Spring blooming witch hazel in the garden Maybe it’s because the flowers of my witch hazel (Hamamelis) tree are the first flowers I see in spring. Maybe it’s because witch hazel doesn’t care if there’s snow on the ground when it blooms. Maybe it’s because witch hazel has flowers that are different from any other … Continue reading Bewitched by Witch Hazel
Plants in My Garden
Lilacs? In October?
I absolutely love lilacs (Syringa vulgaris). They are the essence of spring in one wonderful breath. Their flowering inevitably makes me smile. Until now.Several years ago, in order to add a touch of spring to late summer/early fall, I added a reblooming lilac bush to my yard. It’s planted beside my driveway and sports smaller … Continue reading Lilacs? In October?
Oh, Goldenrod!
I have a “love/no not there!” relationship with goldenrod (Solidago). And it’s not for the reason you might think. I do sniffle and sneeze a bit when goldenrod is in bloom, but it’s not due to the abundance of goldenrod growing around my house. Goldenrod does not aggravate allergies. Its pollen does not make you sneeze. … Continue reading Oh, Goldenrod!
A Rose with a Different Thorn
One of the first plants I bought for my garden was a rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa). It’s grown into a beautiful shrub and expanded along the top of the wall in front of my house. The first thing I learned about rugosa roses was that bees absolutely love them. When the flowers are in bloom (pretty … Continue reading A Rose with a Different Thorn
On Your Mark, Get Ready …
Memorial Day weekend is almost here, but not quite. There’s a frost warning for tonight, so I’ve moved my hanging baskets and other annuals into the garage for protection against the (hopefully) last freezing temperatures of the season. While perennials tend to weather a frost with no permanent damage, the last one put an end … Continue reading On Your Mark, Get Ready …
All the Little Changes
It’s so easy to count the reasons spring is my favorite season. Contrary weather is not one of them. After blissful days of sunshine, warm (as in “is it summer already?”) temperatures, open windows, and working in the garden, clouds descended, the temperature dropped, and rain arrived. Of course, the sun came out again, but … Continue reading All the Little Changes
April Wishes
I recently wrote about my poor, confused forsythia that insists on opening some of its flowers in late autumn. The sight of those flowers makes me both happy (at the thought of spring), sad (that spring is so very far away) and confused (because I just can’t figure out what’s going on with that plant). … Continue reading April Wishes
What Month Is This?
My forsythia are confused. Just when they should be hunkered down for the proverbial long winter’s nap, part of the mass planting I affectionately call the Yellow Monster has decided to bloom. The not so Yellow Monster trying to bloom in December. For those of you not familiar with forsythia, they’re the shrubs covered in … Continue reading What Month Is This?
Pen, Paper, Plant 