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
Can I be any more jealous..... I bet the weather was 100 times better than here.
ReplyDeleteThat Eden rose is spectacular. Too bad it doesn't sound like a great plant from the brief reading I did, because that picture makes me want one bad!
ReplyDeleteOut there it looks like they can plant them any ole way and they grow and bloom. Here the black spot would devour them. We must have a different kind of humidity. For one thing they bake until well done. Love all the color. Can't wait to see the up close photos.
ReplyDeleteI've seen them and know what you mean about bloom size...and fullness as well. In Portland, I didn't recognize roses that grow in my own garden. Eden, for example, is a stinker for me...should have been shovel pruned years ago.
ReplyDeleteThose roses are beautiful, Phillip. I am about to do a posting about the Biltmore International Rose Trials. Love that Dortmund. An oldie but still a goodie!
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the Eden rose is most impressive. It looks white to me but I suspect it is light pink. Maybe it just photographs well but if it looks that good in person, I would want to stand and stare at it for awhile.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! I've heard that the Pacific Northwest is one of the best places in the country to grow roses, but I would have thought what you did about powdery mildew and the climate. Lovely pics, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWow, that post made me drool! Every time I see a public rose garden, I always wonder how the keep away black spot.
ReplyDeleteEden is definitely a head turner.. as is one of my favorites: red eden. Beautiful pictures. I love posts about Garden tours.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying all of your Portland posts and wanted to thank you. I know the Garden Blogger's Fling will be there next year, but unless a pile of money falls on me I doubt I will make it. It looks like you hit the rose garden at its peak, and your photos make the best of it.
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