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

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Path garden is waking up!

 Today felt like it should've been the first day of spring.  It was sunny and warm (around 60) with a gentle breeze blowing.  I spent the majority of the day working in the front yard, but had to see how the path garden was looking since it's pretty behind where it normally is this time of year.  I was happy to see that everything is waking up, in fact I was shocked at just how quickly some things had changed since I last looked.

 A look down the path from this morning.  It's hard to see in this picture both Clematises on the arbor have lots of new growth.  I know I should prune 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' back but it's so full of new growth, some of which look like flower buds, that I've decided to leave it and will prune when it's done blooming.  Geraniums are filling in along the deck.

Golden Mock Orange (Philadelphus) is leafing out.  I can't wait to smell it's pretty white flowers soon.

Old-fashioned Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is starting to grow much faster now after some warmer weather.

One of my and the hummingbirds favorite spring blooming shrubs is Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum).  I just love how it looks against the bark of the Ponderosa Pine.

Navelwort (Omphalodes cappadocica) 'Starry Eyes' is beginning to spread some.  It's flowers are a true blue, but tiny.  You need to get right down low to appreciate them.

Camellia japonica 'Marie Bracey'

Corylopsis (Winter Hazel) 'Buttercup' is a tricky one to photograph.  It has the softest butter yellow flowers.

 Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum commutatum) is popping up all over the place.  I'm so happy it continues to spread under this big rhododendron.

I also found flower buds on Epimedium, as well as tiny leaves emerging where I thought a mole's continually pushing up on another one had killed it, and flower buds on the fruiting currant bush.  Still no signs of life on a my favorite hydrangea in the path garden.   No signs of Uvularia or Virginia Bluebells yet either.
Sometimes I get so focused on one part of my garden that I sort of forget about other areas.  It's little signs of the path garden waking up that remind me of how pretty this part of the garden is in spring.  It just might be my favorite part of the yard this time of year.
Hope you are finding more and more of your garden waking up soon.
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

36 comments:

  1. I just love your path. It is nice to see it waking up for spring. It is amazing how fast those shoots grow once they get warmer weather.

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  2. Everything is looking fabulous! I love Solomon's Seal. I was so afraid I had lost mine, but it is back.

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  3. Oh so pretty! I miss my Clematis- if you do decide to prune it root the cuttings, mine always rooted easily. I've been wanting to get some root trainers just for cuttings- it'd make it so much easier than using sand. Solomon's Seal is one that I've always wanted to add to my yard, be sure to post some pics when it blooms! Do you know how hardy they are?

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  4. I love all the new growth and sprouts popping up. Very cool and exciting, Catherine.

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  5. Your garden is certainly waking up! I think it is so exciting finding new growth and blooms where only yesterday there were none - unless it's weeds! My garden woke up this month and promptly threw a party. Everything is in full swing. I am praying we won't have another frost!

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  6. Looks like fun stuff happening in your garden this spring!!

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  7. It's amazing what 2 days of mild temps and some sun can do! Just seeing the sun in your pictures feels so cheers! I'd love to pick your brain about pruning type C clematis. I have not attempted to prune mine yet. Cheers, Jenni

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  8. Your garden already looks like a butterfly that's halfway out of her cocoon! I can see that she'd be soon out and gorgeous!

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  9. Love the walk about! :-) Spring is springing!!

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  10. Tessa - I will post pictures of the flowers. I read they are hardy zones 4 - 9 so you should be able to grow them. I hadn't thought about rooting the Clematis, great idea!

    Jenni - Type C Clematis are the easiest to me. They bloom on new growth so you can either cut them down in fall or late winter. I usually do it late fall, but forgot to do some of them. You could prune them now and they'd probably be fine still. The more I prune my Type C's the more new growth I get from the roots. I usually leave about 1 foot of vine.

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  11. So nice to see a garden waking up. My garden does a similar act as soon as the Monsoons start. Now, all the plants seem listless because of the heat.

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  12. It is always a joy to see the garden come alive.

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  13. I am really excited to watch all the changes in your garden as the season progresses this year, Catherine. I haven't been on blogger for that long (a tad over 4 months in total) and so I've not yet visited you for a full year.

    Your garden was one of the first I discovered and I was instantly hooked for life! It's been so much fun watching all the changes to your front yard, as I was there from the beginning for that. You have one of those gardens that really appeal to me in a big way...I love everything about it!!!

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  14. How very pretty everything looks. I could spend hours just looking at all that is coming up in your garden. Enjoy your day.

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  15. Your garden is really waking up now. It's a lovely time of year with all the new growth. Always a pleasant surprise to be had.
    I was interested in finding out about the Solomon's Seal, so searched on your blog and found an older post with a photo of it in full bloom. Very pretty too.

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  16. How exciting seeing everything started to sprout. We have just finished Summer here in Australia, but my M&D's hydrangas have only just started flowering! They didn't think they were going to get any this year but they just were very late and have got 12" heads on them!

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  17. Hi Catherine,

    My pansies are covered in snow this morning, but I think they will be fine. The same thing happened last year after I put them in my front containers.

    Your garden is really looking lovely, especially the bleeding heart.

    Eileen

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  18. Looking good girl! Amazing how our plants respond to a little sunshine isn't it?

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  19. It's really alive isn't it? Wasn't yesterday just gorgeous from early in the morning. And, yes, I did get outside. Not to work but just to stroll around and I made it around the whole property! With the help of all the benches we've placed everywhere for me to rest on. LOL Even found a couple blooms. Love your Camellia - wish mine wasn't such a washed out pink.

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  20. Hi Catherine, Your spring garden is looking lovely. We were visited with another snow storm:( took a hugh spruce down on Tuesday and now all gardening has stopped until warmer weather returns. Hope the weather stays warm for you and you can stay gardening.

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  21. Love the tender new growth - there's just something about the newness coming up that gives me such a warm feeling. The pathway will all be a buzz soon with the bees and the blooms.

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  22. You have lots of pretties waking up. I saw some Solomon Seal at a garden center and toyed with the idea of getting it....think I will go back and get it.
    Your garden is glorious!

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  23. Catherine, the path is looking good. It's an adventure to check on the garden in the spring, isn't it? I hope your hydrangea shows up healthy. I love hydrangeas. We have quite a few in our yard. Never enough for me, though. :) I have a patch of variegated Solomon's Seal in the woods, but it does not spread, no matter how many gardeners tell me it will. Perhaps I need to dig some of it and try it in another location?
    ~~Rhonda

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  24. OOOH! I love Solomon's Seal. It is a classic I have to get this year. THanks for reminding me of it. Your's looks like it will be beautiful!

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  25. You have a beautiful garden. I've joined as a follower so I can watch your plants grow thru the summer. All the best from Kelli in Northern Ireland.

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  26. Thanks for the glimps into your Path Garden. Isn't it fun to see things coming back to live? Everything looks so healthy, fresh, and beautiful. I love the first picture with the arbor. When the clematis are blooming it will look gorgeous. I also like the blue color of your house and how the blue pots are picking it up, again. Very nice! Crossing my fingers that your favorite hydrangea has survived the winter.
    Christina

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  27. What a great post! I enjoyed my visit to your lovely blog. Wishing you happiness, Katherine

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  28. I love your path and its wonderful to see all you have waking up in your garden already. The Solomon Seal sprouts look like little soldiers standing at attention! and I love the look of the Pink Flowering Currant - I'm not familiar with that one but its so pretty! Thanks for the tour!

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  29. I too love your path. I would like to have one myself!

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  30. Isn't green such a wonderful color after a dreary winter? Your camilla is gorgeous. I miss being able to have those in the garden.

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  31. Your garden really is coming alive. Really pretty and so much more to come. Mock Orange is really late here.

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  32. Oh yes! Looks like spring has arrived! Lovely!

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  33. Catherine, All looks like it is doing really fine for you this Spring. Check my latest posting and you will see nothing but snow. One of these days, or is it months, Spring will come here too. I hang on waiting. My "anticipation" is running thin. Jack

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  34. Wonderful post! I just discover Corylopsis and now it seems I'm seeing it on everyones' blogs! Love that soft yellow...so delicate and sophisticated!

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  35. SO jealous of your garden! I have just started tackling mine, as well as the plots of several elderly and infirm neighbours in my community. In my head they will look like yours one day.... many, many back breaking hours in the future. lol.

    Angel

    http://greenthumbsandmuckypaws.blogspot.com/

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