The May edition of Yoga Journal (out now) has an article entitled "Gardener's Yoga: Celebrate your connection to the Earth. Take your practice to the garden."
Okay!
****
Today my snowdrops from Temple arrived! This is great, as the weather is perfect and I will tuck them into the ground right away. In case you're curious, here are the new additions:
Winifrede Mathais
Betram Anderson
Ophelia
S. Arnott (yet another...I like this one!)
One was unavailable and a refund check was included.
Off to plant and enjoy this beautiful day....
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
March.....
This is my first...and only...at least at this time....daffodil seedling...
If this seems vaguely familiar, it's because I first saw this seedling bloom in 2008 and put it in near the end of this post here... It didn't bloom last year, which was rather upsetting....however, it looks robust this year and perhaps the bulb is even increasing. I'll be leaving it alone to see what it does. This is an unknown x unknown as I didn't cross it or plant it....but, I'll take it! Still going strong two days later (this latter picture was taken yesterday 032710)..,
Can you tell I'm proud? :) Since it's the Season of Daffodils, there is more to see. Here, I believe we are still not quite into mid daffodil season, but getting close. As I write this, I can hear the rain coming down. This will mean some more daffodils on the ground...and since I have a rule that those lying on the group can be cut....yippee! More to bring inside tomorrow (the upside)....luckily, there are lots who take the pounding and keep on standing. I think, actually, that those with sturdy stems are better, but I can't part with any. One day....(does 'one day' ever come?)....I intend to move all the floppies and the unknowns to an area and just treat them like a cutting garden.
New this year is Velocity....I looked at it and my first thought was "It looks an awful lot like Jetfire." So, I came in and looked it up on DaffSeek....and what did I read? Something about it is an improved Jetfire. (I would quote it exactly but at this moment DaffSeek is down for maintenace). Whatever was I thinking when I ordered this one?? I have plenty of Jetfire. Silly me. I much prefer the unusual...and pinks....or white and yellows....
Speaking of the rain, I noticed when I uploaded this picture of Audubon from my camera that the last rain had left it a bit dirty. Just means I'll have to keep trying for a better picture...
A nice little grouping here of Curlew....
Sort of a follow up here of Cassata which led my last post....you can see they are fading to white...that's one of the cool things about daffodils is that they change with time...sometimes, the colors become a bit more intense...or you might see that yellow finally turn to the salmon pink that was promised...but, whatever...I like'em....
This bouquet of Tete-a-Tete sits right at the edge of the driveway. Thankfully, no one has stepped on it...yet...This variety likes this spot (maybe it likes to live dangerously) and seems to be increasing well. I have it in several other spots....and well, in a couple of them, we might as well write them off. I know that some varieties will take a year off, but these are taking years off. I think in one case, they simply didn't get enough sun and dwindled away....
Cute, though. I think you find these a lot in the big box stores, ready to plant out either blooming or almost blooming. Speaking of this (I was thinking how around Easter they all get potted goodies in like, hydrangeas, lilies and tulips plus daffs, etc...maybe even some hyacinths...), I bought an Easter Lily! It's just something I like to do...wouldn't quite feel like Easter without one.
My plan has been to replant them in an area...which would have been fine except that 1) I either forget to...and/or 2) the area I chose is pretty tough (let me count the things that should be there or used to be there...)...so that my "Field of Lilies' (Easter lilies, that is) is not much to look at. Hey, maybe I'll start again with the one that's sitting in the window...
Now, this was interesting...I think I've mentioned several times that I dug up and moved a number of daffodils last fall...that can be challenging, I have learned.....as it can be near impossible to get all the bulbs.....hmmm, in some cases, it's probably best to replant in the same area, if that's the case....but, in others, it isn't...for a lot of reasons...so, I have a little patch of Cum Laude that's blooming where they used to be...and then I have what I believe is Virginia Sunrise blooming....I'm thinking that I had two little groups of Virginia Sunrise and I didn't dig the second one because....it took last year off.....well, I was quite surprised to find this cute guy blooming in front of the un-dug Virginia Sunrise group....
Pretty nice, huh. I have no idea who this is. I'm sorta wondering if it was mixed in with the Virginia Sunrise....
There, you can see the Virginia Sunrise and the newbie beneath it. Very wild. I'm debating about moving some of these (the Virginia Sunrise, the Cum Laude(s)) 'in the green' as I suspect I'll forget about them otherwise. They don't have labels since their cousins were all moved with the labels.
I've made some hard tasks for myself. Year before last, I somehow managed to mix up the hard dug bulbs and especially those I meant to save for myself....and must have given them away....and ended up with the 'mixes' here that I had not intended to keep. Maybe the gnomes got into my garage and switched things up.
So, I see where Dreamlight is supposed to be that it appears to be a Butterfly mix of daffodils (from those early years when I thought mixes were cool...who needs to know a name?)...I am hopeful that the ones in front are actually Dreamlight (skinner leaves, not blooming yet and different buds)....what was I thinking?? This will not be fun to try to separate these bulbs...
Here's a tiny little bulb called Puschkinia...
...and the Snowflakes are beginning...
I am unable to get satisfactory pictures of Ipheon uniflorum(s)....the blues are defeating me at the moment, but Ill keep working away at it/them...
If this seems vaguely familiar, it's because I first saw this seedling bloom in 2008 and put it in near the end of this post here... It didn't bloom last year, which was rather upsetting....however, it looks robust this year and perhaps the bulb is even increasing. I'll be leaving it alone to see what it does. This is an unknown x unknown as I didn't cross it or plant it....but, I'll take it! Still going strong two days later (this latter picture was taken yesterday 032710)..,
Can you tell I'm proud? :) Since it's the Season of Daffodils, there is more to see. Here, I believe we are still not quite into mid daffodil season, but getting close. As I write this, I can hear the rain coming down. This will mean some more daffodils on the ground...and since I have a rule that those lying on the group can be cut....yippee! More to bring inside tomorrow (the upside)....luckily, there are lots who take the pounding and keep on standing. I think, actually, that those with sturdy stems are better, but I can't part with any. One day....(does 'one day' ever come?)....I intend to move all the floppies and the unknowns to an area and just treat them like a cutting garden.
New this year is Velocity....I looked at it and my first thought was "It looks an awful lot like Jetfire." So, I came in and looked it up on DaffSeek....and what did I read? Something about it is an improved Jetfire. (I would quote it exactly but at this moment DaffSeek is down for maintenace). Whatever was I thinking when I ordered this one?? I have plenty of Jetfire. Silly me. I much prefer the unusual...and pinks....or white and yellows....
Speaking of the rain, I noticed when I uploaded this picture of Audubon from my camera that the last rain had left it a bit dirty. Just means I'll have to keep trying for a better picture...
A nice little grouping here of Curlew....
Sort of a follow up here of Cassata which led my last post....you can see they are fading to white...that's one of the cool things about daffodils is that they change with time...sometimes, the colors become a bit more intense...or you might see that yellow finally turn to the salmon pink that was promised...but, whatever...I like'em....
This bouquet of Tete-a-Tete sits right at the edge of the driveway. Thankfully, no one has stepped on it...yet...This variety likes this spot (maybe it likes to live dangerously) and seems to be increasing well. I have it in several other spots....and well, in a couple of them, we might as well write them off. I know that some varieties will take a year off, but these are taking years off. I think in one case, they simply didn't get enough sun and dwindled away....
Cute, though. I think you find these a lot in the big box stores, ready to plant out either blooming or almost blooming. Speaking of this (I was thinking how around Easter they all get potted goodies in like, hydrangeas, lilies and tulips plus daffs, etc...maybe even some hyacinths...), I bought an Easter Lily! It's just something I like to do...wouldn't quite feel like Easter without one.
My plan has been to replant them in an area...which would have been fine except that 1) I either forget to...and/or 2) the area I chose is pretty tough (let me count the things that should be there or used to be there...)...so that my "Field of Lilies' (Easter lilies, that is) is not much to look at. Hey, maybe I'll start again with the one that's sitting in the window...
Now, this was interesting...I think I've mentioned several times that I dug up and moved a number of daffodils last fall...that can be challenging, I have learned.....as it can be near impossible to get all the bulbs.....hmmm, in some cases, it's probably best to replant in the same area, if that's the case....but, in others, it isn't...for a lot of reasons...so, I have a little patch of Cum Laude that's blooming where they used to be...and then I have what I believe is Virginia Sunrise blooming....I'm thinking that I had two little groups of Virginia Sunrise and I didn't dig the second one because....it took last year off.....well, I was quite surprised to find this cute guy blooming in front of the un-dug Virginia Sunrise group....
Pretty nice, huh. I have no idea who this is. I'm sorta wondering if it was mixed in with the Virginia Sunrise....
There, you can see the Virginia Sunrise and the newbie beneath it. Very wild. I'm debating about moving some of these (the Virginia Sunrise, the Cum Laude(s)) 'in the green' as I suspect I'll forget about them otherwise. They don't have labels since their cousins were all moved with the labels.
I've made some hard tasks for myself. Year before last, I somehow managed to mix up the hard dug bulbs and especially those I meant to save for myself....and must have given them away....and ended up with the 'mixes' here that I had not intended to keep. Maybe the gnomes got into my garage and switched things up.
So, I see where Dreamlight is supposed to be that it appears to be a Butterfly mix of daffodils (from those early years when I thought mixes were cool...who needs to know a name?)...I am hopeful that the ones in front are actually Dreamlight (skinner leaves, not blooming yet and different buds)....what was I thinking?? This will not be fun to try to separate these bulbs...
Here's a tiny little bulb called Puschkinia...
...and the Snowflakes are beginning...
I am unable to get satisfactory pictures of Ipheon uniflorum(s)....the blues are defeating me at the moment, but Ill keep working away at it/them...
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Early Daffodils
Exciting times with the earliest of the daffodils beginning to get going...some of these pictures show them shortly after opening...please note, some will change color as they mature...
Cassata...
group picture....
Mount Hood....the trumpet will turn creamy white...
Barrett Browning...several views...
Mondragon...
Changing Colors...
Jet Fire...
Blazing Star...which doesn't appear to be registered...
(it's been hard to get a decent picture of that one!)
Some follow ups from yesterday....
Group picture of Easter Bonnet...
I thought you might like to see where I moved Cum Laude to...
That's a section of a corner bed....you can see, more daffodils to come (yea)...try not to see those daylilies that are out of the ground...since last fall....tough things that they are, ready to go....(somewhere else....they're out because I have no room for them...)
You know I like Cum Laude...
I suspect these are Orangery....we'll know in a couple days....
Minor Monarque without the bad leaves...but, unfortunately, a little dirty from the rain...
Better picture of Loch Hope....
Sideling Hill...
An Ice Follies daffodil turning white...
It occurred to me that these may very well be King Alfred...
Now for some of the unknowns or wrong names or whatever....I was at the post office today and admired clumps of these blooming there...I chuckled as we probably got them at the same place (mine in 2002)...somewhere not really known for having correct varieties, at least in my experience.....supposed to be February Gold, but I don't think it is....maybe next year I'll have the real February Gold to compare...
A nice yellow, holds up well to the weather, but unknown...
Another reliable one (coming up through a peony cage....I'm not sure who was there first)...
Another great yellow...blooms always seem perfect (although not perfectly placed in front of the gas meter....ha)...
This one was bought as Curly....it clearly isn't...
Going to be blooming soon....I'll have to watch as in the 10 day forecast there are a couple of evenings below 40.....crossing my fingers that the temps will remain fine as there are so many buds...imagine the wonderful fragrant show it could put on!
Clematis armandii...
(There's actually a big section lying on the ground....you'll notice I didn't show you that...I'm planning to get out there and tie it up...soon)
*****
I'm having a little fun with the new Blogger feature that lets you add pages....if you're curious about how many daffodil varieties I grow, check the Daffodils page at the top....my plan is to keep updating it...we'll see....)
Cassata...
group picture....
Mount Hood....the trumpet will turn creamy white...
Barrett Browning...several views...
Mondragon...
Changing Colors...
Jet Fire...
Blazing Star...which doesn't appear to be registered...
(it's been hard to get a decent picture of that one!)
Some follow ups from yesterday....
Group picture of Easter Bonnet...
I thought you might like to see where I moved Cum Laude to...
That's a section of a corner bed....you can see, more daffodils to come (yea)...try not to see those daylilies that are out of the ground...since last fall....tough things that they are, ready to go....(somewhere else....they're out because I have no room for them...)
You know I like Cum Laude...
I suspect these are Orangery....we'll know in a couple days....
Minor Monarque without the bad leaves...but, unfortunately, a little dirty from the rain...
Better picture of Loch Hope....
Sideling Hill...
An Ice Follies daffodil turning white...
It occurred to me that these may very well be King Alfred...
Now for some of the unknowns or wrong names or whatever....I was at the post office today and admired clumps of these blooming there...I chuckled as we probably got them at the same place (mine in 2002)...somewhere not really known for having correct varieties, at least in my experience.....supposed to be February Gold, but I don't think it is....maybe next year I'll have the real February Gold to compare...
A nice yellow, holds up well to the weather, but unknown...
Another reliable one (coming up through a peony cage....I'm not sure who was there first)...
Another great yellow...blooms always seem perfect (although not perfectly placed in front of the gas meter....ha)...
This one was bought as Curly....it clearly isn't...
Going to be blooming soon....I'll have to watch as in the 10 day forecast there are a couple of evenings below 40.....crossing my fingers that the temps will remain fine as there are so many buds...imagine the wonderful fragrant show it could put on!
Clematis armandii...
(There's actually a big section lying on the ground....you'll notice I didn't show you that...I'm planning to get out there and tie it up...soon)
*****
I'm having a little fun with the new Blogger feature that lets you add pages....if you're curious about how many daffodil varieties I grow, check the Daffodils page at the top....my plan is to keep updating it...we'll see....)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Spring....
....is here! This year the saucer magnolia takes my breath away! I can't think of a single year...so far...and I'm a bit worried about mentioning it right now...(knocking on wood)...where the bloom has been so....WOW....I mean, there are usually hard frosts which turn the blooms brown, shortening their life, etc., etc. Fortunately, this one continues to pump out intermittent blooms so all is not lost...but, this year....woohoo!
Stepping back....
It's simply covered in blooms...and the pruning has really helped it have that lovely vase shape... Another stunner which frequently suffers from the same frost prone end-of-show worries, but not this year, is the magnolia stellata...
The other day I had someone over to give an estimate on some work that needs to be done on ye olde house and as he came around from the back, he exclaimed, "That smell! It's so nice!" ...and turned around and stuck his face into...
...Pink Dawn viburnum...I often post about its early bloom as it starts showing off before most things....and I think I often mention its fragrance....but, just in case you forgot, I thought I'd share with you someone else's reaction... Just beginning are the camellias....here's one of the first...
It's not all pink or pink/white, though...
Reliable (and oh-so-common) Ice Follies are in bloom in a bunch of places in my yard...the group below has a couple of solid yellows joining in this year....
This is probably not February Gold (below)....still pretty, don't you think?
It seems most of my early daffodils are not-what-they're-supposed to be....one day I'll reorganize them...one day.... This is supposed to be Hollywood, but I'm not sure that it is...such a fun bloom, all upright and facing the sky...
Now for a few that are what they're supposed to be... Sideling Hill...
First picture of this one (excuse that horrible foliage...yikes...gotta get that out/off)... Minor Monarque...
Loch Hope...
Easter Bonnet...
Sweetness...very faithful....produced a ton of bulbs last fall....most of which just got planted recently (oops)....however, this picture is from the fall replanted group...and why they're blooming on time...
Cum Laude...blooming in two spots....the first where I apparently failed to dig them all up....ha...and the second where they were all moved to...
One of my favorites, Cum Laude, is worth two pictures!....There are some other things going on, like a little mix of iris reticulata....
Some of the very small bulbs...Glory of the Snow or Chionodoxa...one of two colors blooming right now...
....and, last but not least, just getting going (if you look very closely)...Brunnera variegata...
Stepping back....
It's simply covered in blooms...and the pruning has really helped it have that lovely vase shape... Another stunner which frequently suffers from the same frost prone end-of-show worries, but not this year, is the magnolia stellata...
The other day I had someone over to give an estimate on some work that needs to be done on ye olde house and as he came around from the back, he exclaimed, "That smell! It's so nice!" ...and turned around and stuck his face into...
...Pink Dawn viburnum...I often post about its early bloom as it starts showing off before most things....and I think I often mention its fragrance....but, just in case you forgot, I thought I'd share with you someone else's reaction... Just beginning are the camellias....here's one of the first...
It's not all pink or pink/white, though...
Reliable (and oh-so-common) Ice Follies are in bloom in a bunch of places in my yard...the group below has a couple of solid yellows joining in this year....
This is probably not February Gold (below)....still pretty, don't you think?
It seems most of my early daffodils are not-what-they're-supposed to be....one day I'll reorganize them...one day.... This is supposed to be Hollywood, but I'm not sure that it is...such a fun bloom, all upright and facing the sky...
Now for a few that are what they're supposed to be... Sideling Hill...
First picture of this one (excuse that horrible foliage...yikes...gotta get that out/off)... Minor Monarque...
Loch Hope...
Easter Bonnet...
Sweetness...very faithful....produced a ton of bulbs last fall....most of which just got planted recently (oops)....however, this picture is from the fall replanted group...and why they're blooming on time...
Cum Laude...blooming in two spots....the first where I apparently failed to dig them all up....ha...and the second where they were all moved to...
One of my favorites, Cum Laude, is worth two pictures!....There are some other things going on, like a little mix of iris reticulata....
Some of the very small bulbs...Glory of the Snow or Chionodoxa...one of two colors blooming right now...
....and, last but not least, just getting going (if you look very closely)...Brunnera variegata...
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