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
I luv them! But they are a challange for me out here in the inland valleys in Ca. But well worth the work. Thank's for sharing your pic's......Julian
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love the colors!
ReplyDeleteI love that hydrangea. We had that growing in the yard a few years ago --but then we had to move it to a different location. Sadly, it didn't make it. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteYour Charming hydrangea looks a lot like my niko blue. I find them both very charming.
ReplyDeleteThey are Beautiful, Phillip!!!
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Phillip, is your soil pH that variable? Or do you amend it differently from one side of the bush to the other to get the variation in bloom color? If it's a purposeful thing, it's brilliant. My pH produces deep pink blooms. I'd love to even see some lavender or purple flowers, and to have them both on one bush would be gorgeous like yours. I'll have to check out 'Charm'. I haven't seen it before. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty. I have a blue one that I rescued from an abandoned apartment, I'm not sure if a Niko. It probably won't bloom this year. Mary
ReplyDeleteMy hydrangeas do that too (some pink and some blue blooms, and sometimes they are half and half). I've always thought that it was because my ph was exactly 7... allowing them to swing both ways!
ReplyDeleteSherry, I really don't do anything to alter the flower color other than apply a good layer of mulch or compost at least once a year. Unless that affects it, I'm not sure. Hydrangeas are so mysterious when it comes to flower color. I just let them do whatever they want. I've noticed that they usually change from year to year too. In fact, last year I don't think the colors of "Charm" were different, I think they were all blue.
ReplyDeleteI love how the hydrangeas like to change the color of their clothes from year to year...she is beautiful!
ReplyDeletePhillip, 'Charm' is a stunner! You grow all the best cultivars.
ReplyDeleteAre you finding the flowers drying rather early this year because of the extreme heat?
'Charm' is beautiful!... I love the colors.
ReplyDeleteScotland is full of hydrangeas in about every shade possible. I love them bloom, almost shaped like little butterflies.
ReplyDeleteHello Phillip -
ReplyDeleteI was perusing your site and saw the hydrangeas you posted last summer.
We live in east central New York State where the hydrangeas tend to be mostly white unless you feed them a lot of Hollytone or, the like.
We first saw the blue hydrangeas out in and around Cape Cod, Mass. and on the islands (Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard). Our attempt at buying a plant that produces a blue flower was disappointing until we learned it needed some assistance with that.
We now have a nice blue hydrangea that we feed often enough to keep it that way. We also mulch it with pine needles in the winter, which helps the cause.
You're pretty good with that camera. Congratulations to you for your really attractive site and interesting content.
Dave from Home and Garden 911