Archive for the 'Life in the secret garden' Category
Now that the snow has melted, for the most part, broken branches picked up from the windstorms, and it’s raining once again–winter is as it should be in the Pacific Northwest.
The winter garden charms me with detail and structure and surprise. The photo is of one of the small dogwood’s (cornus florida–Cherokee Princess) bark. Details lost in the abundance of Spring and Summer offer quieter entertainment during the short days of winter as long as it’s clement enough to wander outside.
I’ve become a weather weenie. Yesterday, it was chilly with a brisk wind. I worked outside for an hour, moving at a brisk pace while gathering storm debris, trimming frost damage, and shaping shrubs. It is the first day in a couple weeks it was nice enough to do any gardening. The unusually harsh winter makes me doubly grateful I planned the garden to be enjoyed from the house.
Posted by Evanne @ 6:00 am |
Merry Christmas!
For all those wanting a white Christmas, here’s the snowdrift on the deck outside my office. I was thinking about going to the store yesterday, but I stayed in. Brrrr.
How’s your weather doing?
Posted by Evanne @ 6:00 am |
November Cheer (schizostylis coccinea) comes in several pretty shades of pink as well as an elegant snowy white variety. The grass like foliage is unobtrusive most of the year. Late fall through early winter it blooms steadily.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 6:00 am |
An evergreen viburnum, the label said Spring Bouquet, but I have another entirely different cultivator with the same name. So, who knows? Whatever the name it’s a very nice plant with no drawbacks. Unfussy, handsome dark green leaves, pink buds, white flowers,and bright blue berries. They’re common as grass around here, but that doesn’t diminish the plant’s charms.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 6:00 am |
Snow adds a fresh layer of interest to the false cypress and heather on the small deck off the office.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 6:00 am |
Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is pictured in one of the fall container plantings. It’s one of those really cool little plants that needs to be seen up close to be appreciated. It likes cool summers, some shade, acid soil, and is generally fussy. I tucked a few in with purple winter pansies, and a bronze sedges. The left overs went in this pot where they’ll look festive all winter. In the summer. it’s back to a shady corner for the wintergreens.
PS Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 6:00 am |
Here’s the front border in all four season–
Spring, with narcissus Thalia and May Wonder Tulips, brightening the rising perennials.
Summer, with the band of daisies, meadow rue, perennial geraniums, and white malva showing off against the greenery.
Fall with the confetti of falling leaves decorating the border and lawn.
Winter with a rare dusting of November snow. The birch bark gleaming white against the evergreen shrubs and the rocks that anchor the bed are visible.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 6:00 am |
This is my favorite of the Japanese maples. There’s no cultivator name to go with it, because it grew from a volunteer seedling. I love volunteers.
Back to the maple, the small tree (ten to twelve feet high so far) has no drawbacks. It looks good all year round, but every autumn it puts on the show you see above. It brightens even rainy days–good thing–that’s what we have around here.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 6:00 am |
This is one of my favorite fall color corners. From left to right–the yellow leaves belong to Rugosa Rose Blanc Double de Coubert, deep red leaves belong to Hamamelis Diane( witch hazel), and the peach/coral is Acer Cernatum (native vine maple).
Though it looks like a rather immature hazelnut tree all summer long, Witch Hazel, especially Diane, is cherished as a fragrant winter bloomer, and rightly so. But, I don’t understand why no mentions the spectacular autumn foliage. The ruby red leaves really stand out in the fall.
The rugosa pictured is equally neglected as a fall color spot. Summer time it has deep green, healthy, and faintly pleated leaves. Not to mention wonderful double white flowers with a perfume that makes passer-bys linger inhaling deeply.
One member, or another, of the maple family anchors a lot of my favorite plantings. In this group the vine maple, is no trouble whatsoever and contributes to the garden all year round. Spring leaves are fresh little buds of bright yellow-green, summer it’s a nicely shaped shrub with little red helicopters decorating every twig, fall the leaves turn lovely coral shades, and winter it has interesting grayish bark.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 6:00 am |
Sweet Autumn Clematis, most of the year it’s a plain green vine, but then along come October then I remember why I planted it.
Posted by Evanne Lorraine @ 1:00 pm |
When both Hunter and Tru bond with Amber their mating triangle threatens everything they hold dear.
Determined to help rescue the princess, Cassandra agrees to act as the dragons’ sex slave, but can she guard her heart from the dominant males?
Camille, a plump, sweet-natured breeder, is caught in New Eden’s endless war with Baldor. Her mates, Jaxon and Aegis, need cunning and courage to rescue her. They need a miracle to capture her heart.
Werewolf-whisper Daniel is the only one who can heal Scarlet’s broken werewolf connection. If he succeeds then the pack’s needs will eclipse his claim on her heart. But if he fails, they'll both die.
A lonely woman finds passion with a dominant much younger lover, when she tries to leave she learns her new master plays for keeps.
One dangerous warrior woman plus two rogue demon males equals a love to threaten an empire.
Getting paid to watch Eduardo is Desiree’s dream assignment, but when he reaches out to her, crossing the line, everything changes.
Deep in her secret heart, she lusts for a sexy pirate who’d be her master and commander in the bedroom. But, this man may be too dangerous
She finds paradise in the arms of twin brothers, but their law demands she chose one warrior to mate and one to die.
One woman, two men, three wounded hearts--though already mated their love is still forbidden.
