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
Beautiful hydrangeas. Mine also change color from year to year, though they seem to be going more toward the pink hues lately.
ReplyDeleteJan
Always Growing
I must say that hydrangeas would be in my top three if I had to rank my plants. I like 'Purple Tiers' also, but I had to move mine last year because my 'Bluebird' was overcrowding it. Alas, it did not survive the drought. It had a deep blue color that reminded me of a blank TV screen. I am teaching a class at work on Hydrangeas in a couple of weeks, and I like the topic so much that it is one of the few classes that I don't have to read notes for.
ReplyDeleteI love both your favorites. Well, really, I love them all!
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though you garden just goes on for ever and ever. I love all the hydrangeas!
ReplyDelete-Randy
Now that's what mophead Hydrangeas are supposed to look like. How fun that you get different colors in your Hydrangea blooms. All my non-white ones just bloom pink. (Which is OK, but blue & purple is sublime.) I'm glad they're making up for last year's disappointment.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderland of loveliness, Phillip! Lilacina is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWe grew Annabelle and Hills of Snow in Illinois. I knew people in my old neighborhood who tried to grow hydrangeas with pink or blue flowers but the buds always froze over winter.
They're seen occasionally here in Austin but take some pampering, it seems.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
You have no idea what a treat it is to visit your garden through your blog. Beautiful!!
ReplyDeletePhillip,
ReplyDeleteThis will be my third try to post! Something is going absolutely nutty with my cable line! But I love these beauties and can't grow them so I shall admire them from up here north of you! If I had to choose, well, it would be Purple Tiers.
Gail
Nice pics, and I especially like Purple Tiers.
ReplyDeletePhilip. Tell Michael I think it is spectacular. Do you use iron chelate to get the blue blooms? You have a "secret garden" how fun! I love the "giardino segreto" have you ever read Mapp and Lucia? if not, they are very funny books which feature a giardio degreto in them with lots madcap happenings.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the wall with the architectural fragments is terrific.