PlantPostings

February 17, 2011

Evergreen groundcovers and a special award

I had good intentions. The days are longer, the snow is melting, and I thought maybe, just maybe, I could get home from work in time to capture shots of emerging perennials. Two errands later, and after wading through lingering snow and muddy muck, I didn’t have the heart to remove the Oak leaf mulch protecting tender perennial shoots from the elements.

But, as fog and darkness descended on the garden, I did notice three amazingly hardy evergreen groundcovers seemingly unaffected by the harsh receding winter.

Euonymus fortunei

Lamium maculatum

Pachysandra terminalis

I know other perennials will soon poke through, but for now I’m appreciating the evergreens that make their appearance as soon as the great winter blanket lifts away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On another note, I’m deeply honored to receive the Stylish Blogger Award from Rosie at My Garden Haven, Karin at Southern Meadows, and Lily at The Suburban Gardener. Thanks, Stylish Bloggers!

In accepting this award, I must:

1. Link back to the person who gave me the award.

2. Share seven random things about myself.

3. Award 15 recently discovered bloggers.

4. Drop them a note and tell them about it.

While I’m a fan of many blogs and bloggers, I’m trying to stick to the rules by selecting new blogs (I think these are all newish blogs). This list does not include all of my favorites, but these folks are definitely worth visiting:

On Botanical Photography

Our Garden Plot

PatioPatch

P O T A G E R

Randy & Meg’s Garden Paradise

Root of It All

A Rose Is a Rose

Roses and Other Gardening Joys

Sweet Bean Gardening

Tumbleweed Traveller--Uprooted Gardener

OK, finally seven random things about me:

1. I have two cats (Ginger and Oreo), who drive me crazy, but they’re so cute:

2. Most of my recent ancestors were farmers. I’ve been a “townie” my entire life, but dirt-digging is in my genes.

3. I’m not a fan of long winters. Why do I live in Wisconsin? Family and friends…and lots of time to read great books.

4. I’ve gardened in patio pots, large sunny plots, and dappled sunny spots. The most challenging gardening for me is deep shade.

5. My ideal day: temps in the low 80s, floating on a clear lake, soaking up the summer sun, one cold beer, and a dish of ice cream.

6. I have two amazing kids: a son in college and a daughter who will graduate from high school this spring. I will need Kleenex.

7. My best friend is my dear husband of nearly 27 years. I know I can always count on his support.

February 12, 2011

My imaginary spring bouquet

Since I won’t have fresh-cut garden flowers until late April or May, it’s time to assemble an imaginary bouquet.

1. I’ll start with line flowers and branches, which add height and width to the arrangement. Lupines and a few sprigs of Flowering Almond should do the trick.

2. Next, I’ll add the mass flowers—the focal points of the bouquet. Irises, Peonies, and a few dangles of Bleeding Heart will serve this purpose.

3. Finally, I’ll add filler flowers to fill in the spaces. I think I have some imaginary fresh Lilacs and Mock Orange on hand.

It’s an impressive bouquet in my mind, but I can't really see it. So, maybe I’ll head over to Pat’s Web Graphics to make myself a virtual bouquet. It’s still not the real thing, but it’s a fun way to pass a little time on a cold February evening.

February 07, 2011

Plant of the month: Hellebore

Plants, like people, enter our lives in stages. Some are with us seemingly from the beginning. For me, Peonies, Roses, Pansies, and Lilacs are intertwined with memories of caring relatives who watched over me as a child.

Other plants appear at later stages and become like dear friends so quickly that we find it hard to believe we didn’t know them earlier. The Hellebore (Helleborus L.) is such a plant for me.

I can’t even explain exactly what attracts me to Hellebores. Many factors add to the allure, including that:

Rabbits don’t like Hellebores (see previous post, A story about Peter Rabbit);
They bloom in early spring—in my garden, just after the Crocuses;
They’re perennials that grow well in a shady (but not too shady) garden; and
They’re very hardy and easy-care plants that established quickly.

But I think the main reason Hellebores are a personal favorite is just because of the unique form and color of the plants themselves. New growth emerges from the center of the previous year’s arching foliage, which can be cut back as the new plants unfurl. The buds are fascinating even before the flowers fully bloom—pointing downward from the tops of their stems.

The flowers vary in color (purple, red, near black, white, green, pink, and yellow) and pattern (solid, speckled, variegated). As the flowers age, many become more green-tinged.

I found a spot for my Hellebores that appears to suit them perfectly—at the base of a stone wall, interplanted with Hostas, Roses, Lily-of-the-Valley, and Daffodils. The Daffodils and Hellebores take center stage first, followed by Lily-of-the-Valley, and then Roses and Hostas. And the foliage of these plants is complementary.

Several fellow garden bloggers have recently posted excellent photos and information about Hellebores. Among them:

Bay Area Tendrils: Radiant in Winter: Hellebore Bloom 2011;
Carolyn’s Shade Gardens: An Ode to Seed Strain Hellebores; and
Plantaliscious: Wordless Wednesday: Emergence.

Obviously, Hellebores aren’t currently blooming in my Wisconsin garden, which is covered with two feet of snow. But they are emerging quite readily throughout the northern hemisphere, and will continue to do so from south to north, and from now until late May.

I can't wait to see these new "old friends" again!