I can't resist a good pun, and this is nothing like a good pun. I don't know what Box cultivar this is. I transplanted this as a seedling from the hedge out front that was here I when I bought Squirrelhaven. As the Woodland Garden is naturalistic, I do not shape it into the traditional Box ball.Here's an evergreen vignette
that provides winter interest when there is no snow. Pictured are what I believe is a Colorado Blue Spruce, Picea pungens (too big for growing under the power lines), a couple of Helleborus x orientalis cultivars with Heucherella 'Burnished Bronze' in front.
Just in time for Christmas, the snow melted to reveal the Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides). Also visible, but not living up to its name, is the Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) in bud.
The buds of H. niger always tease, looking as if they'll open in just a few days. Every year they just sit there sulking until about March, when they finally burst into bloom. The melting of the snow also revealed the foliage of Aquilegia vulgaris 'Woodside Strain.'
It always amazes me how a couple of days of above-freezing temperatures can make such a difference in the garden.
I can't imagine where Ladybugs go when there's a foot of snow on the ground. (Yes, it's alive.)
As if to make up for its complete lack of blooming last spring, the Witchhazel (Hammamelis 'Sunburst') is already showing color in its buds, coaxed nearly into bloom by the recent warmth. Don't worry, Sunburst, all is forgiven.
that provides winter interest when there is no snow. Pictured are what I believe is a Colorado Blue Spruce, Picea pungens (too big for growing under the power lines), a couple of Helleborus x orientalis cultivars with Heucherella 'Burnished Bronze' in front.
Just in time for Christmas, the snow melted to reveal the Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides). Also visible, but not living up to its name, is the Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) in bud.
The buds of H. niger always tease, looking as if they'll open in just a few days. Every year they just sit there sulking until about March, when they finally burst into bloom. The melting of the snow also revealed the foliage of Aquilegia vulgaris 'Woodside Strain.'
It always amazes me how a couple of days of above-freezing temperatures can make such a difference in the garden.
I can't imagine where Ladybugs go when there's a foot of snow on the ground. (Yes, it's alive.)
As if to make up for its complete lack of blooming last spring, the Witchhazel (Hammamelis 'Sunburst') is already showing color in its buds, coaxed nearly into bloom by the recent warmth. Don't worry, Sunburst, all is forgiven.(My apologies for the differences in script style and size on the photos. I'm still trying to get used to the text function on my photo editor.)
7 comments:
I would have promptly forgiven the witchhazel, too!
(And you know, this feeds right into my theory: That sometimes plants need a good kick in the rear--er, a post-worth of complaining about their lack of performance--in order to get them going.) :)
So that's what you meant by "Happy Box-ing " Day ?! How did you manage to kill a boxwood, the hardiest shrub just about in the entire world ? That boxwood looks dead to me.
Kim - I also subscribe to the practice of threatening my plants. I think its a kind of inverse Murphy's Law of gardening. I'm trying not to jinx it, but I will say I'm cautiously optimistic about the Witchhazel's performance come Spring.
Carolyn Gail - "It's not dead, it's just resting!" I looked at the Boxwood today, & it is much greener than it appears in the photo.
Yup, I threaten plants too--I remind them they're a shovel away from the compost heap, and it seems to inspire great behaviour in them afterwards. I'll look forward to seeing your Hamamelis burst into bloom; I have Dian(e)(a), a red-flowered cultivar, that I bought last year and that settled in REALLY well. We have heaps of snow again, if you're needing some....
Ah, Jodi, we got about 6" of the wet white stuff yesterday. Perfect packing snow, so my daughter & I made a snowman. I look forward to seeing pics of your Witchhazel. My sister really wants a Diana/e, but she hasn't figured out yet where she could put it.
MrMcDr, I just came by your blog the first time in some time. My reader is not telling me that you are posting. Hmmmmmm Iwonder why. I have just gone back to enjoy your holiday and since posts.
I do hope you enjoyed your holiday, and a great New Year to you.
Is your Witch Hazel blooming today? I bet is wants to with all this warm weather. Isn't it crazy??
Yes, Lisa, I was having feed problems, but I finally got it fixed. I'm not tech-savvy. The Witchhazel is still teasing me with glimpses of yellow. If it were sunny, I think the petals would unfurl.
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