The Garden Awakens
Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
BEST WISHES FOR YOUR MOM !!! My mom has the birthday on the same, too ! Her name is Stanisława.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day. Bye! Kate from Poland.
SO beautiful!! It really was a special day!
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to have your mother still. You are a smart son to spend today with her. Did Michael tell you Glen and I visited your garden today? Sorry we missed you but Michael made us feel welcome. I took a few cuttings of things that I still desperately want to propagate (Buff Beauty and Veichenblau to name 2). When are you ever going to come see my garden and carry home some of my stuff? LOL I didn't want to bother Michael (he was busy sewing) when we left. Thanks to you both for being such nice garden people.
ReplyDeleteMichael arrangement is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYou asked about the rugosas... The rugosas do like it here in central NC. The soil is very acid and the summers don't bother them. I have alba, rubra, Foxi Pavement, Hansa, and Sir Thomas Lipton. We gave STL to my MIL a few years ago and I was able to root a cutting from it. (Clotilde Soupert genes must have helped with that, as I didn't think rugosas rooted well in general.)
So gorgeous...ver, very charming!
ReplyDeleteThank you Phillip for sharing your Mom's arrangement. It is gorgeous. I know your Mom appreciated the effort.
ReplyDeleteOh Phillip! I just read and saw what you had to do to that beautiful tree!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your mom.
Rebecca
what a gorgeous arrangement!!!! You should cut more flowers, enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteThe arrangement is beautiful. Michael is very talented.
ReplyDeletePat Moore
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Like you, Phillip, I find it hard to cut my flowers. But that arrangement is GORGEOUS! Was it for you or Mom? Sorry about losing your tree, it must be sad. Will you replace it, or fill in with flowers? You are right, our lawn is indeed lush. That's my hubby's pride and joy, but remember, we are WAY above normal for rainfall, so it's especially green this spring.
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ReplyDeleteThanks Kate, it is exciting to see someone here on my blog from Poland!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I e-mailed you!
Sweetbay, I think Hansa and FJ Grootendorst are the only rugosas I have at the moment. They have always done really well.
MsRobin, the arrangement stayed with us. I took my mother a chocolate cake instead!
I hate having anything cut out of my garden to bring in the house, so it has to be a special occasion. I guess Mother's Day would be reason enough, or if a forecasted storm was going to cause a beat down. I hope you mother had a delightful birthday.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, Phillip... it's much more sensible to carry the chocolate cake to your mom and not try to transport Michael's gorgeous flower arrangement! How fun that your mother's birthday fell on Mother's Day.
ReplyDeleteAnnie at the Transplantable Rose