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 fell in love with this fuchsia too. I tried growing it outside and, to its credit, it made it through our summer if not into the following year. It's just too dry for it to thrive in my borders here, although I might be tempted to try it again in a large pot inside my lath house.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely!
ReplyDeleteFuchsias grow well in Sunset 24 where I grew up--23, just one zone inland, not so good. Yours are spectacular.
My Hawkshead tends pink here in Napa-I assume it's the heat since Anabelle pinks up in summer too. It's a prolific bloomer from the moment it leafs out in April.
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