Capture The Morning Garden

In full bloom are the rhododendron and the Chionanthus virginicus, aka as the Fringe tree. This rather slow growing specimen is worth having in the garden especially for the slightly fragrant and delicate creamy-white panicles of blossoms.

If we were to walk beyond the tree toward the raised vegetable beds and take a hop to the other side, we will find a handsome Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Pinus glauca), a view of the fringe tree above, and the profuse yellow flowers of the Genista Lydia (Lydia broom) which drape over the wall and boulders.

Walk with me past the beautiful stand of black bamboo (Phyllostachy nigra) where thoughts turn to friends who gave us a little start of that fine specimen, but be careful, for the grade is rather steep.

Beyond is a most spectacular Viburnum plicatum 'mariesii', perhaps my favorite shrub. As we get closer you can see how the branches grow horizontally and the double rows of lacey cymes lay atop the branches and look similar to a lace-cap hydrangea. We planted this one here in order to have a birds eye view of the blossoms from above. By the way, this was started from a cutting 5 or 6 years ago from one we have in another section of the garden. The viburnum loves this spot. Would you believe, we do not water it?

Continue north from here past the birch toward another part of the garden and one of my favorite trees is the Fagus sylvatica (beech), planted following a trip to England a number of years ago. We shall not experience the grandeur as those that we saw, for they were at least a century old, but the magnificence had us planting one upon our return to the United States. It could be said that the deep rich burgundy color of the foliage is likened to a great Merlot. (I made that up.) This branch will eventually have to be cut, but for now I love how it caresses Carex elata 'Bowles Golden'.

The soft salmon pink of Papaver orientale 'Mrs. Perry' is throughout the garden, and one nestles next to this carex.

Everywhere the birds are chirping and nesting, and just as I am about to go inside, gathering its nectar but for a moment, the first Pale Tiger Swallowtail I've seen this year, appears and quickly flies onward. (click on photo)

Thank you for joining us in the morning garden.

Final Maple Planted

We planted another tree today, the final one of six we purchased last fall at a half price sale. The others had been placed in the ground last year with the exception of this maple, for we could not decide where was the best spot. This morning that decision was finally made.

Outside my studio window is a small intimate area with a bench which rests upon a bed of Scottish moss and along the perimeter is a combination of a delicate spiraea, lavender, small ornamental grasses, and a weeping cherry... one of the first trees we planted 15 years ago. The springtime brings on its charm with the soft pink blossoms upon the graceful arching branches, but following that brief period, it has been an irritant and nuisance for the past 7 or 8 years.

For reason unknown, part of the branches begin to die and each time I threaten to remove the tree. Additionally, the root system sends up suckers in all directions. We trim the dead branches, attempt to pull up the suckers, and with that the tree begins to look as if it is on the mend. I have been coerced as another year goes by.

Well, finally! This morning as we peered outside the window, a huge section of the tree had lost it's leaves. Yep, you're outta here.

Just to the side of the cherry and as close as possible to dig a large enough hole, we planted the final of the six. The cherry has not been removed (that's for anther time), but my husband did saw off a large section of the branching in order to allow the maple to do its thing.

Granted this is not the time of year to be planting, but it is better in the ground and in my daily view than a black pot. It looks pretty content right now and although it will take years for it to put on any significance size, we can wait.

Yellow and Purple

We got an early start this morning: 7 a.m. and 50 degrees was perfect for a continuation of our mulching, and by noon it was already too hot to be outdoors. Forecast was for the 80's today and coupled with a high grass pollen count, favorable working conditions these are not.

As we worked our way around the garden beds, the morning cast a magic spell and transformed the plants into their essence of stardom.

The golden pendulous clusters of Laburnum watereri (Chain tree) rain from the sky, and close by Clematis 'The President' gives a nod.


Far more glorious than the photograph represents is this Hypericum androsaemum with its glowing yellow foliage tucked to one side of a Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diablo'. The purple Allium which pop up everywhere have me in awe this time of year.

One of my favorite shrubs in our garden is the P 'Diablo', and this one stands about 8 feet tall. Frequently called ninebark, the deep burgundy foliage does not loose the depth of its color even in the hottest part of the summer, a similar characteristic of our favorite Crimson King Maple. And what's not to love of these pink-tinged blossoms?

How hot is the Allium against the Carex elata 'Bowles Golden'?

Yellow and purple, purple and yellow. I know God made yellow for purple, or was it the other way around. It just seems that one captures while the other reveals.