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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

Weeping China Doll rose and Rose Campion






Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Phillip tell me about the rose campion. I just ordered seeds of a white rose campion and would love to know how it does for you. Sun or shade? Self seeding? Any info would be helpful. I am really focused on filling in the white garden here.

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  2. David, it is a wonderful old fashioned annual that reseeds freely. It does fine in my garden with just a little sun - maybe 3 or 4 hours a day. It may pop up in surprising places but you can easily pull it out.

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  3. What a beauty. Any nibbles on your house?

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  4. Very nice Phillip! Any bites on the house yet?

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  5. Lisa and Carol, a few lookers but nothing serious yet. I am afraid the garden is going to be a liability. :(

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  6. I love that China Doll rose! I like it combined with the bright Rose Campion.

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  7. Are you serious?? It's CRAZY that your beautiful garden is seen as a liability.

    Is it because people are intimidated by the idea of maintaining it? Or do that many people really prefer a sterile lawn?

    As for rose campion, I feel like a failure because I've tried direct sowing it a few times in the garden and have never gotten any results. (Either that or I've mistaken the seedlings for weeds and accidentally killed them, which of course is a possibility.)

    I probably need to find annual seedlings someday, plant them and then let them self-sow...

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  8. the right person will come along. one that will take good care of it!

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  9. Aaron, I am sure it would be the maintenance! There are not a lot of people that enjoy that! haha

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  10. Beautiful roses :)

    Have you decided if any of your roses will be coming with you when you move?

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  11. Phillip, You shared a rose with me several years ago and I believe it is the weeping china doll. It is very ruffled and I used it to make some beautiful arrangements for a church luncheon. You weren't sure at the time what rose you were sharing. Just wanted to say thanks. Sherry

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