‘Tis the Season- by Lacey
The beech tree is budding!
Usually the branches remain bare until the late months of April
when it finally bursts into an amazing dark purple.
(for those who haven’t seen a weeping purple beech I’d recommend it)
Usually the branches remain bare until the late months of April
when it finally bursts into an amazing dark purple.
(for those who haven’t seen a weeping purple beech I’d recommend it)
Its the uncommon warm weather we’ve experienced, the bright sunny
days that make you say “Is this really March, seriously?”.
Swelling buds, emerging tulips, and developing crab apple blossoms,
all things I love about the garden.
Is there anything better than the smell of warm topsoil and the feeling of
a good trowel in your hands? To a gardener in spring, probably not.
It makes me anxious for the time when I can take out the tomato cages, pull out the
Adirondack chairs, and hang the garden lanterns.
What are you doing to prepare your garden for spring?
Absolutely Amethyst
Who doesn’t love candytuft?
The cheery, clustered blossoms definitely shout spring. The wonderful plant provider Proven Winnershas released a brand new variety that is a must have for perennial gardens.
New ‘Absolutely Amethyst’ puts a spin on the typically snowy white blossoms. This new variety sports with lavender centers that fade to pale purple edges. This candytuft is absolutely perfect for a sunny bed or rock garden.
Well now that we’ve discussed one of the new must have spring blooming perennials, lets talk about the company that makes ‘Absolutely Amethyst’ and countless other new
varieties possible: Proven Winners!
Proven Winners maintains a focus on the sustainable production of plants that
are disease resistant and unsurpassed in flower production. We’re excited to feature Proven Winners on our website!
To find a Proven Winners retailer near you, visit
www.provenwinners.com
USDA Zones: 4a-9b
Exposure: full sun
Height: 10-12’’
Width: 8-10’’
Bloom time: late spring
Soil media: prefers well drained soil
Water requirements: average
Photo Attribution:
Proven Winners, www.provenwinners.com
Woman’s Work and Gloves
The sun beckoned me to the yard today. Okay, let’s be honest…it wasn’t that tough of a job for the sun. Today I grabbed one of my favorite pair of work gloves and my hand pruners and I spend a good portion of the day offering a bit of life support to a few areas of the yard. First, let me say a few words about these gloves. Most importantly, they fit like a glove. 🙂
That being said, I love them because they are so soft and they move with my every movement and, being made of leather, they have given me good years of service. They are Womans Work gloves and you can find them online at www.womanswork.com. I can’t say enough how much I love these gloves.
Once I was all gloved up I took to the flower bed near the back of the house and starting cutting back the coneflowers. I am ashamed to admit that this things should have been done in the fall so I am tardy. My only excuse is that we were in football playoffs? Luckily coneflowers are not very temperamental which is one reason I love them in my garden. When cutting back a coneflower you should trim it all the way to the ground. No need to leave any of the woody stocks as the plant will send everything anew each spring.
All in all it was a good day in the yard. I find that having the right tools and a pair of gloves that I love always makes for a more enjoyable experience. I hope you are enjoying your Spring Cleaning as much as we are!
Sunny Cottage Garden Border by Lacey
It’s never too early to get a jump start on garden planning!
This cottage garden border combines the charm of old favorites with the statement of bold colors for a season-long show. The arrangement of everblooming perennial beds takes the hassle out of annual plantings, while still providing continuous color. Return bloomers like coneflowers, tickseed, and cranesbill are great performers in this sunny bed. Accompanied by the bright blooms of campanula and dianthus, this vibrant mix provides early summer interest as well. The garden’s flashy display lasts from early to mid-June and stays until the frost.
Plant Materials Key
A- Dark Knight Bluebeard
· Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Dark Knight’
B- Whirling Butterflies Guara
· Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’
C- Big Sky after Midnight Coneflower
· Echinacea ‘Big Sky after Midnight’
D- Happy Returns Daylily
· Hemerocallis ‘Happy Returns’
E- Snow Cap Shasta Daisy
· Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Snowcap’
F- Caradonna Salvia
· Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
G- Geranium Rozanne
· Geranium ‘Rosanne’
H- Bath’s Pink Dianthus
· Dianthus ‘Bath’s Pink’
I- Jethro Tull Tickseed
· Coreopsis ‘Jethro Tull’
J- White Clips Carpathian Harebell
· Campanula carpatica CLIPS® White
Helleborus- The Lenten Rose
For those whose French is limited to munching on baguettes and the occasional donning of a beret,
fleur de jour is French for “flower of the day”. Alas, this post will not be a daily but weekly update onnew and otherwise must-have annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees for the garden.
But fleur de jour sounds much more beautiful than flower of the week (fleur de semaine). So without further adieu…..
In the midst of the commonly cold and blustery weather associated with the month of March, we find ourselves blissfully enjoying sporadic afternoons of friendly sunshine, if only for a few hours at a time. Sunny rays and patches of blue sky remind us that spring willcome, and that the lackluster palate of grays and browns will eventually give way into a watercolor spring. Are you ready to flourish your paint brush?
For splendid spring color that stands out against drab snow and tired evergreens, Lenten Rose are the perfect perennial plants for a kick start of color. Breaking through the snow in late winter/early spring they add a variety of color to beds and borders. Their glossy, evergreen leaves also work to add year round structure to your landscape.
Flower colors range from deep purples to cream and light green. Blossoms can be double or single based on the variety. New on the market his year are:
‘Merlin’ features single blossoms that emerge pink and then age to a deep burgundy
‘Onxy Odessy’ with dark purple double blossoms with red undertones
USDA Zones: 4a-9b
Exposure: morning sun/afternoon shade
Height: 12-18’’
Width: 15-18’’
Bloom time: late winter/early spring
Soil media: like most shade lovers, Hellebores prefer acidic to slightly acidic soil, but due to their easy-going nature, will survive in most soil conditions as long as the soil is well drained, and rich in organic matter
Water requirements: Hellebores are praised for their tolerance of neglect, but they perform best in evenly moist conditions
Photo attributions:
GAPphotos.com, Photographer Friedrich Strauss
National Garden Beauro Inc. ngb.org
Terra nova Nurseries, terranovanurseries.com
Waiting for Spring: starting a garden journal
Today I stepped outside and drew in a long lingering breath. Something in the air has changed.
The air, still crisp, smells just a little sweeter and the sun streaming through the glass door comes in at a slightly different angle.
The air, still crisp, smells just a little sweeter and the sun streaming through the glass door comes in at a slightly different angle.
Spring is trying to round the long curves of winter and burst through to the finish line.
My eyes skim the horizon and I see the faintest hint of green tipping the wispy edges of the willow tree. It won’t be long now.
My eyes skim the horizon and I see the faintest hint of green tipping the wispy edges of the willow tree. It won’t be long now.
I can open the shed doors and sharpen the Felco pruners. I’ll take stock of my mulches, mosses,
pre-emergent and fertilizers.
pre-emergent and fertilizers.
This year I will track my love of gardening in a simple journal given to me by my daughter. Kate,
Lace and I will embark on a journey to caress spring, knowing that if we do, she will embrace us as She always does. Would you like to come along?
Lace and I will embark on a journey to caress spring, knowing that if we do, she will embrace us as She always does. Would you like to come along?
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