Kun täällä meillä talvi tarkoittaa lepoa ja vetäytymistä juuriin, etelämpänä se voi tarkoittaa toisille mitä parasta kukinta-aikaa. Jotkut lajit pitävät Keski-Euroopan leudon talven viileydestä enemmän kuin kesästä.
Talviset kukat ovat aina jonkinlainen kummastuksen aihe tällaiselle pohjoisen lumitalveen tottuneelle:

Viburnum x bodnatense (hybridilajike).

Myös isokukkaisten Gentiana agustifolia -katkeroiden trumpettitähtiä nousee maasta. Helppo  kuvitella miten alppilaaksot raikuvat kun nämä kaverit soittavat sinisillä torvillaan!:

Kukan sinisyyteen voi helposti unohtua. Voi unohtaa talven ja kotona odottavat pitkät kuukaudet lunta ja jäätä, pimeää ja kylmää; kumartua kohti kukkalampun syvää heleää lämpöä, nauttia sen kirkasvalosta:

Kuvat Münchenin kasvitieteellisen puutarhan ulkopuutarhasta.

In questa pagina verranno elencate le disponibilità delle specie disponibili, più ampiamente descritte nelle altre sezioni del sito.

• Quercus ilex   alveolo  pz 2500   h cm40/60
• Quercus ilex vaso Ø18  h cm 150/190
• Viburnum lucidum pz 3000  Ø 7
• Viburnum lucidum pz 1000  Ø 14
• Viburnum lucidum Ø18 pz 800 h cm50/70
• Viburnum lucidum Ø 24 pz 1000 h cm60/70
• Viburnum lucidum Ø 40 pz 400 h cm40/50
• phiracanta coccinea rosso/arancio euØ16 pz 500 h cm 90/100
• euonimus livornese/aurea Ø 15 pz 800 h cm 35/40
• euonimus pulchellum sia variegato aurea che bianco Ø16pz 700
• buxus rotundifolia Ø15 pz 250 h cm 25/30
• fichi neri giganti vaso quadro 10×10x18 pz 200 h cm30
• eugenia new port Ø24 pz 600 h cm 150
• eugenia new port Ø35 pz 300 h cm 150
• myrtus macrophilla Ø 15 pz 300 h cm 30
• myrtus tarantina Ø 15 pz 200 h cm 40
• edera tappezzante vaso 15  pz 100

in coltivazione inoltre:

Photinia red robin

phitosporum tobira

phitosporun silver queen

viburnum tinus eva prince

polygala mirtifolia

Many people don’t consider winter a season in their gardens but there are a good number of plants that look good or interesting or attract wild life all year round.  These plants generally have wintertime berries, beautiful bark, hold their structure in the harsh winter months or have great textures.  Below are some ideas for plants that at least one if not many of these characteristics:

viburnum

crabapple tree

 
crab apple

Miscanthus

Miscanthus

red dogwood

red dogwood

amur cherry tree bark

river birch bark

dwarf blue spruce

spruce

spruce

The snow has melted, except for a few patches in shady corners of the garden. Daffodils are beginning to push their way out of the soil, and the temperature has finally climbed above fifty. I was so glad to get to do my spring planting today.

What do you mean it’s not spring? You mean winter’s not over yet? Winter hasn’t STARTED yet? You know, if I’m going to lecture my Republican friends about global warming, it would be helpful to have some abnormally warm weather to point to. I mean, when it’s 17 degrees in November, warming seems like the least of our worries.

I spent the day working on my new island bed, that great big bed in the middle of the backyard that I’ve been preparing since March. So far I’ve planted 3 Beautyberries and a Shasta Doublefile Viburnum that I bought off the sale table, a number of butterfly bushes that I rooted myself, some Asters, and Shasta Daisies that I divided, and a Summer Snowflake Viburnum that rooted itself from a low-hanging branch (I didn’t know viburnums would do that).

I also got a whole bunch of coreopsis as a direct result of this blog. Our church’s website has links to members’ blogs (and it’s worth noting that I’m nowhere near the weirdest person there) and this guy, Brad, who is sort of new, was checking out everybody’s blog and came across mine. Next thing I know, I get an email from Brad saying that he’s thinning out his flowerbed and is looking to give away some free plants! Who says blogging doesn’t pay off?

Ne laissez pas filer les dernières belles couleurs d’Automne sans visiter un jardin!!! Cette année, les coloris sont  tellement  beaux et contrastés…

J ‘ai découvert  début octobre un merveilleux jardin aux portes de la sologne, à deux pas d’Orléans.
Pour ceux qui aiment les jardins intimes et plutôt à l anglaise…à découvrir sans attendre!!! avant les gelées…

 Situé à  JOUY LE POTIER,  un grand parking  vous permet de stationner face à  l’entrée . Chantal et Alain, les Créateurs de ce Petit Paradis , vous accueillent sur le ponton et commence une visite aux milles couleurs!!!
La collection de Viburnum ( une centaine) est à cette saison un bonheur et fera envie à plus d’un jardinier !!!  Chantal nous raconte pour chacun d’eux,  leur origine, leur particularité, détaille les baies, … Des rouges,  des oranges,  des jaunes,… Ceux d Asie, d’Amérique, et d autres encore… Chantal ne se lasse pas, et nous fait cheminer

en suivant un flêchage discret, conception “maison” qui permet de faire la visite seul pour ceux qui préfère.

 

Créer il y a dix ans, ce jardin déjà bien établi,  réserve à chacun un coin intime pour se ressourcer en toute tranquilité. Au primtemps une tres importante collection de rosiers est à découvrir. Merci à Alain qui m’a amicalement donné quelques mini-pommes  jaunes que j’ai insérées dans une création florale. 
Ce moment délicieux dans un jardin paisible  m’a inspiré pour les cours dArt floral du mois d’octobre.
A base de baies glanées dans les jardins et dans les bois , les “fruits” d’automne retenus par  des brins d’ osier et des fils dorés, s’ offrent à la créativité et l’humeur  de chacun : cornes d’ abondance, tipi ou  bonnet de Lutin…
A vous de Juger!!!

 Renseignement  pour les visites:
Le jardin de Chantal et Alain
Route de la Ferté ” La Mercerie”
45370 JOUY LE POTIER
tel : 02.38.45.84.21
Site internet : www.touzeau.fr

Trap Pond State Park, Laurel, Delaware

Third batch of photos from this morning’s rambling through the park. Misty and cool enough to see my breath when I got there, warming up and windier by the time I left.

Lots of berries around. It’s a good time to be a berry-eatin’ critter ’round these parts.

My thanks to the kind folk at GardenWeb for helping to identify some of the berries.

For more Trap Pond photos, click here.

Yesterday, I had the good fortune to meet Diana, Sharing Nature’s Garden, and Lori, Gardener of Good and Evil, at Diana’s beautiful home. Diana has created quite a luxurious and soothing sanctuary, despite her claims that she has so much yet to do. To accommodate some of those plans on her “to do” list, today she removed 3 Spring Bouquet Viburnums of significant size and age. She generously offered them to me, and I immediately agreed. I have already planted two Viburnums this year to be evergreen backgrounds for some blooming perennials, and could use Diana’s larger versions to fill in the spaces that mine haven’t grown into yet. So today became the day of the Viburnum Cake Walk.

Her gardening crew had spent the day today at her home, with quite a long list. At the end of the day, you would think they would be tired. But about 6 p.m., her three laborers showed up at my home, with 3 large shrubs with rootballs in the back of the pickup. They came like a swarm and with amazing speed, they…

Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum Odoratissum var. Awabuki)

1. (Lori, I put this picture in on purpose just for you, showing the tailend of my vehicle) moved my existing Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki) to a different location in my yard to give it more room to spread out, then

Viburnum tinus Spring Bouquet

2. dug two large and deep holes for two of the new Viburnums (I believe they are Viburnum tinus Spring Bouquet) , which then created a need to…
3. move a Loropetulum that ended up being crowded out by the two new shrubs

(So I’m looking for a “before” picture (which of course I forgot to take) so you can see the dramatic difference of these luscious shrubs in my front bed. Imagine if you will, that the left side of this bed had no height at all, just a bunch of 2-3′ shrubs (Loropetulum, Agapanthus and a Yew that turned out to be dead at the roots – no wonder it wasn’t growing tall).

Now look! Instant bed filler! I feel like I’ve been on one of those gardening shows on HGTV where they show up and redo an entire lawn in a few hours – usually building a tiki bar for the homeowners with small children in the process).

Sandankwa Viburnum

4. removed my small Sandankwa Viburnum (Viburnum suspensum) from the back yard and planted it in an existing container, and then

5. planted the largest Spring Bouquet Viburnum in it’s place (a shrub about 4′ tall and 4′ wide). Note the poor wilted Althea in front of it; the reason for this Viburnum is to give a background for the Althea as it grows. It looks ugly in the winter when it loses all foliage, so it’s camouflage for that as well.

At the end of this flurry of activity, I looked at the clock and it was 6:23! All of that happened in about 20 minutes, with very little verbal communication as they speak little English, and I speak little Spanish.

And it appears that all has been given the Official Seal of Approval. Flash has smelled Diana’s dogs, Tanner and Dakota, and decided that they smell okay to him. All is well.

Thanks, Diana!

VAKMANSCHAP IS MEESTERSCHAP

Is dit vakwerk? Dat vraag ik u. Ik weet het, ik val in herhaling, maar de keukenverzuchtingen bij Chelone waren herkenbaar. En ik vraag me af bij wie nog meer. Onkunde blijkt tegenwoordig meer regel dan uitzondering.

In januari liet ik mijn voortuin aanleggen door een vakman. “Tuinaanleg”, zo stond het op zijn vrachtauto. En op het bordje aan zijn voordeur. Nu heb ik mijn volledig achtertuin in de loop der jaren eigenhandig aangelegd, op de vlonders en de (scheefstaande, aja want geplaatst door een vakman) schutting na, maar deze keer pastte ik. Te zwaar werk. Vergroten oprit, herleggen van een bestaand padje, gazon verwijderen, beplantingen, waaronder een meer dan twintig meter lange haag. Werk voor professionals, besloot ik.

Ik liet hem doen, de tuinman. Ook toen hij de grond vijftig centimeter diep weggeschraapt en afgevoerd had (achteraf heb ik bedacht dat hij waarschijnlijk elders dringend grond nodig had). “Madammeke, die grond is verzuurd, daar moet nieuwe in”. Ik liet hem ook doen toen er achteraf slechts twintig centimeter nieuwe grond aangevuld werd. “Madammeke, wij doen dat zo, iedereen zet zijn planten veel te hoog, dit is veel beter voor de opvang en afvoer van het regenwater”. Ook toen ik me de bedenking maakte dat zijn bodembedekkers wel érg diep stonden, hield ik mijn mond. Zijn uitleg hield ergens steek: “Madammeke, een bodembedekker, dat zit overal te hoog, wij steken dat lager dan de boordjes, dan bedekt dat pas echt goed de bodem, bij een ander komt dat daar bovenuit.”

Nu heb ik wel door de jaren heen wat struiken en bomen aangeplant en toch al wat tuinboeken doorgenomen. Met argusogen volgde ik zijn aanplantingen, maar wat zou ik me moeien, hij was per slot van rekening toch de aannemer van tuinwerken. De kenner, ik had een vakman in huis. Wat moet een amateur zich dan moeien? De haagplantjes (Viburnum Tinus) plantte hij volgens mij véél te dicht bij elkaar en ik was verbaasd toen die er na een uurtje al “ingegooid” waren. Vanzelfsprekend heb ik niet op zijn handen staan kijken, wat ik wel had moeten doen, achteraf bezien.

Sinds mijn prille kinderjaren op de boerderij van mijn grootvader werd me de gouden regel ingepeperd: nieuwe aanplantingen -> water, water, water. Mijn tuinaannemer heeft geen drup gebruikt tijdens de werken. Wanneer ik hem vroeg toen alles klaar was of ik de komende dagen de planten moest begieten was het antwoord kordaat: “Neen, niet nodig”. Goed, hij zal het wel weten, de wetten van de natuur zijn misschien veranderd zonder dat men mij daarvan op de hoogte heeft gesteld. Hij is de vakman. Blindelings vertrouwen. Zo hoort dat toch?

In april maak ik me echt zorgen. De haag slaat niet aan. Integendeel. Ze wordt bruin. Ze verdort. Ik bel de tuinaannemer of hij even kan komen kijken. “Och madammeke, niks aan de hand, geeft da ewa water, dat komt er wel door.” Het gaat van kwaad naar erger, ondanks mijn plichtsbewust dagelijks gieten. Eind mei bel ik nogmaals, dat het echt helemaal de verkeerde kant uitgaat. Hij zal eens komen kijken. Hij komt niet. Natuurlijk niet.

Omdat de haag mijn tuinpad afboort, loop ik er elke dag minstens een paar keer langs. Ze is ook te zien vanuit de woonkamer. Triestig. Erg. Niet in het minst om het geld (947 eur énkel en alleen voor de 45 plantjes, het planten zelf niet inbegrepen) maar vooral ook omdat ik gehoopt had tegen volgende zomer al een groenscherm te hebben van minstens een meter. De haag is namelijk vooral bedoeld voor meer privacy.

Vandaag kreeg ik het er zodanig van op de heupen dat ik me afvroeg of er misschien toch niet op één of andere manier iets te redden viel. Ik ben begonnen met een eerste plantje uit te graven. Dat het niet diep zat, wist ik al. De kluit zit amper voor een derde in de grond, de rest is aangevuld met boomschors. Maar mijn verbazing was nog groter toen ik de kluit zelf zag (zie foto). Is de regel niet goed de wortels uit elkaar halen voor je iets plant? Zo heb ik het altijd geleerd. Of doen vaklui ze er in met elastiek en al? Zelf doe ik het zorgvuldiger, geduldiger en vooral met veel meer liefde.

Kijk, ik vind dit onbekwaamheid. Of vergis ik me en heb ik gewoon tegenslag? Wat vinden andere vaklui hiervan? Is dit beroepsernst? Getuigt dit van vakkennis? Of nogmaals, heb ik het gewoon (weer eens) niet getroffen?

De grijze betonnen afsluiting is van de buren. (Vandaar de haag.) Maar je kan goed zien hoever de grond weggegraven is, de funderingen van hun paaltjes zijn duidelijk zichtbaar over hele lengte (20 m)

]]> http://flowerlifestyle.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/my-flower-book-3-gift-basket/ Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:59:25 +0000 maoyan http://flowerlifestyle.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/my-flower-book-3-gift-basket/

             I  arranged this basket of flowers for the dinner of a friend. He was invited by his Chinese professor. That is why I’ve chosen Peony as the principal flower in this bouquet. Peony is the symbole of wealth and power in China, and is also China’s national flower.

           I’ve put floral foam blocs in the basket and have plunged flowers in the moss. Normally if we water the blocs everyday, the flowers and last at least one week, like in a vase.

In this bouquet :

- Paeonia : Peony / Pivoine / 牡丹

- Ranunculus : Ranunculus / Renoncule / 毛莨

- Viburnum : Snowball / Boule de neige, Viorne / 木绣球, 绣球荚迷

- Foliage / Feuillage / 绿叶

For those who are interested in making floral arrangements at home, I think it would be useful to compute the price of this creation (I’m in Paris and I bought the flowers in early May at a florist’s in the 16th arrondissement, which is rather expensive)

- Flowers: 70 €

- Basket: 15 €

- Floral foam: 5 €

While we  were in the studio working this past weekend, I snapped this picture of pretty fluffy chartreuse viburnum with a phalenopsis orchids.  I love this color combination, and in this photo how the light catches the soft edge of the orchid’s petals:

Studio Still Life: Orchid and Viburnum

We’re off this weekend, but stay tuned next week for a very pretty East meets West style wedding at the Reggatta Bar at the Charles Hotel. More soon!

Petalena

More windows into my day job…a peek-a-boo of frutzmade:

It’s been nearly a year since I last posted.  Shame on me.

In my defense, it’s been a busy and very demanding year (but who among us hasn’t had a year like that?).  However, enough, already, with the excuses.  Let’s talk about something I have done:  I’ve been busy planting native plants.

Big deal.  Well, it’s a big deal for me.  I became interested in native plants because the soil here is sandy (the Eastern Shore is essentially a big sandbar) and has excellent drainage; a little too good, if you ask me.  I didn’t want to have to water the garden constantly through the hot, muggy summer.  I had read that using native plants, which are already adapted to the local environment (duh), require much less water (and less care in general); a no-brainer once you think about it.  As a bonus, most of them have flowers, berries, or other visual redeeming value and it turns out that the local fauna prefers the local flora (duh, again).  By planting natives I would be effectively issuing an invitation to all the birds, butterflies, and furry creatures to gather ’round for a healthy nosh.  I was sold.

Finding nurseries in our area that sell natives turned out to be nearly impossible.  If you want crape myrtles, day lillies, nandina, and Bradford pear they can accommodate you.  But just try to find a serviceberry or gray dogwood.  Eventually I discovered the Adkins Arboretum, which has a mission of preserving and teaching about the ecosystems of the interior Delmarva peninsula; it’s a wonderful place with terrific classes and other programs.  Twice a year they have a native plant sale, with a discount and an option to pre-order plants if you become a member.  I joined.

I’ve been to two sales now, with the third coming up next week.  It’s sort of near Easton, a bit of a hike from Wicomicoville at nearly an hour and a half drive, but it’s by far my best (and closest) resource for native plants.  I’ve enjoyed driving up there early on sale days to pick up my pre-ordered new family members, and am looking forward to this upcoming sale and what will be the newest additions to our natives clan.

So far I’ve focused on shrubs and trees, trying to “build” a hedgerow between our property and NDN2.  I’ve planted 3 serviceberries (Amelanchier canadensis), 8 viburnums (dentatum and nudum), 2 southern bayberry (Myrica caroliniensis), 5 gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa), 2 silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), 3 inkberry (Ilex glabra), 3 winterberry (Ilex verticallata), 2 red chokeberry (Aronia abutifilia), 2 spicebush (Lindera benzoin), 7 New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), 2 fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), 3 tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), 3 blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), 2 hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), 1 redbud (Cercis canadensis), and 4 loblolly pine (Pinus taeda).  Also, I’ve planted 3 blackberry bushes (no idea what the botanical Latin is but they’re the varieties called Apache and Navaho); they are not natives, just a treat for the human fauna that live here as well.

When I write it all out like that it sounds like a lot, but it doesn’t look like a lot when I look out the window.  It will take a few years for the hedgerow to look like a hedgerow; at the moment it looks like a bunch of spindly bushes unevenly spaced out in a loooong row.  I’ll continue to fill in the blanks with others of their ilk until I can no longer see NDN2’s driveway (which he has run just inside the property line so that at night, when he pulls into his driveway, the headlights scare the daylights out of me because it looks like someone is driving straight toward the middle of my yard).

This spring I’ve branched out a bit, getting bold by planning on some wildflowers.  Even bolder, I’ve purchased some plants by mail order, something I’ve been afraid to do until now.  But with native plants so hard to come by down here I’ve been forced into new practices.  I ordered butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and the Ceanothus americanus (a shrub, really, but it only gets to be about 2-3 feet tall) from a place in Wisconsin called Prairie Nursery.  The Asclepias are still dormant so I don’t know how they’re doing yet but the Ceanothus arrived looking hale and hearty and seem to be thriving.  From Adkins Arboretum I’ve pre-ordered 2 lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium), another Lindera benzoin, and another Pinus taeda.  For flowers I’ve pre-ordered  2 foxglove (Penstemon digitalis), 2 wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), 2 ox-eye daisy (Heliopsis helianthoides), 2 whorled coreopsis (Corepsis verticillata), 3 false indigo (Baptisia australis v. “Purple Smoke”), and 3 boltonia (Boltonia asteroides).  The last two I’ve grown in our garden in the DC area and have loved so I’m happy to have a chance to grow them here.

But I’ve saved the biggest and best for last.  This year I optimistically took an enormous leap of faith and ordered 40 seedling shrubs from the New Hampshire State Nursery.  God, that’s a lot of planting!  They haven’t arrived yet but I expect them soon.  I ordered 10 wild roses (Rosa virginiana), 10 Cornus racemosa, 10 Viburnum lentago, and most exciting of all, 10 wild hazlenut (Corylus americana).  The roses are largely to keep NDN1’s dogs from roaming onto our property; the flowers are a pretty pink but the stems have thorns.  The dogwoods and viburnums will help fill in the gaps in the hedgerow–eventually.  The hazlenuts are for the turkeys which roam around from time to time, that is when NDN1’s dogs don’t chase them off.  I think that turkeys also like rose hips when they can get them, but if the turkey’s don’t care for them there are plenty of other birds that will.

Why 40?  Well, I would have preferred to order less but there’s a minimum order of 10 for each type of plant.  And at $1.00 per plant, even if I lose a few I’m still doing well.  Honestly, it’s the best deal going.  And I’ve heard nothing but good things about the New Hampshire State Nursery so I guess I have good reason to be optimistic!

To paraphrase my old Girl Scout oath, “On my honor, Iwill try, to do my duty, to God and my country…” and to try to WRITE MORE OFTEN IN MY BLOG.  At the very least I can let the world know how my hedgerow is doing.

When we’re surrounded by plant life we can’t see what’s in front of us.

I’ve searched and experimented and found some some pretty cool plant material close by.

This tobacco leaf was grown in Weston, MO. Tobacco is still grown in this area, as it has been since before the civil war. Tobacco is so heavily trated with insecticide that only a very few plants will be so affected by insect activity.

This Rumex grows all over the United States. It takes on some unusual color in really bad or damaged soil. 21″ x 28″  ($460). I found this down near the river where fishermen hang out. I wonder if there had been some gas or something on the soil to affect the plant so much. Most Rumex does not look like this.

These viburnum branches were collected from a pruning seminar at Powell Gardens. Branches like these take up to a year to dry. 32″ x 37″ ($1100)

Wild Lettuce – this image has been cropped, but the finished piece is 24″ x 31″ and is matted. ($ 320)

Collection of arrangements I created this Valentine’s Day for clients:

Lisa: Phalaenopsis, mini callas, hydrangeas, reeds, roses, anthuriums

Lisa: Phalaenopsis, mini callas, hydrangeas, reeds, roses, anthuriums

Amanda: Trachellium, dates, tea leaves, tangerine roses, sunset mini callas

Donna: Dendrobiums, lotus pods, golden roses, croton, tea leaves

Donna: Dendrobiums, lotus pods, golden roses, croton, tea leaves

Martha: Ranunculus assorted and hybrid, red roses, narcissus, galax, flax, blue anemones, french tulips, kiwi vine

Martha: Ranunculus assorted and hybrid, red roses, narcissus, galax, flax, blue anemones, french tulips, kiwi vine

Martha: Blue Anemones, French tulips, galax, narcissus

Martha: Ranunculus - assorted & hybrid, galax, narcissus

Martha: Red roses, narcissus, galax, flax, kiwi vine

Lynds: French & Weber Parrot tulips, viburnum, pink roses, kiwi vine

Lynds: French & Weber Parrot tulips, viburnum, pink roses, kiwi vine

Lalaina: Narcissus, dates, plum roses, flax

Judi: Calla lilies, palms, lotus pods, white roses

Judi: Calla lilies, palms, lotus pods, white roses

Shannon: Weber Parrot tulips, narcissus, steel grass, tea leaves, kiwi vine

Shannon: Weber Parrot tulips, narcissus, steel grass, tea leaves, kiwi vine

Maria: Sunflowers, sunset roses, tea leaves, kiwi vine

“On the motionless branches of some trees, autumn berries hung like clusters of coral beads, as in those fabled orchards where the fruits were jewels . . .” - Charles Dickens

Continuing with What Colour Is Winter?, today I’m on the hunt for RED — such as that found in the Viburnum berries above.  Usually picked clean by the birds by now, there are several little clusters of “jewels” still clinging to the branches — perhaps the close proximity of a well-stocked feeder makes Nature’s offerings a bit less palatable.

Red is a colour we more often associate with Christmas or Valentines, but there’s red to be found, in various shades, throughout the winter.

We can catch a fleeting glimpse of red in the splendor of a winter sunrise…

In fat rose hips…

In the red cap and vest of a well-dressed redpoll.

Inside, I find red in a potted miniature rose that Charlie brought home last night.

Those are my winter reds, but if you take the time to really see, you’ll find there’s a lot of red in the winter landscape:  a red barn in a snowy field; red hats and mittens on children at play;  red sleds, red toboggans;  forgotten red apples, still clinging to the branch.  It’s all there — if we only look.

Tomorrow — winter yellow!

February – the last month of winter and the shortest one. I don’t necessarily like it but while we are in the middle of it, there is some joy to be had as a gardener. Scent is something that is heightened in winter, more positive in its attack and in getting your attention.

Snowdrops are the main theme this month. If you have managed to plant a colony on a bank or raised bed where they are a couple of feet nearer your nose, you would have discovered the honey scent already. I pick generous bunches for my office desk and the sight and smell almost (only almost!) makes me want February to stay a while longer.

DON’T MISS THIS
The best scent for me at the moment, however, is being given up by the SARCOCOCCAS. One day nothing, the next, the whole vicinity is hung with the sweet and spicy scent. No warning, just stopped in my tracks and every year the same. There are several sorts of varying attributes but whichever you buy – plant it where you pass by. So many are planted where the owners never venture in winter and there they are, performing or perfuming with no audience. Go to them now (with some scissors – cut for the house they scent a room).

VIBURNUMS, especially V. X BODNANTENSE, is easier to notice, its flowers and buds giving a more visual warning that something good is on the way. A bush of this takes some beating with nose-pinching cold weather making the scent more apparent. Enjoy this scent on the air when it is sweet with a touch of spice. Close to, it has a slightly unpleasant back-note so don’t go sticking your nose right into it thinking you are going to get bigger and better thrills!

A GOLDEN CROWN WITH A LONG REIGN
Another favourite of mine is CORONILLA GLAUCA. This is of the Pea family and it shows this in the flower. Yellow and with sweet perfume (slightly lemon in the CITRINA variety), it flowers all winter. I grow one on a sheltered wall and one in an open border and I doubt there is any difference in quantity of flowers but the wall does amplify the scent of the pampered specimen. This is good as it is near my front door. The other one has to be visited, usually with coffee in hand.

There are various varieties of the above shrubs but you will not go wrong whichever you use to get you through February.

Signs of spring abound here in Seattle, despite continued colder-than-usual (I think) weather and even some more snow (!?!) here today. It’s dipping into the 20s every night at our house, but you just can’t keep certain plants from enjoying themselves in winter.

Sarcococca blossoms are perfuming the backyard, so it’s a good thing when I can get myself out into the cold to enjoy them for more than the second it takes to pass by on the way to the compost bin. David Perry had a nice post on his blog about actually stopping to lie down his yard and inhale this particular scent, in case you didn’t see it last week.

A few of the early-side bulbs are poking their foliage up. I believe these are crocus, no idea what color they’ll be. The haphazard gardener in me just puts stuff in the ground and forgets what it was. Hm, maybe I have more in common with my squirrel foes than I wish to admit…

This viburnum is adding to the perfume party in the backyard. I believe it is Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ but could be wrong there. It has a kind of ugly habit, at least as it has been pruned, and is naked now but for the saucy pink blossoms, but the sweet scent makes it worth keeping around.

Is anyone else seeing signs of renewal in their gardens at the moment, or is it still a ways away?

The following Q&A is from Iowa State University Extension’s garden experts:

I recently purchased a Norfolk Island pine.  How do I care for it? 

The Norfolk Island pine is a popular houseplant. During the holiday season, many individuals turn their plants into living Christmas trees by decorating them with miniature lights, ribbons and ornaments. The Norfolk Island pine thrives indoors when given good, consistent care. Place the Norfolk Island pine in a brightly lit location near an east, west or south window. Rotate the plant weekly to prevent the plant from growing toward the light and becoming lopsided. 

Thoroughly water the Norfolk Island pine when the soil surface becomes dry to the touch. Discard the excess water, which drains out the bottom of the pot. From spring to early fall, fertilize the plant with a dilute fertilizer solution every 2 to 4 weeks. A temperature of 55 to 70  degrees F is suitable for the Norfolk Island pine. Winter is often a difficult time because of low relative humidity levels in most homes. Raise the humidity level around the Norfolk Island pine with a humidifier or place the plant on a pebble tray. Low relative humidity levels, insufficient light, or infrequent watering may induce browning of branch tips and lead to the loss of the lower branches. 

Which trees and shrubs provide food for birds during the winter months? 

When attempting to attract birds to the landscape, trees and shrubs that provide food during the winter months are extremely important as natural foods are most limited at this time of year. Trees that provide food for birds in winter include hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), hawthorn (Crataegus species), eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and crabapple (Malus species). Shrubs that provide food for birds include red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), sumac (Rhus species), roses (native species and Rosa rugosa), snowberry (Symphoricarpos species), nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) and American cranberrybush viburnum (Viburnum trilobum). 

Can I dispose of my wood ashes in the garden? 

Wood ashes contain small amounts of several plant nutrients. The nutrient content of wood ashes depends on the type of wood burned, the thoroughness of its burning, and other factors.  Generally, wood ashes contain 5 to 7 percent potash, 1 percent phosphate, and small amounts of other elements. However, the largest component of wood ashes is calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is a liming material. Liming materials raise the soil pH. 

The soil pH is important because it affects the availability of essential nutrients. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14. Any pH below 7.0 is acidic and any pH above 7.0 is alkaline. A pH of 7.0 is neutral. Most vegetables and perennials grow best in slightly acidic soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Plants may not perform as well in soils with a pH above 7.0 because of the reduced availability of some essential nutrients. 

Avoid applying wood ashes to garden areas with a pH above 7.0. Applying wood ashes to alkaline soils may raise the soil pH and reduce the availability of some plant nutrients. An application of 10 to 20 pounds of wood ashes per 1,000 square feet should be safe if the soil pH is below 7.0. If the soil pH in your garden is unknown, conduct a soil test to determine the pH of your soil before applying wood ashes to flower or vegetable gardens.