I’m hurrying to get my morning run done before I rush to the ferry — I’m meeting another Island Blogger for breakfast this morning — exciting! Will we recognize each other?
While I’m trying to spot her, I thought you might like to wander in my winter garden. Because it’s so grey and wet here for so long, I very consciously began, years ago, to plant winter-flowering plants, particularly ones with fragrance. Every February, I thank my younger self and reap the heady rewards!
Mahonia japonica, above and below — in my very favourite shade of yellow.
Ready to burst, this Viburnum tinus ‘Spring bouquet’ was propagated from one in my Mom’s garden and she brought it over, dug it in for me, perhaps a decade ago. Thus it’s doubly (make that exponentially, really) appreciated.
And hellebores, light, dark, in between, are popping up all over. . .
The Ribes sanguineum (flowering red currant, except this one is white) ready to popcorn into flowery sharp fragrance
and the Viburnum bodnatense, ‘Pink Dawn’ has been flowering non-stop since November! Sweet, light, powdery scent — earns its keep and deserves a tip!
And speaking of bang for the buck! A handful of crocus bulbs thrown into the ground in fall will repay and repay and repay. Seriously? Is there anything more cheering?
And now, quite literally, I’ve got to run. . . Chat later. Hope you enjoyed the blooms!
Hooray! I'm posting some seriously ratty and badly shot photos of my newly planted natives tomorrow:). But my hellebores and viburnum and daphne are all blooming. Gardening is just so much fun, and your photos are beautiful.
It is fun, isn't it! And I'm betting that daphne smells delicious!
Wonderful sights and smells in your garden! How foresighted to plan ahead for all the seasons. I just purchased some hellebores this year and have no idea why it took so long.
I hope you enjoyed your meet up with H. She's a delight and I'm sure you'll have found much in common.
Lorrie, I think I was originally inspired by the gardens at UVic when I was a grad student there — it just made such a difference to the mood in February.
And yes, I had a great visit with H. and hope for many more. Perhaps you can join us next time!
Snowdrops win my prize for unsung heroes. Suddenly and without any fuss there they are amidst the greenery and then they quietly shuffle off when brasher spring bulbs start to strut their stuff. Frilly tulips, I'm looking at you.
Embarrassed to admit it, but so far I've had no success getting snowdrops established here — a question of grabbing the post-bloom plants at nurseries, I guess, timing, perhaps. No luck with the bulbs I've popped in over the years, although I do notice one or two wee white drops now, so perhaps in ten years?
Your pictures are breath-taking and a lovely antidote to the grey winter days we are still having. I only planted hellebores two years ago and am eager to see their blossoms….later than yours but so welcome nonetheless.
They are very welcome, aren't they?! Glad you enjoy the photos — it's been so grey here and today it's pouring rain — another storm with a rainfall/wind warning. At least we don't have to shovel it?!
The photos are exquisite, Frances! I envy you; in our yard there is over a foot of snow and only the evergreens are more than sticks. I was just in Boston for the last two days, and at my daughter's house outside the city there are 6' walls on either side of the driveway, and a narrow path through about 4' of snow to the door. I had an awful time with public transportation – some lines out of service, others delayed – and driving through the city is horrendous. My trip from her house to my workplace by commuter rail and shuttle bus took 3 hours (usually 1 hour). And my Amtrak train home last night stopped in the middle of nowhere for an hour because there was ice accumulation beneath the cars. You are so right about not having to shovel your rain!
Yikes! I wouldn't do well with so much snow — we do occasionally get a substantial dump, but only once in the last 15 years have we had 3'. And even when we get a foot or so, it's generally gone in two weeks. You have my sympathy and I'm happy to share photos of blooms, if that helps at all.
Your shots are all so crisp. The hellebores are lovely in their soft green-pink.
I'm glad you made it over on the ferry yesterday – it was a great way to start the day.
Such a good way to start the day! So glad you contacted me and set it up. Looking forward to our next visit.
Your garden is looking wonderful. I really should plant in viburnum in our garden … I adore the scent.
That particular shrub has a sweet story — a wonderful older gardening neighbour gave it to me many years ago, swearing me to secrecy — another great older neighbour, a master plantsman, had chosen it for her carefully and given it to her with careful instructions. But it didn't thrive for her, never bloomed, and she thought it would do better in my garden. I wish she could see it now! And smell it!
Sigh…. So lovely. I miss my hellebores. Perhaps I shall have to plant some…
They are a wonderfully giving plant — I love their leathery, sculptural foliage almost as much as I do their blooms. Yes, plant more! I know your new garden is going to be great.