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
That first photo is a stunner, Phillip! I noticed one tree in a neighbor's garden across the street has developed some color but I can't imagine ever getting much of a display in my own garden.
ReplyDeleteIt's finally starting to feel like autumn, isn't it? I was a little worried we wouldn't get much of anything this year. What is that ghostly white shrub in the last photo, please? It doesn't look like the ghost bramble, which - other than birch - is the only white winter presence I know of... It's a great break from all the darker barks that will emerge as the leaves drop.
ReplyDeleteAnna, those are just painted twigs in an urn (if you are referring to the white branches on the far right).
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