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
Bloom day, and viewing the blogs of southern gardens has made me aware of camellias, which I obviously can't grow in my garden.
ReplyDeleteYour gardens look amazing! Thanks for joining in for bloom day.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Phillip, the first picture is a beautiful postcard from Alabama.
ReplyDeleteYou have so many camellias! You seem to have so much room...
My neighbor has a camellia that I get a borrowed view of. I should have claimed it was mine for Bloom Day.
Saucer Magnolia. Gorgeous. Never seen the bloom before. Now I WANT it!
ReplyDeleteI'll echo Bonnie's admiration of your saucer magnolia. And the camellias are beautiful too.
ReplyDeleteOf course the camellias are lovely, they're always beautiful. Yesterday I discovered two red blossoms on a small camellia (rooted cutting) that I'd missed before, always a treat.
ReplyDeleteI especially liked the candytuft photo, it's never easy to photograph well. The close up of the carolina jessamine is great, too. I usually view it festooned through trees, high above the ground.
I know I could enjoy my time in your garden...the camellias are gorgeous. Do any have fragrance to match their beauty?
ReplyDeleteGail
Phillip, your garden must be one of such delight, with all those camellias. I like the peak at your rustic arbor in the background of the first photo. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFrances at Faire Garden
You know what they say: if you've got it, flaunt it. You've certainly got the gorgeous Camillias (vicarious thrills for us Northerners). I love the juxtaposition of that rustic arch with the Baroque/Rocco(?) sculpture.
ReplyDeleteI envy you the ability to grow so many gorgeous camellias. I can grow only two because of space limitation in a very sheltered spot next to the house. I would like to have a plain white one but impossible I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteThe magnolia looks like M. x soulangeana, "Rubra"? I mistakenly bought one because the label prominently read Magnolia Rubra so I thought it was some kind of red magnolia. I didn't want a soulangeana because of their profuse blooming habit and subsequent clean up but didn't know the one I bought was one until a month later when I read the label carefully and in small print it said M. soulangeana, Rubra. Oh well it's not the usual one you see around here and the small tree is loaded with buds so I'm excited to see it bloom.
The camellia photos left me weak, Phillip - what beauties! Oh that first CM Wilson, just grazing the border of peach and pearl pink, tumbling all over. Pam at Tales from the Laboratory in SC also has magnoliaflora and Nuccio's Pearl so I had a little innoculation against them.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, just wonderful.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Great selection of blooms. I recognize some of the Camellias.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Camellias Phillip. And I think, yes, yes I'm absolutely certain, I saw the perfect spot for a Redbud in one of those photos. :-)
ReplyDeleteHey Phillip,
ReplyDeleteYour flowers look wonderful. To cold here for camellias. My crocus are up and blooming but that is it.
You asked about using a heating pad in your basement to start seeds. It should work. I should have one but don't. It took 2 weeks for the first group of seeds to come up. With some heat I am sure it would have been quicker.
Good Luck!!