While I wait to plant and see color in the blank places, I'll enjoy the color that is going on in other parts of the garden.
Daffodil 'Dutch Master' is my first ever Daffodil to bloom from a bulb I planted. I love how bright it is.
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) blooming in the pond. I just repotted it a few weeks ago and didn't even see a bud, just noticed the flower yesterday.
Camellia japonica 'Kumasaka' is full of flowers.
The Hellebores in the front yard.
One of my fall containers still looking bright and cheerful.
Heuchera 'Berry Smoothie' has the prettiest coloring on the new leaves.
Heuchera 'Marmalade' has just taken off with new growth. Most of the Heucheras have really started putting out a lot of new leaves.
Mock Orange (Philadelphus) is one of my favorites right now. The color is so bright, not sure which variety it is because it came unnamed. I've been peeking between the leaves looking for signs of the fragrant white flowers that aren't too far away.The weather predicted is much cooler this week with highs in the upper 40's and lows in the mid 30's with rain. I usually check our weather forecast through NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). There is a place on the left side of the homepage where you enter you zip code and they give you a forecast based on your latitude and longitude and elevation.
Around here, if you don't get to the nursery early in the season all of the good/new plants are gone!! You have a lot to admire while you wait though.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Darla, you got plenty to look at for now Catherine.I wish I had those views.
ReplyDeleteDear Catherine, So much is happening in your garden that each day must bring some new excitement. It is, indeed, a wonderful time of year.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to be asked, and I am not, then I should echo your thoughts about taking your time over the planting of your side garden. It seems to me very sensible to mull things over, consider the aspect fully, enrich the soil, look at availability in the nurseries and only then decide. Might you go for a particular colour scheme in this area? And is it to be a mixture of shrubs and perennials or what? I shall so much look forward to seeing what is done.
Your daffs are way ahead of mine, which are taking their sweet time opening. You have plenty to enjoy for sure, but I totally get wanting more when an empty slate beckons to be filled! I must say, you are so good about remembering the names of your plants. Most impressive!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I have to get some Hellebores! I had them at my other home, but I thought I did not have room for them in my present house, but I will find some.
ReplyDeleteWe are in the high 40's, to low 50's but in this area we can turn to snow again very quickly.
Eileen
I'm with you Catherine - dying to go to the nurseries. I almost did one day but something came up. I did get those Hyacinths and Primroses to hold me off for a few. But then I don't have much blooming here like you do to keep me out of the nurseries. LOL
ReplyDeleteYou do have lots to enjoy while you wait... I am so envious but continue to wait here too... for the snow to melt. It is OK I have so much to do before the season begins. You have posted lovely blooms here Catherine! Your weather coming up looks to be similar to ours! I use NOAA too! Happy preparing your soil! ;>) Carol
ReplyDeleteThat camellia is so pretty! I can't wait for my spring bloomers to come along. Patience is a hard thing in the garden but I think waiting will make it all the more worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least if you have to wait you still have so much to enjoy in your garden - so much beauty! I am headed to the nursery today to try to snatch up some 1-gallons which always seem to sell out first :^)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures Catherine, and I agree waiting is HARD. There were some rose bushes being sold at a hardware store this weekend (cut to about 6 inches), I was so tempted, especially since they have 'Morden Sunrise' which I plan to add, and an absolutely gorgeous 'Love' (two toned). Can't wait to get started!
ReplyDeleteI love the color you have going on in your yard. Ooohhh beautiful hellebores and ooohhh that daff is so pretty too.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking like Darla about checking out what is available now. I bet you already did that. Waiting a month makes a lot of difference.
I know how you feel, I am soooo chomping at the bit to get out to the nurseries and plant, I have a whole newly done back yard to fill. There's nothing out there right now but some Doug firs and a Ceanothus. Lots of bare soil. Nice dark soil, but bare! Time to start sorting out my seeds and get growing!
ReplyDeleteOops, I meant to also say your hellebores and heucheras are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAlthough waiting is hard, your garden is already fabulous!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, You're a smart gardener, able to put aside your impetuosity for the sake of practicality. The time passes so quickly and I'm sure when you're looking back you'll thank yourself for waiting, as difficult as it is.
ReplyDeleteYour 'Berrie Smoothie' looks a lot like my 'Georgia Peach.' Deliciously deep pink leaves. Love it. I've got 'Marmalade' too. It's gorgeous. I'm finding that keeping my heucheras in pots rather than in the ground keeps them protected during the winter.
Your hellebores with their lush foliage and flower are just delightful. Your Marsh Marigold is white? Mine are yellow and I'd love to find a white flowered variety.
Love your daffodil! Bragging rights, girl!!
Hi Catherine. I know exactly what you mean. The last month of waiting seems endless. I am longing to get outside and do something in the garden, even if it just means cleaning up. You have a wonderful clump of hellebore. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Catherine girl !
ReplyDeleteOH MY !! Your hellebore look absolutely gorgeous : )
All of your plants do but I am a hellebore maniac and loved seeing that shot .. I also have Marmalade heuchera and they are so pretty too. Pinot Gris is amazing as well. I was just working in my garden and it was so wonderful .. only another gardener knows how wonderful that is right ? I can't wait to hunt plants soon too : )
Your post put a huge smile on my face girl !
Joy
Hi Catherine~~ Do you know how to get a hold of "HeatherF1"? She has you on her blog roll but from what I can tell doesn't have a blog. Email, perhaps? Thanks, Grace
ReplyDeleteGood to wait. I just saw a snowflake fall from the sky! So spring is not really here after all. How confusing for the plants and critters, it must all be! I hope they don't suffer as a result. It will all come together in time and I know the care you have taken to make all the other parts of your garden so lovely will spill over into this previously-neglected spot. Nice to have a blank canvas sometimes! Gorgeous blooms as always.
ReplyDeleteMust be hard resisting temptation to plant up that bare soil Catherine but you are doing the right thing.
ReplyDeleteI bought heuchera 'Berry Smoothie' late last September and after seeing the new foliage on yours, I can't wait for mine to put on some new growth :
Thanks for all your very nice compliments. I know we're all ready and waiting. So glad more and more people are finding spring and warmer weather outside now!
ReplyDeleteGrace - I don't have any contact info for her. I don't think she has a blog either, I've looked for one for her before. It's possible she has one that isn't on blogger though.
Lots of lovelies! I just live for this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThe camelias and hellebroes are just amazing. You give us all a fresh breath of Spring.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine, More pretty flowers! You are way ahead of us but today it is 70* in GA so maybe soon, I will have some blooms to share. In the meantime, I thoroughly enjoy your photos. That Heuchera Marmalade is so nice.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty flowers, and so unusual for me. I love your Hellebores and the daffodil. We never see them in these parts.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful to see all that color -- something for me to look forward to in another 4-6 weeks. -Jean
ReplyDeleteYou always have the most gorgeous photos..just awe-inspiring..beautiful! I always fall in love with soemthing new when i visit here! Fantastic! have a great night!
ReplyDeleteKiki~
Catherine,
ReplyDeleteLovely post, you have on of the prettiest hellebore clusters I have ever seen. Enjoyed the mock orange also.
The flowers are spectacular! Thanks for sharing them with all of us northerners who still have snow on the ground.
ReplyDeleteCheerful is what I would say your flowers are saying. They cheered me up. The photos are great with all that color. we still have snow on the ground although the weather was in the forties today. A few green bumps are emerging from the dirt...at last.
ReplyDeletesorry about that I left clay and limestone as my address because I had coppied her address to visit. here is my real address.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great blog your photo are really nice & you look to me like a really good gardener I like Photography & Maybe you might wish to publish a few really macro close up photos like I use with some of the flowers on my photography blog i feel you might make some great shots.
ReplyDeleteWow, you have a lot more going on in your garden than we do here. We are finally getting warmer temperatures. It has been a long cold winter. I know how you feel about trying to resist the urge to buy plants.
ReplyDeleteOur landscape is still deep under snow, but the air is filled with steam from the maple sugarers. Spring is coming. I love your heucheras. I'd like to add Berry Smoothie.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine. I agree about the anticipation...
ReplyDeleteit's almost like a drug. The joy of the seed catalog is like no other.
Catherine, your blooms are so pretty and seem to be saying, "Look at me, look at me."
ReplyDeleteWe see a lot of Marsh Marigolds growing wild in the early spring, but they are always a deep gold/yellow. The white one you have by the pond looks so delicate.
donna
Spring is happening in your garden girl. And yes, I love to admire the neighbor’s plants when in sight of my yard such as your neighbor’s forsythia! Heck, I enjoy total strangers yard when driving around town, hee hee. Our forsythia should be beautiful in a few days or so. We hit 77 today and I was thrilled to be outside wearing shorts!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, yes the waiting is the hardest part. Well next to digging up all the frost killed plants that we put in too soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely growth you have. Is that a golden mock orange? It looks kind of like the limey green leaves on mine.
Jen
The way your garden is looking, I wouldn't be able to wait! It looks so far along ~ I'd be tempted to go out and buy then cover if the weather took a nasty turn. You never know ~ you might just be in for a very long growing season. Wouldn't that be wonderful? It's just gorgeous there ~ so much color. I never realized before but don't camellia blooms look a bit like tuberous begonia blooms? Just struck me. So happy for you that you got a daffodil to bloom! That will encourage more planting won't it?!! It would for me.
ReplyDeleteLove the marsh marigold. It's so fun to learn about water plants. I can't wait to try a few new ones this year.
In Puercorico USA, buying plants is not an option for yours truly,
ReplyDeletethat is why I collect/swap.
Of over 120 identified species, perhaps ten were bought in nurseries.
There is no imagination in the offer by
most nurseries always the same dull plants....those making the greatest margin of profit.
Oh my goodness...all that color !
ReplyDeleteLove ,love the Hellebores they're amazing.
Hmmmm.... wonderful springpics:-) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAntigonum Cajan - That's impressive! You're right, often I visit the nursery just to keep seeing the same things again and again.
ReplyDeleteJen - It is a golden Mock Orange, I love the color!
You have a lot of plants coming along. We're still waiting on our first daffodils.
ReplyDeleteEvery year we hold our breath, waiting to see if a frost will kill off our wisteria buds.
As usual your hellebore is lovely!
Amazing how much you have in bloom! I agree waiting is the hardest part!
ReplyDelete