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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
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A vase before the frost

We've had a few frosts during the last week. There were still lots of blooms left in the garden so I cut a few of them before the cold snap. 

 The rose 'Gold Medal', one of our favorite hybrid teas, is sending up 6 feet stalks that we see outside the bathroom window. The hydrangeas are still covered with dramatic, dark purple balls of color. I don't have many dahlias in the garden and I don't recall where the orange one came from but it is very pretty. Dahlias are to be dug up after the first frost so that is a chore I must do this week. There is another pretty pom-pom dahlia called 'Lolipop' in the front garden that I purchased at a Master Gardener plant sale shortly after we moved.

 I have been very pleased with Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) although it has gotten much bigger than expected. It is too tall for the front of the border it resides in and I would like to transplant it before spring.

 And in the rear is the remnants of Goldenrod, a good filler flower for an arrangement but so, so messy.

 Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Lisa at GreenbowNovember 12, 2018 at 10:25 AM

    Such a striking combination of blooms. Those golden roses really pop in that color wave. Happy IAVOM.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AaronNovember 13, 2018 at 5:58 AM

    Nice combination! What makes goldenrod so messy -- just in a vase or in general?

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverNovember 13, 2018 at 8:40 AM

      The dried blooms are very tiny and fall everywhere when disturbed.

      Delete
  3. Hoover BooNovember 13, 2018 at 3:47 PM

    Ohmygosh the color of those hydrangea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. Endah MurniyatiNovember 14, 2018 at 6:49 PM

    Beautiful! The color of hydrangea is so stunning!

    ReplyDelete

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