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Swapping Huckleberries

Himalayan Honeysuckle ( Vaccinium glauco album)  Himalayan Honeysuckle ( Vaccinium glauco album) has been an attractive feature along our north-facing foundation since I planted it in 2016. You will have to take my word for it since I cannot locate a photo although I know one exists somewhere in the realm of the Internet or floating on a cloud somewhere.  I did locate a photo of how it looked when it was first planted - It took a few years to fill out but it did so nicely to an attractive mound about 2 feet high by 3 feet wide.  Last year, it started to look bad.  I cut it back but it had not improved and this is how it looked a few weeks ago - I decided to rip it out and plant another huckleberry - this time Vaccinium ovatum , more commonly known as the "Evergreen Huckleberry".  This is a plant that I've wanted for ages and kept putting off getting one because I could not find a good place for it. By most accounts, this is an amazing plant, a native one and excellent for

Back to the garden


I have been looking forward to today all week with the promise of sunshine, 50 degrees, and no wind or rain! Yipee for gardeners! 

Signs of life are apparent everywhere. The crocus is starting to bloom (the little bunch above is right near the entrance to the driveway, underneath a Dwarf Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi'). 

Other newly planted bulbs are also coming up and of course, I don't remember what they are -



I got a lot of tasks accomplished today. I pruned a few roses, more ornamental grasses and the hellebore foliage.

I planted some new things, including this Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus), which was a favorite in the Alabama garden.



And five new roses arrived from Antique Rose Emporium ('Cl. Pinkie', 'Lamarque', 'Red Cascade', 'Sea Foam' and 'Veilchenblau'). I planted 'Climbing Pinkie' today on the new pergola.



And, last but not least, I got 2 more loads of pea gravel spread over the quarter minus in the new courtyard area. That should be all the gravel I need so a major portion of it is completed and I can start concentrating on adding the plants.



A few plants that are really beautiful right now -


Juniperus conferta 'All Gold'


Sedum

Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' (Red Twig Dogwood)

Another nice day is forecast for tomorrow. Maybe I can get the remainder of the roses planted!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Doesn't it feel great to be able to get outside and accomplish something in the garden!?! Your new courtyard area is really coming together. I can't wait to see all the plants you put around and in it. We are to have some decent days this week too. I hope the weather holds so we can be outside.

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  2. It was beautiful yesterday ! You even got gravel down . I got most of the back garden tidied up , but still so much to do.

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  3. A fresh canvas is so much fun. I can't wait to see the climbing rose on that fantastic pergola!

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  4. beautiful photos
    I loved knowing your blog.
    janicce.

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  5. Fringe tree! That will be lovely.

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