"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Promises, promises.

I've been noticing that my garden is already making promises to me. As I work to cleanup and cutback perennials and rake leaves I see signs of new flowers to come already. The Grape hyacinth foliage is sprouting to remind me not to dig there as I search for an empty spot for bulbs. Foxglove seedlings are nice and sturdy, and should be ready to bloom early next summer. Verbena bonariensis and other perennials are getting nice seed heads that will sprinkle new plants throughout the garden. Buds are setting on many of my spring flowering shrubs like the Lilacs and Winter Daphne.

My Pieris japonica 'Purity' is full of flower buds that will open to show beautiful white flowers in spring.

The Camellia Japonicas are developing lots of buds as well.

Rhododendrons are getting their flowers set so we can enjoy the gorgeous reds and purples they share in spring.

Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) have new growth coming up already and I even see flower buds in some of them, which does actually seem a little early. The Corsican Hellebores (Helleborus corsicus) are beginning to form flower buds as well.

I've finished planting my bulbs and have made the squirrels promise they won't dig them up. So far they are keeping it, although they wouldn't put anything in writing. I kept a promise to myself that I would get those bulbs planted this fall and I don't want them interfering with my vision of pretty groupings of tulips, crocuses and alliums in spring.
It's these promises from the garden that will get me through the months of winter. I just hope that we don't have a winter that will cause any of my plants to break their promise.
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25 comments:

  1. Hello Catherine,

    Isn't it nice to get a preview of what is to come in spring? We can grow Camellias here, but it is a little difficult. We constantly have to acidify the soil (ours are alkaline), for them to look good.

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  2. Hi Catherine, I´m so happy to see so many buds of camelias, helleboros and Purity (I think I don´t know this one). I have one camelia in buds know and the other ones finished their flowering, this one is a very late one. When my garden is fading away I will enjoy yours!!!
    Thank you for stopping by.
    Muchos cariños
    María Cecilia

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  3. Hi Catherine, so you've put all your buds in the beds... Then I'm feeling that I'm a bit behind you sice mine are still standing in the hall. And today I wondered why I bought so many the other day... I've already planted hundreds of bulbs in that raised bed. And now we've had a couple of days with rain and storm so I don't even want to go outside. But I want to enjoy all those tulips, daffodils and alliums next spring. Hope we'll get a better day tomorrow so my bulbs will be planted to. Are you abel to keep that camelia out all winter? (and NO, I don't play the drums "lol")

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  4. Your yard is looking lovely, all ready for winter. I planted tulip bulbs yesterday. Yellow ones. It is still nice here. I'm wearing shorts. And Master Carpenter Robert is atop my pavillion working on the roof. I shall have such fun decorating all that for springtime!
    Brenda

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  5. No broken promises from plants is a good thing. I just finally finished planting my bulbs yesterday. Now if I could just get those seedlings planted... Great looking buds on that rhodie!

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  6. That sounds nice Catherine. Wow - buds already. I am looking forward to spring. I am getting some beds ready for more stuff and enlarging them too.

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  7. Hiya Catherine

    I always like the way little rosettes appear at the base of sedum promising next years growth.

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  8. Seeing these buds set certainly gives us lots to look forward to in the Spring. I'm hoping your squirrels keep their promises! Hope you are having a nice afternoon Catherine.

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  9. It does give one hope seeing all of those buds for next Spring. Here we all are counting down to Spring already ;-) We really need our flowers.

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  10. I guess I should go see if I have any promises. I know I've sure enjoyed getting outside 3 days this week. Can't believe those little bugger butts won't promise you in writing cause I'd like one in writing myself and it's concerning my seeds. I finally figured out where my Columbine seeds went. I think they ate them and left some chipmunk poo in place of the seeds. Ya think? I can't think of any other reason they would have disappeared!!!
    Looks like you have lots sprouting already - how thrilling for you.

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  11. What a good post and how true. Lovely photos.

    Also I may owe you an apology or it may be someone else not sure.

    With all the talk on RainGardeners blog about stealing posts. I have to confess some months ago I copied a photo but it was an IT practise to see if I could, not for me to use. It was put in my pictures and once I'd figured out how to do it it was deleted.

    Just didn't want anyone thinking I make a habit of it. I think I was trying to work out sizes and how to get photos on my blog a bigger size. Someone maybe you told me about Picasa but I still can't get Blogger to load the uRL from Picasa.

    All this IT makes my head ache.

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  12. I love looking for signs of the spring to come, too. I see you have 'Purity' which I also have, but mine has buds that have turned red! It's the fall thing.

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  13. Isn't it amazing to see those plants already setting buds for their next bloom season? What an encouraging sight as winter approaches.
    Your fall color photos are glorious. You've captured the golden glow of the sun on the leaves perfectly.
    What a pretty pond you have, and I love that waterlily. You do such a great job with your garden.

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  14. Isn't it wonderful to see signs of next year's garden already? I always look for the native azalea buds in the fall.

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  15. You planting your bulbs is a good reminder for me. I need to do that.

    How nice to see Helleborus coming up, but it does seem a bit early.

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  16. Your garden is definitely showing lots of promise for next year Catherine. It's really encouraging to see. Maybe the early buds on the hellebores mean we'll have a short winter? I think that's more like wishful thinking on my part! It's such a good feeling to get all your bulbs planted, isn't it? I hope your squirrel leaves them alone so we can see them bloom next spring too.

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  17. I too haves lots of buds on my Camellia Japonica. Hellebores...don't have any...no winter flowers. :(
    Your garden looks like it will be a healthy, happy one come spring.
    Lets hope the weather dosen't disappoint us.

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  18. I wish I knew how to get the squirrels to promise not to touch my pomegranates! I enjoyed reading your post!

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  19. I love Camellias! Looks like you are going to have lots of color! Pieris is such a cool plant.

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  20. Squirrels are, by most accounts, notoriously fickle. I'd keep an eye on them.

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  21. Catherine~~ These little promises sure lift the spirits, don't they? I've got buds on some of my early-spring bloomers too. The Sarcococa usually starts blooming in early January and so far seems to be right on course. Have you considered laying chicken wire over your bulb plantings? I use it to keep my cats from digging. It works great and is very unobtrusive. Kudos for looking out for RG! You're a good friend.

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  22. I'm inspired! I need to go finish some fall clean-up, and see what's poking up....oh, and get those 600 bulbs into the ground...

    But it's hard to convince myself to go out with the wind and rain we're having today...

    Did you find a reason for snipping off the rose hips? I've always let mine go to hip for interest too. Interested in what Ciscoe has to say about it.

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  23. Spring bulbs are so worth the effort, but I wouldn't trust those squirrels. They are liars!

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  24. Wonderful promises. I love to see signs of seasons to come in nature. It's so exciting to see how far ahead nature prepares-- Like your camelia buds all ready for spring and ready to wait until it comes. Nice post.

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