I was inside at work), we do have signs of spring here too. I really like the buttons and bows hydrangea. I will be on the lookout for one to go in my yard. Oh, and I like also how you have added class and color with the blue tarp!
Pretty flowers. I want to see that moss recliner! Do you have a link for it?(-:
I am not saying anything about tarps. My husband is the Tarp King! LOl(-: Wood pile...got it covered...car shelter...got it covered...camping...got it covered...you get the picture...LOL
When you are a scout master you learn to tie knots and those knots work perfectly for tarps...LOL
The garden show was a hoot and I love seeing other people's takes on it. The moss chair was cool, but I wondered if you could sit in it without staining all your clothes green. Maybe you could wear all green and then recline.
So much spring going on, there's something new every day! I don't know Wintersweet, going to have to check out that scent somewhere before it goes away.
Oh, love the half-off tarp, and WHAT is that in the truck bed, a seat from another wreck, or a Barcalounger for passengers??
Dear Grace, We are indeed so fortunate, as you say, to be surrounded with signs of spring in contrast to so many whose gardens, whole lives even, are enveloped in snow.
The Chimonanthus you picture is a lovely shrub for the early part of the year. I do agree that it has the most delicious scent which compensates for its rather spindly growth.
The blue tarpaulin is yet another horror story. This is one thing which has yet to catch on in Maida Vale. But, give it time...!
No snow here, but I did turn a bit green when I saw the pictures of the Wintersweet. On two occasions I've managed to grow seedlings but they didn't survive past 2 years. Too bad because the fragrance is incredible!
Grace:
I'm of the sentiment of Christine, but I suppose I will forgive you! 'Buttons and Bows' indeed - kinda like traipsing down the street singing 'I'm so pretty!' [NO! Never done that before, trust me!] Still covered in snow, but last night's supposed storm, well it petered out by the time it got here. Spring, where for art thou?
I can almost picture the owner setting in the back of the truck on that "chair" drinking a PBR.
The photos of the garden show had me drooling as well....we don't have snow but good gosh is it cold! Not getting out of the 40's and windy, windy..we have a wintry mix in the forecast for Friday, in the 20's tonight. I had one of my hydrangea's yelling for "just a bit of sun please." Finally I figured out what in the world she meant. The tarp photo is too funny...I thought that kind of thing was only here in the South.
Hi Grace,
Spring is peeping out here too. Our Winter GArden has reticulatta irises, crocus, daphne, witchhazels and sweet box all blooming. Smells heavenly. I do get pangs of guilt for enjoying it though, with all my friends buried in the snow. Hoping they will all be melted and sprouting before long.
Cindee
What a waste of a good blue tarp. LOL! or why bother man.
Now you are just rubbing it in with that gorgeous hydrangea. LOL! Looks something like the Harlequin I planted last year. I just hope my hydrangeas bloom this summer.
Hey girl I am a little slow on the up take here because I just noticed that pretty pink ball in your header picture. Did you ever bowl with it? I stuck mine out in the garden too and of course it is blue. ;-)
Bring on the spring celebration, Grace! Maybe it will loosen winter's hold on my little corner of the garden! Show us flowers...anything! I am tired of the brown leaves and frozen ground. Although, when it warms up a little the witch hazels in bloom smell divine. gail
I'm JUST starting to get over the tarp thing!!! There are some really freaking funny ones I've seen lately. One I will take a photo for you if I remember to bring my camera next time.
I'm really happy to have a harbinger of spring - even though I'm up to my eyeballs (almost literally) in snow. I'm just not yet ready for spring!
Thanks to hocking hills! I did not know that gorgeous piece of garden art was a bowling ball! ha ha ha!
I for one enjoyed seeing your lovelies. I am interested in the Chimonanthus...will be Googling it in a minute. We are so snowy and wet and cold....I welcome any sign of spring.
ps- take better care of your hydrangea!!
pss- love the header!
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Lucy
http://dataentryjob-s.com
Just keep up the inspiration, Grace! One of these days, we'll be out there taking photos of "the real thing," too! ha.
Aren't you having fun with Randy's CD? What a talented fellow!
Have a Happy Valentine's Day. Cute header photo! :-)
Grace that tarp pic is too funny! I should take the pic of our blue tarp that is covering one corner of our house where hubby ripped out the siding and was supposed to fix it before the cold set in last December... our poor neighbors... we are up to eyeballs in snow right now (12 inches today!) so that tarp is going to be there for at least another month! LOL
Hi Grace, I love the tarp photo of the month. I will have to check out that site, it seems like a lot of fun:)
I loved the snow on the lawn quote you left me. If I can remember it, I may steal it sometime.
Of course our newsmen have been talking a lot about earthquakes today and I was surprised to learn, as you say, they are very common. Something like 400+ already this year--worldwide.
Marnie
Spring - Alas! Months away for poor, little me. I shall live vicariously through you, your sweet growing zone and those lovely Hydrangeas... If the snowplow gets here sometime today I just might have to go buy a blue tarp. I'd hate to be the last one on the planet without one! :D
Darn you on the spring stuff Grace! We are jealous, jealous, jealous here in the frozen country. At least not buried in snow at the moment, like the East Coast (but the flower beds still are).
I LOVED that photo of the moss chair too. I see those kind of things and won't let go of them until I figure a way to do them. I bet you can create one in your garden ~ I have complete faith in you! It would be so perfect among all the pinkness. The Seattle garden show looked fantastic. Much, much better than the one in our area.
That hydrangea is beautiful. Too funny it was on wheels the whole time. You were busy, I'm sure that was the reason it got overlooked. Thank goodness plants & animals forgive us, right? Now do you really have a daffodil in bloom?? I think I have to "hang up" now, I can't take all the springness anymore!!
ps The tarp & truck pic is to die for. You really started something Grace!
Oh my, that tarp on the matching truck is priceless, Grace! Well done and all that. Love the little flowers that pack a fragrant wallop. We are hoping the Edgworthia and Corylopsis join Daphne odora and the witch hazels for an unforgettable smellathon, soon! Poor little hydrangea, better luck next year, which I guess is this year. Tell Grace to treat you well, for you are a beauty! :-)
Frances
Lovely post, I so must have another try with Daphne again I stupidly tried moving mine and it didn't like it then the next one died too but the perfume is to die for and a walk through the gardens at Wisley last week made me wish for another Daphne.
Grace, it is always such a treat to stop by your blog. So very visual.
I love the border around the header, ah yet another project for me to dive into.
Jen
Grace,
Happy Valentines Day! We are up to three crocuses now still not seem them open. The flamingos are back together now and the last time I saw them they were cuddled together on one of the lawn chairs in the garden.
Rady for winter to go away, no days even in the 50s in sight at this point here.
Grace, Thank you for thinking of those of us still buried in snow. It is lovely to see your blooms though! Your hydrangea is gorgeous and your Wintersweet photo shows the tiny bells of sweetness that I can only imagine must be delicious... from a vague memory and your ooh, la, la. Great tarp of the month! ;>)
Yep, you got it right, totally jealous here. But I know there's something to be said for winter hibernating and getting all those books read.
Thanks for commenting on my daughters post. Your'e sweet.
Rosey
I'm afraid to acknowledge it lest I scare it away, but spring has shown up in my garden too. I always look forward to the return to lush leafiness, and I'm usually shocked that it takes until around May to really look garden-y out there. I think this year might be different. I'm cautiously getting excited.
Hi Grace. I have looked all over for where I got those clip art pictures. When my computer crashed I lost all of my favorites and now I cannot remember where I found them. I know 'Cute Colors and Annies Place was a couple. If I find the crazy place I will let you know. Your little animations are so cute.
Of course the Zero to Bitch in 2.4 is a favorite. LOL!
Have a great weekend.
I bet the wintersweet is worth every inch of the space you accord it. I feel the same way about daphne: goofy, ungainly shrub and heavenly scent just when you need it the most.
The tarp pic is great. I like the way you've made a virtue (fun) out of a vice (eye-poison!)
Grace - thanks for understanding that those of us under snow might be a little hurt by all your blooms. They actually made me happy - we will have blooms again some day! Come on over if you want to see the snowy reality the rest of us are living in - it will be a while before we see the grass again. Kelly
Hi Grace, my first visit here, after enjoying your 'words' over at Teza's. Lovely! And yes, I am drooling and jealous of anything green right now :)
That hydrangea is simply stunning. There are a handful of varieties that are hardy here and I will probably have to have them all eventually.
Great blog! :)
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