Lots of my friends in colder winter climates have mentioned that they have beautiful evergreens that, if they shoveled the snow away, they would be able to see. I love snow because it reminds me of growing up in Vermont and Alaska. I also love it because here it rarely lasts longer than a few days before it melts away which allows us to enjoy our smaller evergreen plants in the winter. A quick trip to a nursery to visit a few plants always puts me in a good mood. This day, I was passing by Watsons on my way to something else and the car mysteriously pulled into the parking lot and stopped. What could I do?
These cool combination pots always look great in other people's gardnes and are perfect beside a door.
'Scarlet Curls' Willow or Salix x 'Scarcuzam' looking quite lovely. Are those leaf buds?
Cornus 'Midwinter Fire'
Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' (Coral Bark Maple) Why does mine only have coral bark on the new growth and grey bark on the trunk and larger branches? I'm tempted to cut it down but I've had it for nearly 20 years...
Spring (o.k. midwinter) is in the air. It's that time of year when we're thrilled by just about anything in bloom. Modest blooms that in the height of summer might be overlooked are now treasured. Witch Hazel 'Diane' in bloom with some buds in the background.
Helleborus looking fresh and sweet. Also has many buds.
Iris and crocus ready to take home and plop in the ground.
Berberis berries adding a bright red note.
There are so many beautiful evergreen euphorbias - sigh. So many plants, so little space.
Inside is this huge jade tree that was started from a small cutting over 20 years ago. I'd never seen it in bloom before- quite a treat!
These are outside with only a little roof over the top for protection. Hope springs eternal.
*Bud day was an idea on the Danger Garden blog. Here's how to play the bud game: make a large pitcher or thermos of your favorite beverage (Bud is o.k. but on a cold day something warm like mulled wine or hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps sounds good. For purists, straight shots of any distilled beverage may be substituted.) Go out into your garden and whenever you see a bud, you must take a drink. If you don't have any actual budded plants where you live, you can drink whenever you see a plant that you consider a special friend or bud dy. If you live where everything is so covered in snow that you can't see any plants, just stay inside and drink every time you think of a plant. In just a few sightings, you'll be feeling spring's warmth. It's an amazing thing. When this feeling makes you start to wobble a little, it's a good idea to go back inside so that the neighbors don't think you're completely insane.
