Adonis amurensis ‘Chichibu Beni’
Another of the Adonis is making the first steps toward Springtime. Â It’s not as big and showy as the yellows but somehow that orange color is arresting at this time of year.
The yellow Adonis ‘Fukujukai’ continues to be the big attention getter in the yard with its near perfectly shaped flowers.
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
But we also have the Winter Aconite stepping forward, in fact creeping forward into the lawn.
Eranthis hyemalis spreading into the lawn
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis )
I’ve even seen the first crocus showing up in the lawn.
First crocus in the lawn
What could be a better sign of spring. Â Unless perhaps it’s the Jeffersonia about to open its first bud.
Jeffersonia dubia in bud
The korolkowii crocuses continue to flower in the Alpine bed.
Crocus korolkowii ‘Agalik’
This fine weather (except for a minor reversion to colder weather today) has allowed me to get loads of compost in from the local landfill and begin top dressing the gardens.
Compost from our landfill operation
It’s so good to work in the soil again.
Meanwhile in the greenhouse the little Thlaspi rotundifolia has been spreading a honey sweet fragrance way beyond the size of the flowers.
Thlapsi rotundifolia
And a splendid Hesperantha that came from last year’s Pacific Bulb Society distributions is just coming into bloom.
Hesperantha paucifolia
What a great start to the year!
Intimations of Springtime!
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’ opening up
When the Adonis light up the yard I always feel like a light bulb has been turned on for springtime. Â Yes, I know that there are still snowy days in our future but the Adonis can usually tolerate that and in the meantime they take full advantage of today’s 50 plus temperatures. Â When I see them, I have to ask the rhetorical question ‘why doesn’t everyone plant Adonis’? Â Of course slow-growing, expensive, and not easily available are parts of the answer. Â But sometimes the good things take patience. Â The March Bank at Winterthur is full of Adonis. Â And has been for over one hundred years.
Adonis are part of the ranunculus family and have all the sturdiness that implies as well as the brilliant yellow that runs in the family.
Adonis ‘Fukujukai’
Apparently although Fukujukai is often listed (as I have done in the past) as a cultivar of Adonis amurensis it is actually a naturally occurring sterile triploid hybrid between Adonis ramosa and Adonis multiflora. Â That would explain it’s vigor and early flowering.
There are other indicators of spring today. Â The Chinese Witch Hazel is very much in flower as well.
Chinese Witch Hazel (Hamamelis mollis)
And the Winter Aconite is not far behind.
Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
Even the Jeffersonia is showing buds that it may wish to reclaim after the next cold snap.
Jeffersonia dubia in bud
I was surprised to see the newest of my Fritillaria from Augis’ Bulbs rising up in the Alpine Bed.
Fritillaria stenanthera Karatau
This should be interesting indeed.
Of course the Red Camellia still has no sense of the season. Â I should end this posting with that out of character plant.
Red Camellia Japonica starting early
Collecting Rocks
Pink Marble Rock showing lots of white
One thing that a rock garden needs is rocks, so I am always in the market for interesting rocks. Â When the local chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society said it was planning a trip to a local quarry to harvest rocks, I was all for it. Â Especially on Inauguration Day when I wanted some productive distraction.
It was a rainy overcast day which didn’t help the aspect of driving into the quarry which is almost canyon-like after years of harvesting rock. Â Despite the mud and wet, cold weather it’s actually a very beautiful place which you would never see unless you were part of a similar expedition.
Entering the Quarry
The slope was steep enough that having my wheelbarrow was less use than I expected, unless you are accustomed to pushing up 30 degree slopes.
Lot’s of Rocks but on a steep hill for getting them out
The most desirable rock was (of course) at the bottom of the hill.
The beautiful pink marble was near the bottom of the hill
By the time I got each individual rock up to the truck I was huffing and puffing like a steam engine. Â Nonetheless they were worth the effort.
Pink Marble Rock
I had two concerns that limited my collecting efforts.  One, the sheer physical difficulty, and then two, the fact that the truck was parked on a steep muddy hill and whether I would be able to get it out again.
Cars were parked at the bottom of a muddy road.
Truck wishing it was 4-wheel drive
Turn-around spot was a mud-hole
However, I did manage to get out with only a mild amount of wheel spinning.
Some of the rocks had beautiful crystalline structure.
Rock showing lots of calcite crystals
And one very special rock up at the office illustrated what limestone can do.
Complex limestone formation
In the end I only brought home about a dozen rocks but they are beautiful and I’m sure they will find a place in our gardens.
Rock harvest
If the club runs a similar field trip in the future I am ready to sign up for a repeat visit.
First Crocus for 2017
Crocus korolkowii ‘Agalik’
Well the first crocus for this year popped out on a 53 degree day today.  Although it gives the illusion of being a double crocus it’s really just double-nosed if such a descriptor can be applied to a crocus.  In other words it’s two separate flowers but beautiful nonetheless.  Apparently this is not unusual for the species.  RukÅ¡ans in his marvelous reference ‘Buried Treasures‘ says that as many as 20 flowers can be found coming out of a single corm.  I mentioned in an earlier post that you can get these little early blooming gems Augis’ Bulbs in Lithuania but they can also be obtained from Odyssey Bulbs in Massachusetts.  How we missed growing this crocus all these years is beyond me.
And close by, just starting to open in the new alpine bed, is the related variety Crocus korokowii ‘Marble Tiger’ with distinct markings on the outside of the petals.
Crocus korolkowii ‘Marble Tiger’
Crocus korolkowii ‘Marble Tiger’
Ironically, in the greenhouse, we have star flower which almost has a similar appearance.
Tristagma sellowianum
Another spot of yellow in the greenhouse is one of the small narcissus.
Narcissus romieuxi ‘Julia Jane’
I noticed today that the first flowers are appearing on an alpine plant that I started from seed last January.
Round-leaved Pennycress (Thlaspi rotundifolium)
This is distinctly unimpressive thus far, though in the Dolomites it had tons of flowers covering the plants, almost like a cushion.  I’ll put it outside this spring and maybe it will be more floriferous with a cold winter.
Also blooming in the greenhouse (still) is the South African Cyrtanthus that first came into bloom over a month ago. Â This is a winner.
Cyrtanthus mackenii
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day January 2017
Algerian Clementine (Citrus clementina)
As you might imagine the lead photo from this month’s Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day is not growing outside.  In fact all these flowers came out while the little Clementine was living in the basement.  I find the citrus do quite well in the basement with minimal light and hardly any watering.  But once it started to flower like this (it is covered with flowers) I decided I better make room for it in the greenhouse where it might actually get some light.  And who knows maybe it will get pollinated as well as I don’t exclude insects from the greenhouse.  I had put the citrus in the greenhouse originally and they had lots of disease and insect problems that I now attribute to too much watering.  I’ve since slowed my greenhouse watering schedule in the wintertime and perhaps it will work out better this time.
Meanwhile, as the song says ‘The weather outside is frightful’, or at least it’s been cold enough that not much is happening.  That’s probably good for the plants in the long run but I can’t help looking at the few things that are starting to grow, as in snowdrops.
Galanthus nivalis
Just as regular as can be, the snowdrops are back again and right on schedule.
We also have a red camellia japonica that always wants to be first off the mark.
Red Camellia opening
Meanwhile the Adonis are very close to blooming.
Adonis amurensis ‘Fukujukai’ in bud
Just a couple more 50 degree days will see these guys opening up with their bright yellow flowers. Â And then they will stay in bloom until April.
Another flower that is on the verge (stay tuned) is the new crocus that’s been planted in the new alpine bed.
Crocus korolkowii ‘Marble Tiger’
These were in the collection that I ordered from Augis’ Bulbs this year.  They have a wonderful selection and you can order by personal check.
The other flowers are in the greenhouse. Â In addition to the oxalis, the hoop daffodils are still making a show.
Narcissus ‘Taffeta’
Narcissus seedling ex Roy Herold
I also wanted to share the planting of our Christmas tree.  We’ve had a family tradition of purchasing a live tree and then planting it outside after Christmas.  The first tree was a white pine that was planted 40 years ago in the middle of the backyard. It is probably 40 ft tall at this point.  The trees have been moving further from the house by necessity.  Most recently we’ve started a little grove at the bottom of the pasture.
Kubota with extensions on bucket to move the Christmas tree
Hollowing out a hole for the Christmas tree
Son Josh helps get this year’s tree (a Douglas Fir) in place
Well, that’s the state of gardening on our hillside today.  Let me close with a shot of the Heavenly Bamboo taken this morning after an overnight rain.
Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica)
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day December 2016
Red Cattleya Orchid
Well real winter has arrived just in time for bloom day. Â I took a walk around the yard and could not discover a single flower outside. Â That is very rare. Â I found one camellia bud that was seriously considering blooming.
Red Camellia Bud
But the outside looks to be in for a cold spell. Â The real flowers are in the greenhouse or in the house at this point. Â The house spectacular is the red cattleya orchid that blooms every year at about this time.
Red Cattleya Orchid
It has a marvelous fragrance to compliment the exotic flowers.  This orchid spends the whole spring, summer,and fall on the  porch with zero care, so it’s very nice that it rewards us with these flowers when we bring it inside for the winter.
Another plant that has been sharing it’s flowers with us in the kitchen actually came from the greenhouse. It’s Cyrtanthus mackenii, part of a large genus in the Amaryllis family.
Cyrtanthus mackenii
This south african native blooms for a long period with a succession of long tubular flowers and seems to relish being crowded in the pot.
Cyrtanthus mackenii close-up
Another greenhouse plant that is very consistently flowering after thanksgiving is Daubenya stylosa.
Daubenya stylosa
The beautiful yellow stamens are an absolute magnet for slugs. Â I didn’t actually know that I had slugs in the greenhouse until the Daubenya started blooming.
There are numerous oxalis still in bloom, such as this purpurea.
Oxalis purpurea ‘Cherry’
The next flowers coming into bloom are the small hoop daffodils. Â Silver Palace is an example.
Narcissus cantabricus ‘Silver Palace’
Narcissus cantabricus ‘Silver Palace’
I think this is about the third year of blooming and they are starting to fill the pot quite nicely.
I had a little thrilling adventure in the greenhouse last week. Â I looked at the weather station that I keep in the utility room to monitor the greenhouse temperature and saw, to my dismay, that the temperatures were dipping close to freezing. Â By 2am the temperature showed to be 33 degrees so I found myself out in the greenhouse checking on the function of the two heaters that I use to keep the temperatures up. Â They both seemed to be working ok and plants seemed to be handling the cold so I went to bed. Â In the morning I saw the temperature had dipped to 31 degrees. Â What then discovered was that I had been looking at the ‘old’ weather station. Â Last year I put in a new one and moved the ‘old’ sensor to the garage. Â When I put a new battery in the ‘new’ weather station it dutifully reported temperatures closer to 50 degrees which is more what I had in mind.
Just ask this Gerbera if 50 degrees is more the temperature that it enjoys…
Red Gerbera
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day November 2016
Daphne collina x cneorum
It seems appropriate for this Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day to give due credit to this little dwarf Daphne which has bloomed on and off in the Alpine bed since April. Â The flowers (like most Daphnes) are very fragrant and the plant has prospered in the Alpine bed despite my placing it in a spot between two rocks where it seemed to me most appropriate to its small size. Â And it’s much bigger now, though still very pleasing.
Even the Winter Daphne which I moved into the sunshine this year after torturing it in the deep shade for several years seems to be enjoying its exposure to the elements.
Winter Daphne (Daphne odora)
It’s out by the front fence in some of the poorest soil on our hillside. Â We shall see how it survives. Â The Edgeworthia, its new neighbor, has put out some fat buds so maybe it’s not as bad a location as I imagined.
Our weather has flirted with frost but we haven’t really had a hard, killing frost yet. Â That has let some of the hardier plants continue to flower. Â Here are just a few of them.
Snapdragons
Chrysanthemum
Pineapple Sage
A few remaining Fall Crocus
Lantana
The Lantana is one of the feature plants that will tell me when it has gotten really cold, and I should take the citrus to the basement.
As we go back to the Alpine bed, another plant that has bloomed for a long time (essentially nine months) is the Erodium chrysanthum.
Erodium chrysanthum
It’s close relative, the alpine geranium, is also fond of flowering every day.
Alpine Geranium (Erodium reichardii ‘Roseum’)
What has been particularly surprising this fall is the Delphinium cashmerianum.
Delphinium cashmerianum
Delphinium cashmerianum full plant
Retreating finally into the greenhouse (which will be my refuge before long) I want to share the bright red flowers of the a little Aptenia that I grew from a cutting (thank you Marianne!)
Aptenia cordifolia ‘Red Apple’
And the tiny little flowers of Polyxena ensifolia which looks much bigger on the web.
Polyxena ensifolia
Perhaps mine will grow up some day…
Besides myriad Oxalis, there is also a pot of Cyclamen worthy of note.
Cyclamen hederifolium ‘Perlenteppich’
These are pure white with lovely leaves.
Finally I will finish up with the first Camellia of this season. Â Beth picked it before I could photograph it in place, but it’s another reminder of what an extended Fall season we have had.
Camellia japonica
Post-Election
Gaillardia in Tears
I awoke this morning to find that the world around me was in tears.  In no way could I imagine that the U.S. could elect an ignorant charlatan to the highest office in the land.  I am profoundly ashamed of the system that takes two years of campaigning at enormous expense to arrive at this terrible state of affairs.  I’ll take a parliamentary system any day as a more effective representative government.  I have no idea how to fix the cultural divide between those who think that knowledge is a flexible thing to be bent to one’s whims and those who respect education and the country’s historic values.
I can think of nothing more appropriate to the moment than to quote a letter from E.B. White that appears on the wonderful Letters of Note website
North Brooklin, Maine
30 March 1973
Dear Mr. Nadeau:
As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.
Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society—things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.
Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.
Sincerely,Â
(Signed, ‘E. B. White’)