Camellia japonica 'Mrs. Tingley' is blooming now!
You all are just the nicest people.
Thank you again for your delightful comments.
Thank you again for your delightful comments.
Call it a short attention span if you
like but current events dictate that we
postpone our regularly scheduled garden tour
and replace it with a peak at just exactly what an early
spring does to a bunch of indulgent plants.
[Whew.]
Because I'm posting so many photos and I'm sure you don't have
all day to linger, I'll keep my words to a minimum.
like but current events dictate that we
postpone our regularly scheduled garden tour
and replace it with a peak at just exactly what an early
spring does to a bunch of indulgent plants.
[Whew.]
Because I'm posting so many photos and I'm sure you don't have
all day to linger, I'll keep my words to a minimum.
Vinca minor 'Wine' in a hanging basket. It started blooming in January. I swear I didn't alter this photo.
Weigela florida 'Variegata' is a no-brainer shrub, don't you think? The PINK flowers are fragrant and the foliage is always marked with lemon yellow edges. Drought tolerant, low maintenance, you get the idea.
My Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star.' I had this rather genius [so I thought] idea to plant white-flowered Crocus below it for a nice little designer tableau. NOT. The Crocus must be an early variety because now, while 'Star' is the star, they're pretty much slime.
Male flowering Skimmia japonica has a heavenly fragrance. The two neighboring female plants, a red-berried and a white-berried aren't in bloom yet. Lucky for the girls this guy has stamina.
Corylopsis sinensis or Chinese Winter Hazel is just getting underway, while Catherine's is already in full glory. Ah, the proclivities of the microclimate.
Lonicera fragrantissima or Winter Honeysuckle is in full bloom. The flowers are tiny but deliciously scented.
And speaking of the genus Lonicera, this is Lonicera caerulea edulis 'Blue Velvet Honeyberry.' Are you familiar with the Honeyberry yet? These tiny flowers give way to small, dark blue elongated blueberry-type fruit in June. It takes two varieties for pollination. My other one is L. c. e. 'Blue Moon.' It's not quite in bloom yet and, I think it has a better tasting fruit.
Let's hear it for the genus Spirea! Above is Spiraea japonica 'Neon Flash.' I love this plant for its long blooming neon-pink inflorescences. It tends towards powdery mildew if I'm not consistent with the pruning. A few squirts of Safer's fungicide help too when I think to use it. [Side note: As Frances pointed out, taxonomists can't seem to agree on species identification. My Monrovia tag says "japonica" but "x bumalda" seems to have some merit as well. Who knows?]
Above and below are photos of Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet' also just leafing out. It's got a way to go but it's not too bad, eh?
Spiraea vanhouttei 'Pink Ice' Is this not just dazzling?
Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pigmy.'
Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea'
Aquilegia vulgaris 'Woodside Strain.' Unlike plain green Aquilegias with foilage that poops out by mid summer [at least in my garden], this puppy keeps its gorgeous, disease and bug free foliage until fall! I'm not fond of the tall, deep purple flower but the seed comes true and is easy to collect, making this one of those, once-you-have-it-you'll-always-have-it plants.
Sedum rupestre 'Angelina.' I like the way Ange curtsies down the stone edging. Awfully dignified, isn't she?
Okay, reality check. Here is a portion of my deck, posing as a holding tank for some of my containerized plants. Methinks there are more than a few that have fallen victim to that bone chilling anomaly in December. But time will tell.
This the north garden in winter with bed numbers 4 on the left, 3 on the right and 2 in the foreground with one of my cats tromping through it.
This photo is taken from my patio. The "square garden" (number 5) is directly past the pathway. On the far right is number 2.
Do any of you have experience with these plants? I'd love to hear your take on things.
I've got a few hilarious drive-by shootings to post next time. And I'll get to work on the garden tour which may be even more laughable.
Do any of you have experience with these plants? I'd love to hear your take on things.
I've got a few hilarious drive-by shootings to post next time. And I'll get to work on the garden tour which may be even more laughable.
.jpg)
34 COMMENTS, Click here to add yours:
Grace, What a treat to see so many beautiful blooms. Spirea 'Magic Carpet' is a favorite in my garden, too -- but right now, mine is just a red-orange twiggy presence sticking out from under the snow. -Jean
You know your countdown says 12 days til spring.....and I thought --yeah, sure. Then I saw your photos...you are really on your way to spring. Your Camellia is just gorgeous. Such a perfect flower. I just read on Helen's (Gardening with Confidence) blog about waxing the blooms to keep them (inside) longer. They looked like porcelain.
I have some similar shrubs but different cultivars. I have Spirea Goldflame that is super duper for red/orange/yellow foliage and the neon pink blooms. I must say that I covet your Magnolia. I love Stellatas. So your Crocus is slime? What a thing to say about that poor little bloom. ;-) Love the pink blooms on the Spirea Vanhouttei, new one for me.
All in all, super photos of spring emerging. Love it!!
No fair, like the kids say, your crocus is already slime and mine are buried under the snow. Maybe some white daffs instead? I hope my M. 'Royal Star' makes it through the winter...the blooms on your plant were lovely!
Christine in Alaska
Oh Grace...I LOVE the picture of your deck with all those pots!!! I am not alone after all! (you've seen my basement greenhouse, I need to show you under the shade pavilion in the back garden too!). I hope that most of your potted plants will surprise you and come back!
So much delightfulness is going on in your garden~It's wonderful to see spring. The spireas are sweet and the Honeyberry sounds delicious. It must be heavenly with so many fragrant flowers~You are going to love Phlox pilosa. Send me your address; it's going to be nice this weekend and I can get it in the mail on Monday! gail I loved your tour!
Vinca 'Wine' is making me look at Vinca in a whole new way.
Skimmia, hmm, I'll have to look into that one. The new foliage on the Spidera is glorious.
darn, from what I just read Skimmia hates heat. Too bad, it looks like a wonderful plant.
I love all of your pictures. I am so ready for spring...I didn't move to Alabama for a cold, snowy winter, that's for sure! I need me some good warm weather and some dirt to dig in. :) I especially love the camellia (mine is sad and pathetic - it wasn't happy being moved).
It is so nice to see daylight, albeit through your blog photos, I have been stuck inside all day for my retail job.
But a girls gotta work, or else the bills don't get paid.
What gorgeous collection of plants you have. I think you are about a week ahead of us right now.
Jen
It's looking great there! I seem to add something to my wish list every time you post. Pretty soon our gardens will be full of the same things since we seem to have quite a few of the same plants already. Your holding area looks like a small nursery :)
My Corylopsis is having it's best year ever. I just keep going to look at it. It's still very small but loaded with flowers.
Hi Grace,
Looks like all that beautiful foliage in your stunning garden is coming alive just in time for spring. It's funny how I can look at your winter garden and quickly want to encourage you that soon it will be stunning again. When I look at mine I find it difficult to see that. (But in my heart I know it will return).
Love that magnolia~~even though the crocus combo didn't work out ~ sounded like a good idea to me too.
Meems
You have so much going on right now. It's all great. Loved all the photos. I think I too have Magic Carpet, but it doesn't look too magical. And my poor male Skimmia has yellowing leaves. Deficiency of some kind? I have some white anemone that are just starting to open. I bet something like that would also work under that gorgeous Magnolia!
I love all your plants and containers!! WE have a lot of the same things(-:
My Star Magnolia is begining to bloom(-: I love it! They smell pretty too(-:
I lost a lot of plants due to the freeze we had here. I am not going to think about it until later though...(-:
Hello dear Grace,
Your question about Mermaid's tears, well, it is a legitimate one. Those two photos at the bottom of my posting are of my collections of Mermaid's tears, which are lovely sea glass found on the beaches of Maine. I've collected those on my walks in coves, bays, on islands, and beaches. I have favorites, one is a perfect heart shape.
My favorite jewelry, other than what I've inherited, is made of Mermaid's Tears.
I love your garden, your holding deck, etc.
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
Dear Grace, This is only the start of March and look what you have already in either flower colour or foliage effect. I for one am put to shame.
Looking at what you have overwintered in pots and containers, I can well understand that there is always that moment of decision as to whether or not something has come through. Usually, though, if one is prepared to wait, then there will be signs of life.
Grace, when I first saw the picture of the holding area on your deck, I thought that it was taken in a garden centre, (until I read the caption), lol.
So much colour in your garden, so much white in mine....
Grace girl .. wow with all the containers ! I would feel overwhelmed but totally jealous because you have such beautiful displays of portable plants .. which is a wonderful method to have .. I do pots (few compared to you !:) and I enjoy them .. some times the watering bit gets a little too chore like but hey .. every "gift" eventually has a price to pay ? LOL
Oh Grace, you can take us on a detour whenever you want! I loved seeing these fresh leaves with moisture dripping on them, it does a heart so much good to see this growth. We have magic carpet, I thought it was bumaldi? and a corylopsis spicata that is budded. You have so many containers!!! Your garden is pure magic, in any season. There is nothing as wonderful as a new leaf. :-)
Frances
Your gardens are still nice this time of the year, really enjoy all of the tours you take us on...been looking for spirea that blooms pink tufts....mmmm. Your back porch looks divine to me! I also need a GREAT climbing rose, any ideas of where to get one?
Grace:
Sweet Jesus.... it appears that you're hording Mother Nature and her Spring Fling for you and nobody else! The Spring garden is looking absolutely stunning..... I must come back from my morning appointment, drool some more and then composr an email to tell you how I really feel!
Wow, you have an overabundance of spring there:) What beautiful pictures.
I have always found it almost impossible to pair up trees and perennials to get them blooming at the same time. One year they will and for the next ten years they won't.
Marnie
I love this time of year, where leaves and flowers start to appear, where there's so much promise and hope for the season to come. Love to see your cheerful plants coming alive.
I'm not familiar with the honeyberry, but it sounds like I should be. I will have to see if I can find one at one of the upcoming sales.
omg Grace, I first thought your patio was a nursery!!! and one I would LOVE to peruse. Too funny, it's all yours. How fabulous. I hope some of the container contents surprise you by coming back to life. Speaking of which, your garden is certainly springy and full of life. I'm dripping with envy. Is it really only 16 days till spring? I hadn't realize we were that close. Whew. We might all make it!
Love your magnolia. I bet the white blooms glow in the moonlight? I just planted 'Jane' last spring and I see quite a few buds on her. Can't wait. The Chinese witch hazel looks interesting, I'm not familiar with it but what I really think I want to check into is that winter honeysuckle! I hope it is hardy in my zone. The more early flowering plants, the better!
btw, divert anytime if it's for fantastic updates and photos like these. :-)
Hi Grace. Your camellia is looks so pretty. Vinca in a hanging basket is a good thing. I am constantly pulling it up from one of my beds which I change out.
How beautiful are those leaves on the Spiraea. It is beautiful without blooms. I love so much touring your garden. You have so many plants.
Ugh, My aching back. And I thought I had a lot of containers to carry in.LOL! Okay you win.
Hey thanks for the camera tips! I welcome all suggestions I assure you.
Tomorrow is the big day!
Lona
Oh my oh my: what a wonderful tour, and such a gift to see all of these plants opening up to Spring. It's so early this year, but I am not complaining. I especially like your Berberis thunbergii 'Aurea' and I'm tickled to know we both love spirea so much: the 'magic carpet' is one of my favorites for its crazy crazy color.
As for your deck, girl! You have the gardening bug and I love it. It's going to be a great gardening year, isn't it?
Fun tour. You are slightly ahead of the Gulf Coast -- note what Meems said.
I'm seeing foliage emerging on Spirea japonica, just little red leaf buds so far. The only vinca here is the old blue that can be invasive, but shows some pretty little stars early, early; love the wine color. Sedum acre is the one I have. Nice for little walls. My magnolia stellata is pink. Frost nips the blossoms and he just send out more.
Mrs. Tinsley is gorgeous. The gaudy camellia is showing off here. More sedate models are waiting in the wings.
I see a topiary ball in your group. I hope Edith noticed.
Grace, Your photos are so refreshing. Wouldn't it be fun to think that (usually) to Winter-over plants, you just brought them into a back porch? ;-) Thank you for this breath of fresh air!
Oh, look! It's spring where you live! I love your assortment of blooms and foliage. The only plants I'm familiar with are sedum and spirea. Oh, and hen and chicks, which look very nice with the blooming spirea you have near them. I don't think I've grown spireas.
'Royal Star' needs no help from a crocus chorus...she can hold the stage on her own. I have been talked out of this beauty several times. Why? Why? Why?
When I first saw your Camelia -I thought it was a rose. How deceiving flowers can be.
Don't you just love it when your garden is impatient for spring and so just starts blooming? You have so much beauty already and it is only the beginning of March....I do love the Aquilegia - the leaves are beautiful.
What a lovely detour! Everything looks fantastic! Vinca and camelia are breathtaking. The raindrops are as beautiful as the plants!
Oh Mrs Tingley has made me feel tingley all over Grace :) Hope that December has not done much damage.
wow, you've got a lot going on already! That tulip magnolia is just gorgeous. I really love all magnolia flowers, but especially those fringey ones. You know, I really like these last photos b/c it helps to see the skeleton of your garden. Your containers look great! Hope they all make it!
Post a Comment