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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

Golden Spirit Smoke Tree

Golden Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria 'Ancot')

 
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Lovely! I tried a burgundy smoke tree here, because it's supposed to be deer resistant. Nope. They loved it!

    Your Golden Spirit is gorgeous.

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  2. A handsome shrub. I bet it shines in the morning light.

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  3. Awwwwwwwww it makes me miss my purple one. :0(

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  4. There's no other tree I love that the Cotinus smoke tree! The red colored ones are gorgeous. We've tried growing them and we have such drought conditions they do not do very well here.
    The smoke trees are native to Tennessee yet we can not seem to get the seeds to germinate and come up. If anyone has any tips or ideas on hoe to cold, heat or wet stratify these in zone 7 Id sure be interested.

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