Terrified Tuesday: The damage is done

This is the most difficult type of post for me to write and document. It isn't pretty. It's sad and disgusting and frustrating. For that reason, I'm starting with a photo of a happier time.


But this is Terrified Tuesday, a meme hosted by Catharine at Catharine Howard Gardens. When I heard about this meme, I knew the subject of this post was a perfect fit.

Prepare yourself.

This is very disturbing.

Ready?






Yes, if you guessed rabbit damage, you are correct. And the victim is my lovely Dwarf Korean Lilac (Syringa meyeri). It is, hands down, the sweetest scented plant in my garden. One whiff and you feel like you've died and gone to heaven.

What happened, and why doesn't this happen every winter? I guess it probably does happen every winter to some extent. But this winter we had more snow cover than average, and it stuck around longer and didn't melt between snowstorms as much.

Consequently, the rabbits had a stepping stool up to those tasty little Lilac buds and branches. Once they had a taste of that sweet ambrosia, they were hooked.

Darn! I can't really blame them ... well, yes I can.

Alright, let's try to look on the bright side. The plant needed trimming--maybe not so much trimming, but it needed a haircut. So the dastardly rabbits did me a favor ... sort of. The Lilac won't be as pretty this June, but it will survive. And it will be nicely formed for the next season.

Hopefully we won't get quite as much snow next winter.

Celebrating epiphytes, tree bark, and veggies

If you're ever near Sarasota, Fla., you must stop in at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. In fact, it's worth a trip to the Sunshine State just to see this public garden along with others dotting Florida's Golf Coast.

When I was in the Selby Gardens a couple of weeks ago, I only had a few hours to explore. I could have spent a week there, and I still wouldn't have discovered it all. Of course, that's true of most gardens, isn't it? Here are some of the highlights:

Across from the Christy Payne mansion, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is a lovely butterfly garden--the subject of a previous post. It's an excellent example of how to attract and feed monarchs and other butterflies, with plenty of Penta, Verbena, Coneflowers, and Milkweed.

We were fortunate to visit the gardens during the annual Rainforest Masks of Costa Rica exhibition. More than 200 hand-carved masks created by Borucan artists were on display inside the Christy Payne mansion. The masks are carved from 100% sustainable native wood.

Selby Gardens has an amazing collection of epiphytes, including more than 6,000 orchids, and numerous bromeliads, gesneriads, and other plants. If you don't look up (and all around) while walking through the gardens, you'll miss some amazing plants growing in nooks and along the branches of trees.

I have a thing for tree bark. One of my favorites is Eucalyptus, shown in the middle of this collage. The first time I saw a Eucalyptus tree, several years ago, I couldn't believe the rainbow colors were real. On the left: Chorisia speciosa, or Floss Silk Tree. On the right: Pachypodium lamerei, a Madagascar Palm.

As in most botanical gardens, Selby includes many other fascinating tree species, including Pandanus utilis (Screw Pine) and Bombax ceiba (Red Silk Cotton). The latter captured the filtered sunlight so gracefully as I walked by, while its spent blooms littered the earth below.

It's always fun to see Bonsai trees cultivated from common and not-so-common tree species. With more time, I would have lingered over this display a bit more.

Selby Gardens has an entire garden devoted to Hibiscus plants ...

and a display of container-grown vegetables. (The Lettuce looked so fresh, I was tempted to forage for my lunch. It was difficult, but I did resist the temptation).

Plenty of benches and sitting spots dot the gardens, including one with a spectacular view of Sarasota; many shaded benches under the branches of fascinating trees (shown in middle photo: Clerodendrum quadriloculare); and shaded patio tables and chairs near the Selby House Cafe.

So many fascinating plants catch the eye and find their way onto one's camera memory card, including Quesnelia arvensis, Platycerium bifurcatum, and Aechmea 'Blue Tango.' So many plants, so little time.

The arts of hardscapes and plant landscaping are apparent throughout the property.

And of course there are shops for purchasing souvenirs and plants, including a huge selection of orchids, bromeliads, and tropical plants.

If I ever get back to this garden, I think I'll spend more time at the incredible koi pond. And maybe I'll sit down right there and read a good book.

Plant of the month: trumpeting miniature Narcissus

Nothing says springtime and new life like tiny trumpeting Daffodils. You can often find these little gems at your neighborhood grocery or general store. In fact, one miniature cultivar is actually called ‘Little Gem.’ Another is ‘Tete-a-Tete.’



I believe the ones I planted in my garden many years ago fall into one of those cultivars. I was surprised to find that the date on one of these photos was from 2003. While that’s certainly possible, the date function on my various cameras has been known to be incorrect...



In any case, my miniature Daffodils were a gift all those many years ago, and I planted them in the garden immediately after the flowers faded. They’ve made an appearance in the early spring every year since then. I expect to see them poking through the soil and dried leaves after the snow melts during the next few days.

Daffodil is a nickname for members of the genus Narcissus. Narcissus asturiensis, or Pygmy Daffodil, is a species miniature Narcissus native to Portugal and Spain according to the USDA. It resembles the hybrids we commonly can purchase in the U.S., but the latter have been bred to expand their range and growing conditions.



Both ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and ‘Little Gem’ are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, according to Brent and Becky’s Bulbs. They’re bright yellow, prefer full sun or part shade, and perform well in average soil. Both grow to a maximum height of 12 inches.

One of the nicest things about Daffodils of all types, in my book, is that rabbits won’t eat them. And the miniature ones are great companions to other low-growing early bloomers, such as Crocuses and Hyacinths.



Fortunately, I was able to find some the other day in small pots to present as Easter gifts. They’re great for holiday decorating, and afterward the recipients can plant them in their gardens.

I wish I could send them to all my gardening friends, but since I can't, here is my virtual gift to you.

Happy Easter!

Wordless monarch greetings from Sarasota, Fla.

Captured at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Click here if the video doesn't open on your screen.)