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
I do this with my 'William Baffin' rose and it responds really well, growing flowering canes all along the latent buds. I think you'll be pleased. And I also do some pruning during the summer months as well. There is no reason to wait until the dormant season. If a cane is being a nuisance, it goes buh-bye. That last photo is beautiful. What a lovely rose.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be amazing when it starts blooming on all of those exposed canes. What a mess to deal with tho. I hope your experiment goes well.
ReplyDeleteI do like the idea of "vertical gardens and finding new ways to fit in more plants". After all, who among us isn't tempted by just one more...
ReplyDeleteI've never grown a rose and I hope your plan yields the results you are looking for. Last year's photo is beautiful, but I just wonder if 'Climbing Iceberg' is just too vigorous. Looking forward to summer update. (typing "summer" felt good.)
The flowers looks so beautiful, I love roses
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