Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
And Then The World Exploded!
***Oh my!! This post was slated for mid-May but was never posted. Here it is now!***
This year the newly sprouted green leaves struck me as if I had never seen them before!
May announced the rebirth of the earth in my part of the world in an explosive way. One day there is almost nothing and then there comes an explosion of green - a rapid fire succession of growth.
My garden survived the harsh winter with few casualties and I am blessed with an abundance of plants and birds.
Soon enough we will have to begin the arduous task of trimming the shrubs that threaten to overtake the yard but right now we are just sitting back enjoying this embarrassment of riches.
June, July and August will bring an explosion of flowers of every color in the rainbow. But right now there is mostly just a myriad of greens - surely a sight for winter weary eyes!
During the renovation of our home the past several months, I felt very lucky that one of the rooms we could use was the sunroom which faces my garden. It has enabled me to keep my sanity and most of my serenity in the midst of chaos.
With any luck at all, I will have my home back in another month or so! In the meantime, I will find refuge in the green wonderland behind the house.
This year the newly sprouted green leaves struck me as if I had never seen them before!
May announced the rebirth of the earth in my part of the world in an explosive way. One day there is almost nothing and then there comes an explosion of green - a rapid fire succession of growth.
My garden survived the harsh winter with few casualties and I am blessed with an abundance of plants and birds.
Soon enough we will have to begin the arduous task of trimming the shrubs that threaten to overtake the yard but right now we are just sitting back enjoying this embarrassment of riches.
June, July and August will bring an explosion of flowers of every color in the rainbow. But right now there is mostly just a myriad of greens - surely a sight for winter weary eyes!
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| Painted Fern |
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| More fern at attention! |
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| Lady's Mantle - adorned with morning dew |
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| Dead Nettle - my favorite ground cover |
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| Astilbe |
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| Hosta nestled under the cherry tree |
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| Wild Geranium |
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| Columbine |
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| Bugleweed |
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| Epimedium |
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| Cinnamon Fern in all its glory |
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| Solomon's Seal |
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| Witch Hazel |
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| Wild Columbine |
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| Live-Forever |
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| A new variety of day-lily |
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| Columbine leaves |
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| New growth on an Andromeda |
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| Penstemon |
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| Coreopsis |
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| A shy wild Iris |
With any luck at all, I will have my home back in another month or so! In the meantime, I will find refuge in the green wonderland behind the house.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Back In The Garden
Today we were finally able to get our hands dirty in the garden. It was glorious! After such a harsh and relentless winter, it felt so good to touch the warming earth.
As I cleaned out the beds and clipped back the plants in need of a haircut, I couldn't help but notice how marvelously the earth rejuvenates itself every spring.
In spite of a wicked cold winter, the perennials and shrubs and trees were sending out the shoots of new life. The Weeping Cherry, a bit late this year, is ready to pop when the temperature goes up a little more.
And who could possibly frown once they have been greeted by the sweetest yellow daffodils in the world - a sight for winter eyes, if ever there was one.
Last week there wasn't a single sign of the peonies but low and behold, they are a foot tall this week! Isn't that amazing.
If a garden is the metaphor for our life cycle as humans, then there is surely much to be hopeful about and there is no better time to celebrate that than in the spring. Just look at how this hosta is rising up from the dead leaf mold of last autumn's debris. Easter, indeed!
Later I noticed this fellow helping himself to the tender new leaves just sprouting on this oak. He is our resident acrobat, the one who keeps us entertained all winter.
The newly planted herb garden seems to have wintered over nicely. All of the perennial herbs have returned and
are starting to grow although none of them were ready for a close-up today.
Already I am planning to move a few things, add a tree and I'm figuring out where and when to plant annual herbs and flowers.
Spring gardening rejuvenates my body, mind and my soul.
As I cleaned out the beds and clipped back the plants in need of a haircut, I couldn't help but notice how marvelously the earth rejuvenates itself every spring.
In spite of a wicked cold winter, the perennials and shrubs and trees were sending out the shoots of new life. The Weeping Cherry, a bit late this year, is ready to pop when the temperature goes up a little more.
And who could possibly frown once they have been greeted by the sweetest yellow daffodils in the world - a sight for winter eyes, if ever there was one.
Last week there wasn't a single sign of the peonies but low and behold, they are a foot tall this week! Isn't that amazing.
If a garden is the metaphor for our life cycle as humans, then there is surely much to be hopeful about and there is no better time to celebrate that than in the spring. Just look at how this hosta is rising up from the dead leaf mold of last autumn's debris. Easter, indeed!
After an afternoon of stretching and bending, I sat down to rest for a few minutes. (One of the perks of being in our age group is lots of time to rest and smell the flowers, or in my case, photograph them)
I spotted the moon - the day moon - just creeping over the top of the cherry tree. For some reason this gave me great pleasure.
Later I noticed this fellow helping himself to the tender new leaves just sprouting on this oak. He is our resident acrobat, the one who keeps us entertained all winter.
The newly planted herb garden seems to have wintered over nicely. All of the perennial herbs have returned and
are starting to grow although none of them were ready for a close-up today.
Already I am planning to move a few things, add a tree and I'm figuring out where and when to plant annual herbs and flowers.
Take Away for Today
Spring gardening rejuvenates my body, mind and my soul.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Signs of Spring - Glory Be
There is a good reason why I have Witch Hazel planted in my garden where I can see it from the house. Witch Hazel, bless it's wild and wonderful little heart, blooms here in New York, in late February and early March, just about the time I become desperate for a bit of color and some sign that spring is, indeed, on the way.
Another late winter clue comes from the birds. They begin chasing one another around the yard in a decidedly amorous way. Their winter silence is broken and an occasional song can be heard.
Inevitably, one damp and dreary winter morning, I will look out the window and notice that the sweet American Goldfinches, who turn a dull gray in winter are beginning to show traces of their coming yellow glory. Everyday they are a bit brighter!
Of course, in another week or two, there will be daffodils and other fancy stuff starting to bloom.
But right now, in spite of cold and wind and lingering piles of snow, thanks to the Witch Hazel and the Goldfinches, I can believe in spring!
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