Spring keeps springing
Corylus avellana `Contorta', (Harry Lauder's Walking Stick)
After a week of warm temperatures, the weekend arrives and it is apparent that winter doesn't want to loosen its grip just yet. More rain last night, which brings the total to 2" this week, but worse this morning, a biting wind and temperatures in the 40s. I had a list of chores planned for today but mother nature would not cooperate. After stepping outside, I came right back in and changed into a warmer shirt and added a tee-shirt underneath. It was cold! Heading back out to get started on chore #1, it started raining. The garden was already soaking from the rains from last night and as I've mentioned in the past, I really dislike working in a wet garden. But as soon as the sun comes out for a few minutes, it gets dark and starts raining again.
I won't go into the other things that have went wrong today but they do involve almost running out of gas and my cell phone going dead. Oh yeah, today is the 13th isn't it?
I did get out later and take some photos but I felt like a bum the whole time with weeds everywhere and tons of unfinished chores staring me in the face.
The daffodils offer a promise of cheer and good things to come -
A camellia that was supposed to be "Sawada's Dream" but apparently it is not.
This spot in the lower garden behind the garage is a very fragrant one at the moment. First off, the Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) continues to get bigger and bigger and is a delight this time of year.
But there is another plant that even beats it in the fragrance department and it is a tenth the size of the winter honeysuckle. That would be Winter Daphne (Daphne odora). This little shrub is just amazing.
Here is a wider shot showing Magnolia "Little Gem" in the background. Just ignore the surrounding weeds.
And I leave you with this charming little viola which happens to be UNA's school colors.
Comments
Eileen
A few daffs here are swelling. I know it won't be long now. Don't feel bad about having so much to do in the garden. We are all feeling the same way.
I love that area with the rustic pergola and red bistro furniture!
--Jamie
Thanks again,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
Your garden abounds with signs of spring. The daphne and camellia are beautiful. And, I love the colors of the viola, similar to one I am starting from seed called 'Frosted Chocolate'. We are anticipating rain over the course of the next few days, which will be melting what little snow remains. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that we do not get any more snow, though we can never be certain until mid-April.
This time of year nothing gives me more pleasure than strolling through the gardens in the morning to see what new foliage/blossoms have popped overnight ... as well as discovering that you've put up a new post!
I think the weeds flat-out taunt us this time of year.
I love the header photo.
Weather's forecast to pick up here from Tuesday onwards. Yay.
Love all the blooms in your garden. I know the rain-sun-rain-sun is tiresome, but my plants have been growing inches taller everyday.
Marnie
Growing a Harry Lauder's walking stick sounds like fun but someday I'd like to visit a non-alkaline place to see a daphne in bloom and smell the legendary fragrance.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
All this rain (with our canine friends) has be wanting to install pea gravel or something similar through much of the backyard, eliminating all of the grass and just doing shrubbery. If I just show your photos to my husband, maybe I can convince him!?
You have to love those hearty viola, because they do add some great color to a drab late winter.
Many thanks for the great photographs....