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
Now that is much appreciated. Fantastic pics and wish I had even one bloom still here. Thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers and gorgeous captures, Phillip! I did see the little ladybug. The weather has been bizarre.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great surprise...especially that Campanula!
ReplyDeleteHow I wish we could grow camelias... exquisite... Larry
ReplyDeleteI need to go and check my camelias. I haven't walked around and checked thing out since knee surgery. I did go into the greenhouse to water the shrubs I bought on close out and the field mice are chewing the limbs off. I gave the something else to eat and put another one down a couple of days later as the first one was eaten. I need to get rid of them before spring. Two years ago they ate the seeds that I was starting out of the containers and I'm not having that occur again next spring.
ReplyDeleteHave a Merry Christmas Phillip and Michael.
happy Christmas Phillip and Michael, I hope the season is filled with goodness for you both, gail PS pretty flowers.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays! Thanks for your great gardening posts, always enjoy them. Anne
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Phillip! Lovely to see your beautiful blooms! Sigh!
ReplyDeletePeace.
Carol
Our Camellias are look good here also. I hope they don't all pop open too soon though. Merry Christmas to you both.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and Michael a "Very Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year".
ReplyDeleteCynthia & David
Those Bellflowers are exquisite. Exquisite image of the pink camellia too. Just lovely.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
So lucky! I would do anything to be able to grow Camellia here! When i lived in ATL we had so many. Nothing in Nashville winter blooms!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos as usual!
Beautiful blossoms still! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Phillip. May 2012 be kind to us all and bring continued well-being.
ReplyDeleteFlowers on the first day of winter. What a wonderful find!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Phillip.
ReplyDelete