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
Everything looks great! I particularly like the Chrysanthemum and Camellia. I like that churn a lot too. It is much better looking than the old ugly one I have. I assume you bring it inside before a hard freeze?
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks so beautiful even at this stage of the growing season. Ready to be put to bed for winter. It was a good year in the garden around here. Love the seasonal changes though. Looking forward to a little down time. Our house is crammed with house plants. Every year I say no more but the few I keep keep getting larger and larger so it still looks crammed up in all our windows. ha...
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. I hope the frost doesn't do much harm. I love the camellia! And that cinches it - my mums look so pitiful compared to how beautiful yours are. They don't really like our heat, and I've been trying to baby them. But I've been fooling myself. I'm definitely replacing them now!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and AWESOME photos!
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful camellias already!
ReplyDeleteBecause I'm a bit more north than you are, I find the first frost to be a sad affair. I was out petting my "babies" the day before our first frost, and I really did get a bit choked up. Silly woman!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your beautiful garden! What do you do with your angel's trumpets? Take them inside or just let them go? I'm crazy about them but don't want to just abandon them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love the Dwarf hydrangea with the grass~ Perfect. I always go into denial and cover blooming plants for that first frost...You can fool Mother Nature once! gail
ReplyDeleteShenandoah, I have one in a container that I bring into the basement for the winter. The one in the photo is actually in the ground (or rather, a raised planting bed) and it survives with a heavy mulch of pine straw. However, a very cold winter can do them in. This happened a few years ago with an Angel's Trumpet planted in this exact spot. I used to dig it up every year, put it in a pot, and take it to the basement. Now I just leave it and hope for the best.
ReplyDeleteSuch a precious time just before the first frost. Did you get a frost? Is the brugmansia toast?
ReplyDeleteDear Philip,
ReplyDeleteI also love Rosa 'Buff Beauty', and thank you for your photos. I'm currently re-designing the bed near the rose and wonder which Miscanthus is in your photo. Many thanks,
Jeanne