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
Wow, I can see how it would seem overwhelming. It is a gorgeous garden on what I would think is a difficult site. They have tamed it well. So much to drool over. Great photos Phillip.
ReplyDeleteI too loved Gardener's Diary and mourned its loss. I've seen this garden in pictures before and it's amazing. Even though you were rightly overwhelmed you've done a nice job of giving a sense of it.
ReplyDeleteThis is insanely beautiful and inspiring. Thanks for the lovely photos. I have a similar but mostly shady woodland garden behind the house, a quarter acre or so that slopes downhill, and even that smallish size absolutely is overwhelming. Hopefully when I retire I can spend more time out there and get control of the ivy, periwinkle, wild strawberry, lamium, etc. that threaten to smother everything else.
ReplyDeleteI saw this great garden a few years ago when I was at Hardy Plant Study Weekend in Portland. I enjoyed it very much, in spite of it being nearly 100 degrees out that weekend. Thanks for sharing your photos and impressions of it. I hope you get a chance to go back.
ReplyDeleteI toured this garden when Fling was in Portland, and am determined to see it again some day. Their open HPSO days don't coincide with my trip to Portland for study weekend, so maybe next year !
ReplyDeleteIt is a disgrace that HGTV is now HTV. I wish they would put all those shows on dvd's. I would buy them.
ReplyDeleteSo lush and green, what a beautiful oasis.
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