It’s Spring Indoors
Remember those forsythia branches I brought inside last week to force? They’re blooming and bringing a little bit of sunshine into my dining room. I thought I’d share some of that sunshine with you today.
I’ll be cutting some more branches today when I’m at my mom’s and maybe some pussy willow branches as well. It will still be a few months until these are blooming outside. Until then, I’ll be enjoying a little bit of spring inside. Who need Valentine’s Day roses when you’ve got these?
What helps bring brightness & happiness to your day?
Filed under Flowers, Photos | Comments (14)Native Witch Hazel
The native witch hazel has been blooming for a while. It blooms much earlier and is less showy than it’s cultivated cousins. These photos were taken about a month ago.
Witch hazel is an understory tree, so it thrives in the woods or along the edges of the woods. It prefers the cool shady areas and with too much sun it will produce fewer blooms. These trees are located in the woods to side of our gardens. What a great plant it is since it blooms at this weird time. When the rest of the natural world is preparing for winter it bursts forth in radiant blooms, which will last into December.
Hamamelis virginiana was one of the first New World plants to be adopted for ornamental use by European horticulturists. As early as the mid-17th century, the plant was growing in private botanical collections in London. And it’s been a perennial favorite ever since. Witch-hazel has a rich history of use outside the garden setting. Traditionally, branches of H. virginiana were used as “divining rods” to locate underground sources of water. Also, extracts from the leaves, twigs, and bark were used to reduce inflammation, stop bleeding, and check secretions of the mucous membranes.
Since witch hazel usually blooms after most of the pollinators are gone, it doesn’t often produce seed. I think with the warm weather we’ve had this year, I may be able to find some seeds next year to plant along the edges of our woods.
What native shrubs or trees do you love?
Filed under Flowers, Plant Information | Comments (7)There’s Still Some Color
There’s still a little color left in the garden. We’re having unseasonably warm weather this November, after an very cold September ruined most of my fall crops. I still have a few things blooming in the gardens, providing some much needed color.
I have a few black-eyed susan’s blooming in one area of the garden (actually they’re growing out of the driveway).
My hanging baskets are hanging on, still providing some bloom and some food for bees. I keep watching them, if I see bees and small pollinators I leave them.
The bacopa is also blooming well and the bees are still enjoying it as well.
I have a few nicotianas that are still blooming as well.
Do you still have anything blooming if you live in a cold area? If you live in a more temperate climate, what blooms for you this time of year?
Filed under Flowers, Seasons | Comments (15)Cleaning up the Garden
Yesterday I spent some time in the afternoon cleaning up around the garden. I don’t do a ton of cleaning in the fall, I like to leave the seed heads for the birds. I have some zinnias up front that were very big and in spot that I wanted to plant some perennials.
Since I did not deadhead them this summer they were mostly spent with only a few fresh blossoms on a few of the plants. I cut those blossoms and pulled the rest of the plants. The flowers will be lovely on my kitchen windowsill for the next couple days.
This time of year I’m always clinging to the remainder of summer not wanting winter to arrive. I do love winter when it finally comes, but I find myself reluctant to let go the lushness of the summer with it’s colorful flowers and the warmth of the sun.
What will you miss most about summer?
Filed under Flowers | Comments (13)Green with Envy
I’ve declared my love for all flowers green here before. There’s just something about them that attracts me, perhaps it’s because they’re different. Someday I dream of having an all green garden filled with all flowers green and maybe a few white ones thrown in for good measure.
This year I bought some seeds for ‘Green Envy’ zinnias. I planted a few at my mom’s at the edge of my 3 sisters garden and I planted some out on our front hillside. I love how they glow in the shadows! The zinnias growing on my front hillside are mostly colorful ones: pink, orange, and yellow. I have a few green ones but they’re not as pretty as the ones growing at my mom’s. Must be the soil.
I do love zinnias, they’re wonderful flowers. Mine start to get pretty tall and a little tired looking this time of year. I always think about cutting them back, but I leave them for the bees & butterflies.
Have you ever thought about having a garden in all one color?
Filed under Flowers, New Plants | Comments (11)
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