tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936600324235966462024-02-07T20:34:02.782-08:00A Planted Place"A planted place" is how American garden designer Louise Beebe Wilder (1878-1938) defined a garden. I think it is the best and most concise description I've come across.
This blog is focused on my own small garden in Vancouver, Canada, but the title allows me to include other gardens and plants from time to time if I find them interesting.Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.comBlogger760125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-60728004159933841012023-04-09T14:54:00.001-07:002023-04-17T12:07:54.159-07:00More Early Spring ArrivalsChristine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-19260022679710075202023-03-04T16:15:00.013-08:002023-04-17T12:15:37.709-07:00White Start to a New Gardening Year<div class="separator"><span style="font-family: times;">After a month visiting family in Australia and fleeing ahead of Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand, we arrived home in late February to find the first flowers of 2023 already blooming.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Snow crocus in the shelter of the house were basking in a little sunshine among the green fronds of Sedum 'Angelina'.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5p8k62JeQyCWowHlr9nRk8m1TBmMj4-QCawNrIgbTICJLO1br87tNqnNjiAsywj1mH1_HTaV-RAVLEG7qfAsnVK423GEnjEQd3YftqPN1SaqeixrhK-nkmHyHrJk4NVRz8zCMkCTs_kzbJz__qxD2DoPYUMRF6pvlyVN6QCTxOrmErHKlVoGWQi8ag/s3079/Crocus%20mixed.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2066" data-original-width="3079" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5p8k62JeQyCWowHlr9nRk8m1TBmMj4-QCawNrIgbTICJLO1br87tNqnNjiAsywj1mH1_HTaV-RAVLEG7qfAsnVK423GEnjEQd3YftqPN1SaqeixrhK-nkmHyHrJk4NVRz8zCMkCTs_kzbJz__qxD2DoPYUMRF6pvlyVN6QCTxOrmErHKlVoGWQi8ag/w640-h430/Crocus%20mixed.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The earliest snowdrops were also in bloom. It surprises me that of the kinds I have, the double varieties are always first. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4BPHc3xO3M4sB4FgH7ypY5ALhz_lRe6HRgOTy1u5Am_6AskiNY0roZVysSQMzKgzyP3DTsLx8xihU03RJAyFEEX1UjgGltNlovt7She5Nq9kGqzqt01QJFpVTbo-s2p2RHNAs__pmkSqwShaAkWZjVv8XBdbCipm1CDWvzmEJzeR6uKxR6PM23PQ4w/s2930/IMG_8575.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2532" data-original-width="2930" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4BPHc3xO3M4sB4FgH7ypY5ALhz_lRe6HRgOTy1u5Am_6AskiNY0roZVysSQMzKgzyP3DTsLx8xihU03RJAyFEEX1UjgGltNlovt7She5Nq9kGqzqt01QJFpVTbo-s2p2RHNAs__pmkSqwShaAkWZjVv8XBdbCipm1CDWvzmEJzeR6uKxR6PM23PQ4w/w400-h346/IMG_8575.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-family: times;">Narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' was living up to its name as well. It always blooms with the snowdrops and crocus, at least a month ahead of any other daffodil I know. </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAWc3-WpK31EB_BvFp7x9527jfOsFkWhwP-UoQaLy_3oxW7yf_h0J0HXkLlebqhzKNpdkFRZIRgUuYxpSxAYTVZAxd0ef768XHS2TGlopDh-Y9OXqwtJeqdczORx3N-RGqiqPoDm7c89oX1MjcHdk1kU8-3ZlBgdqXcl9ZvIv0Mk16II3juWL4V4yPw/s3648/N.rijnvelds2:23.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCtLmC43NYutVnZbmLt5m8yVtdvJsqJS5D70cci665m_6hZREPYqBrlw6cXAt_2BtQ7VZ3EcHwQd-GTyCUt3gcvtU2qbbe4eF4i-UINhoXWB_QxzIGgn591GwjZCZrv9B3B8scSaid_Rm4wsKmba-7qsbalyTKzWNcCGptq0HSlDpe6x8rmHpUBxBNw/s3329/N.rijnveld's23:2:23.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2701" data-original-width="3329" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCtLmC43NYutVnZbmLt5m8yVtdvJsqJS5D70cci665m_6hZREPYqBrlw6cXAt_2BtQ7VZ3EcHwQd-GTyCUt3gcvtU2qbbe4eF4i-UINhoXWB_QxzIGgn591GwjZCZrv9B3B8scSaid_Rm4wsKmba-7qsbalyTKzWNcCGptq0HSlDpe6x8rmHpUBxBNw/w640-h520/N.rijnveld's23:2:23.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span><p><span style="font-family: times;">It's tough in other ways too, as it proved when, a few days later, the weather suddenly changed and Vancouver had more snow than we normally see at this time of year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Overnight all my bright blooms were gone, flattened under this heavy blanket.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IjrAjbh44wDEn-o-IgwKapKEMRZFMhu7LEOKpUSiJy0JIsS3m66HmxAXKQoleW1UYudV0ZMf3bcIDV2OEm1EGXIGtW0l7RWIRtv1vU7qsMvT8mcT7JegVxCq_xaFrhrbp6aIaq9g5RwocybQadmP9s7wsnXBVuh1t2SY2wkBMgBHusao_iXjM96Byw/s3614/backyard%20227:2:23.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2530" data-original-width="3614" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IjrAjbh44wDEn-o-IgwKapKEMRZFMhu7LEOKpUSiJy0JIsS3m66HmxAXKQoleW1UYudV0ZMf3bcIDV2OEm1EGXIGtW0l7RWIRtv1vU7qsMvT8mcT7JegVxCq_xaFrhrbp6aIaq9g5RwocybQadmP9s7wsnXBVuh1t2SY2wkBMgBHusao_iXjM96Byw/w640-h448/backyard%20227:2:23.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times;"> But wait, what's this?</span></p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAWc3-WpK31EB_BvFp7x9527jfOsFkWhwP-UoQaLy_3oxW7yf_h0J0HXkLlebqhzKNpdkFRZIRgUuYxpSxAYTVZAxd0ef768XHS2TGlopDh-Y9OXqwtJeqdczORx3N-RGqiqPoDm7c89oX1MjcHdk1kU8-3ZlBgdqXcl9ZvIv0Mk16II3juWL4V4yPw/s3648/N.rijnvelds2:23.jpeg" style="clear: right; font-family: trebuchet; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAWc3-WpK31EB_BvFp7x9527jfOsFkWhwP-UoQaLy_3oxW7yf_h0J0HXkLlebqhzKNpdkFRZIRgUuYxpSxAYTVZAxd0ef768XHS2TGlopDh-Y9OXqwtJeqdczORx3N-RGqiqPoDm7c89oX1MjcHdk1kU8-3ZlBgdqXcl9ZvIv0Mk16II3juWL4V4yPw/w400-h300/N.rijnvelds2:23.jpeg" width="400" /></a><span><br /><br /><p style="font-family: trebuchet;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKkNXqYSnyCzOBNtnXXXoWcaOrngzDCpc1kXJDn2IYeTyDdIXfuRqdfdRgxVEXQ4fMgBxcYSFr0RyrUyQj575GYKQh3FX3ir6HyU6gUuwpIkd5BzhOUqxyNdlTt8JQXRFiHEPboOx-5vYRy5pA533KE3N1QHmbMAQW9vWPVWobzrXjfdAhe3VtCz5ow/s3081/N.rijnvelds28:2:23.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2390" data-original-width="3081" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKkNXqYSnyCzOBNtnXXXoWcaOrngzDCpc1kXJDn2IYeTyDdIXfuRqdfdRgxVEXQ4fMgBxcYSFr0RyrUyQj575GYKQh3FX3ir6HyU6gUuwpIkd5BzhOUqxyNdlTt8JQXRFiHEPboOx-5vYRy5pA533KE3N1QHmbMAQW9vWPVWobzrXjfdAhe3VtCz5ow/w400-h310/N.rijnvelds28:2:23.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: times;">Yes, it's that determined daffodil, shouldering its way out of a drift, setting an example for other sturdy plants.</span><p style="font-family: trebuchet;"></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">A stem of Hellebore 'Penny's Pink', only just in bud but clearly another strong-stemmed harbinger of spring, was also heaving itself upright. Behind it, where the tree canopy had taken most of the load, a clump of snowdrops was breaking through. </span></p></span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLqUaJ2vc1QlxTp1kB9ZhvOQUi3-Z9yFoaLm-d-32l1bgTY-ffQD4r0ChgrvR69mwmxxwJkUKNk_tvuEo_AIkscXGJkIUvQpqK72r5WnXcPKNBx_ZsxQYYNp7IjQKtI-JpSUxXCKBh9x0fe6QgU9SA0iTH2EoeH48xaItvvqfsFW9VTwUvva3cOQ3vw/s2414/Hell.%20Patty's%20plum28:2:23.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1757" data-original-width="2414" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLqUaJ2vc1QlxTp1kB9ZhvOQUi3-Z9yFoaLm-d-32l1bgTY-ffQD4r0ChgrvR69mwmxxwJkUKNk_tvuEo_AIkscXGJkIUvQpqK72r5WnXcPKNBx_ZsxQYYNp7IjQKtI-JpSUxXCKBh9x0fe6QgU9SA0iTH2EoeH48xaItvvqfsFW9VTwUvva3cOQ3vw/w640-h466/Hell.%20Patty's%20plum28:2:23.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times;">As March begins, more ground is becoming visible and, while a few flowers like Crocus 'Gipsy Girl have suffered, ... </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggJ-VIXaxOO2wbQ-R7z23-uHrlGGmy1E47jIVG5XVip4PLYkSbMX3pXeCx12HCouQ1P1xFdHt9C2l88yalq8km278yNME4TW2hPDQ8OGJCAw_sq7PeXhOIqqk0hxqpnzv7hZD3_MpespvHcl0WGQrSPVPbxq8Ifodi3Pi39vRf-ZsU-F7wcznAY4wKQ/s3257/Cr.GipsyGirl%20after%20snow.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1991" data-original-width="3257" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggJ-VIXaxOO2wbQ-R7z23-uHrlGGmy1E47jIVG5XVip4PLYkSbMX3pXeCx12HCouQ1P1xFdHt9C2l88yalq8km278yNME4TW2hPDQ8OGJCAw_sq7PeXhOIqqk0hxqpnzv7hZD3_MpespvHcl0WGQrSPVPbxq8Ifodi3Pi39vRf-ZsU-F7wcznAY4wKQ/w400-h245/Cr.GipsyGirl%20after%20snow.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">they and most others have rebounded with </span><span style="font-family: times;">little obvious damage.</span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: trebuchet; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtkQxGJ5O-93qzaXZ14dC8qNoduNfbcSk9shtaH8GKjbJsRafQ6Xn35H8Fd8o3Y74TuRVVGacgdU4r4H2T8ZQW-3ORU0AChel_xGYZN_betQd_JTunBOJpzvDyvtOXq7rVOcUlssryWy4IhTTxXgL899O5iOVL-4YVqIkla2LeK1xf0ZxwQ2JU-CITQ/s2706/CrocusGipsyGirl.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2669" data-original-width="2706" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtkQxGJ5O-93qzaXZ14dC8qNoduNfbcSk9shtaH8GKjbJsRafQ6Xn35H8Fd8o3Y74TuRVVGacgdU4r4H2T8ZQW-3ORU0AChel_xGYZN_betQd_JTunBOJpzvDyvtOXq7rVOcUlssryWy4IhTTxXgL899O5iOVL-4YVqIkla2LeK1xf0ZxwQ2JU-CITQ/w640-h632/CrocusGipsyGirl.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydrNZZnMXo8TDvHffpafwEU1RZWa7tM-bs3Ic8LBDITemWpKH15ucUeBJataltzqdYT0ixD8qf4HPYvm9kcTj_IMezzQoq9FUqohAEYYonuYdFpFUnOQERBzaw1oX5NS-paE3YROeJGVMQZcxT2NadA1tUGr4iWQcPtTtbsROQKD7kGrc8kxoGBuD6w/s3512/bloomsMar4:23.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2533" data-original-width="3512" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydrNZZnMXo8TDvHffpafwEU1RZWa7tM-bs3Ic8LBDITemWpKH15ucUeBJataltzqdYT0ixD8qf4HPYvm9kcTj_IMezzQoq9FUqohAEYYonuYdFpFUnOQERBzaw1oX5NS-paE3YROeJGVMQZcxT2NadA1tUGr4iWQcPtTtbsROQKD7kGrc8kxoGBuD6w/w640-h462/bloomsMar4:23.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times;">I'm particularly pleased that this snowdrop is not only thriving but multiplying. It's a rare variety called 'Rosemary Burnham' named for the Vancouver gardener in whose garden it first appeared.</span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrnZQOpFd-dOOPe5NdCUoa6u4J8NHXcps75qBk0F-lwVz12ZqEruc-LIaAleviAFLrPUO9y3Ks_cUBhhc3pz2OHVf-hHddyFd1zTXlfJ1FScg_vtJEjdtLumwhQEpx0SSJoqudHOcAE5t5FmWTXHBCtcuismobxVujtc-7hatVzn_tlBmDTdpcaH5Xg/s3499/Gal.%20R.%20Burnham%204:3:23.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="3499" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrnZQOpFd-dOOPe5NdCUoa6u4J8NHXcps75qBk0F-lwVz12ZqEruc-LIaAleviAFLrPUO9y3Ks_cUBhhc3pz2OHVf-hHddyFd1zTXlfJ1FScg_vtJEjdtLumwhQEpx0SSJoqudHOcAE5t5FmWTXHBCtcuismobxVujtc-7hatVzn_tlBmDTdpcaH5Xg/w640-h480/Gal.%20R.%20Burnham%204:3:23.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span><p></p>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-4285116102316706982022-12-10T17:20:00.004-08:002023-04-17T11:55:24.756-07:00Summer Review<p style="text-align: center;">Time got away from me this year. Summer heat drove me from my desk in the dormer visible behind the roses in the first photo, and I've failed to catch up until now. When I began this entry I was looking back at some plants that not only survived the heat of this summer, but even flourished under demanding conditions.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The roses bloomed later than usual thanks to an unusually cold, wet spring, but when they did, it was an explosion of cream and apricot along our back fences. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6Y8c_XpkL3Wx8XFhqV87skJW980Jppht6aHoSl_G2y4Bdd0Jdfy-UlTADd9CmATa2uHjy6Br01dULouwKyuiaOAzxWgYnzjOki2zOvM7xaRUhpbpwjV4rrrmBGu_M0GlRwype5s0CrRRnGPlcX2aHASQA82VDs7UlXSYCh040dXuunMbtvt3qDA6oQ/s3478/IMG_8358.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2296" data-original-width="3478" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6Y8c_XpkL3Wx8XFhqV87skJW980Jppht6aHoSl_G2y4Bdd0Jdfy-UlTADd9CmATa2uHjy6Br01dULouwKyuiaOAzxWgYnzjOki2zOvM7xaRUhpbpwjV4rrrmBGu_M0GlRwype5s0CrRRnGPlcX2aHASQA82VDs7UlXSYCh040dXuunMbtvt3qDA6oQ/w640-h422/IMG_8358.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">As I write now, 'Ghislaine de FĂ©ligonde' on the right is beginning its second flush of bloom, </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtEoFpc33oFWuP3p1bTlvb96YEGjFubiDye5AlNkJ-iBjN-gFbyVHeScTJq94iYda53-1dWTgwox-MSpFWE27hNmQd7EuU7V7F9HWST7ewx3cWxfvnfSZwAmNSxWC1At42fBBWfLisN0nuKQ6QnFU7FZBwFz4vCQXoixYcIhHwLTGKQYMq0pTHrc-yg/s2887/IMG_8493.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2180" data-original-width="2887" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtEoFpc33oFWuP3p1bTlvb96YEGjFubiDye5AlNkJ-iBjN-gFbyVHeScTJq94iYda53-1dWTgwox-MSpFWE27hNmQd7EuU7V7F9HWST7ewx3cWxfvnfSZwAmNSxWC1At42fBBWfLisN0nuKQ6QnFU7FZBwFz4vCQXoixYcIhHwLTGKQYMq0pTHrc-yg/w640-h485/IMG_8493.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqk8jlYmGXGwFHO97islAb4yPuLibfEzxhXJd26W3rEA4KSAJvOInH_SWYo_up-8x4ZVoZejtbzHuL0ABj5vgvDkTETrDrA05CJMvNcXpsobDmh4Zzx9ShToJ3j29ewO1EfVPkAmyoZbfN1icGyC8RPpYS6rJ0b15g5vkze11qTTsXwew_6SOaZrDJig" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1759" data-original-width="2248" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqk8jlYmGXGwFHO97islAb4yPuLibfEzxhXJd26W3rEA4KSAJvOInH_SWYo_up-8x4ZVoZejtbzHuL0ABj5vgvDkTETrDrA05CJMvNcXpsobDmh4Zzx9ShToJ3j29ewO1EfVPkAmyoZbfN1icGyC8RPpYS6rJ0b15g5vkze11qTTsXwew_6SOaZrDJig=w400-h313" width="400" /></a></div><br />while 'Lykkefund' on the left is displaying a myriad of little green rosehips already on their way towards their winter red.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTT-j3ZHUjJ4-i9WNox0FzGvgfbujF1cH2eTaBs7dRZ8NGyVwEgb3G3jkeQemX3j513HFf5fVWkYvjdOLCwNDAxYMXbBFB1_Cp7Q5qHMxZw6xT1vPwh69-7yYfPWe6y3hMtQS1-7DlQOAKM3MUSj36KtbVp97eTdh-iyG6pubSBFDNecQNEDzA98YHQ/s3042/IMG_8490.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3042" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTT-j3ZHUjJ4-i9WNox0FzGvgfbujF1cH2eTaBs7dRZ8NGyVwEgb3G3jkeQemX3j513HFf5fVWkYvjdOLCwNDAxYMXbBFB1_Cp7Q5qHMxZw6xT1vPwh69-7yYfPWe6y3hMtQS1-7DlQOAKM3MUSj36KtbVp97eTdh-iyG6pubSBFDNecQNEDzA98YHQ/w640-h576/IMG_8490.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Throughout spring and summer, their unblemished foliage hearkens back to a time before size, colour and constant bloom took precedence over health and fragrance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The other group of plants that continues to amaze me with their beauty and resilience has been the hydrangeas. </div><div style="text-align: center;">This year my tree hydrangea (<i>H. aspera var. sargentiana</i>) has continued to make its way upwards, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpJAkq5nfnnockIeEejyW38XK9N8eKBmnnXXle5fBGtAtXgK95Le26fEeEUeU4ZMJx5ajCVdbQsh5hfPu35LYNqLLXH5ypCDUXmoFHmi1DbPF4NXJgBfSUwaFTMM78kPPb2cnxpm6Y1rVrOC705nc5y-kpkEUAfgnlUXjJBPh2iQfKe7susHsxWf8zQ/s3314/IMG_8466%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3314" data-original-width="2358" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpJAkq5nfnnockIeEejyW38XK9N8eKBmnnXXle5fBGtAtXgK95Le26fEeEUeU4ZMJx5ajCVdbQsh5hfPu35LYNqLLXH5ypCDUXmoFHmi1DbPF4NXJgBfSUwaFTMM78kPPb2cnxpm6Y1rVrOC705nc5y-kpkEUAfgnlUXjJBPh2iQfKe7susHsxWf8zQ/w456-h640/IMG_8466%20(1).jpeg" width="456" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and we now have a fine close-up view of its flowers awash with bees as we sit on our high front porch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdQvCSYK0uIisYTXf21ih5PkYmMFjQNrVDkAswvH1A5EaVyt0Kb8QdGgGoRr_lSsm0mqtJdz6X2LlWDsJJ5O3WonOTPe-1uvW3tNYx17un2uLiK0iVprhEBa7rj5Ofp4tM02-IwXbGeEkvABXzaXYnQ-5om13yu4oizAUM3cc-YztWZAQeUqDpfsziRQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1824" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdQvCSYK0uIisYTXf21ih5PkYmMFjQNrVDkAswvH1A5EaVyt0Kb8QdGgGoRr_lSsm0mqtJdz6X2LlWDsJJ5O3WonOTPe-1uvW3tNYx17un2uLiK0iVprhEBa7rj5Ofp4tM02-IwXbGeEkvABXzaXYnQ-5om13yu4oizAUM3cc-YztWZAQeUqDpfsziRQ=w640-h440" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the back garden, the purple foliage of Hydrangea serrata 'Kiyosumi' was a striking feature of the spring garden.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWIvmujxBFptAFpRv3CJjStTT1vzou4E-t9TPOHbi-9Q0FhYmY3dywGDmOGEgrknD8LdBdfvgB8F63RKvll-XkdJ_x7Tu9evTGms-Nc-8UGLtOcmtnzdtmBW2bKfoNZLLAD6dnyHTjBIqspw-D32VYJu3C7CdkBRqsls-73H5GFc7XhqDd8AqBNkN0vw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWIvmujxBFptAFpRv3CJjStTT1vzou4E-t9TPOHbi-9Q0FhYmY3dywGDmOGEgrknD8LdBdfvgB8F63RKvll-XkdJ_x7Tu9evTGms-Nc-8UGLtOcmtnzdtmBW2bKfoNZLLAD6dnyHTjBIqspw-D32VYJu3C7CdkBRqsls-73H5GFc7XhqDd8AqBNkN0vw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think I like it better as a foliage plant than a flowering one. The leaves become more green as they mature, and although the summer blooms are attractive, they're not quite as special at a time when there's a lot of competition from other plants.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxFOX9egeQv2Aq0lQ0ZFAU37eVlRSy3WlKt8cD_Qlc-n-i2nctcD4Be5hLZ3Mpnmu5HSY2acdoh-IpONwc-ogN-Rd-NtZ5JVNoS5jV3BZOMizPgP0GKBlV24N4mgft88mMI129NlG_4QZxxOnY3WknHzs9AAJaDzNiTcdiLIb8V24x0qXRSXb4hX0S7A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2086" data-original-width="3000" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxFOX9egeQv2Aq0lQ0ZFAU37eVlRSy3WlKt8cD_Qlc-n-i2nctcD4Be5hLZ3Mpnmu5HSY2acdoh-IpONwc-ogN-Rd-NtZ5JVNoS5jV3BZOMizPgP0GKBlV24N4mgft88mMI129NlG_4QZxxOnY3WknHzs9AAJaDzNiTcdiLIb8V24x0qXRSXb4hX0S7A=w640-h446" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">My smallest H. serrata is 'Amagi-amacha', which is tucked in between two larger shrubs, a Fothergilla and an Oakleaf Hydrangea. Neither give it much competition during its bloom period, which allows its delicate little leaves and white bracts on their short stalks to have pride of place.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqBag1IQxk9BHdElaBWw2o-H7_4ORDU-2U1DRbKCGZPxmmlkwrp_pij_UG6ztqx8nq6CD_RLSp8MbI9Puwco79vjwPX7EFgUfWUJL9cUVWCEEYrKrwwqRVc86t9PWVp7OLJTEjdNgfW5e4604Zo1ziIDjlpQDkNbyuftKtrA7a1a6ei_49x_L2V73Xbw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2227" data-original-width="3126" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqBag1IQxk9BHdElaBWw2o-H7_4ORDU-2U1DRbKCGZPxmmlkwrp_pij_UG6ztqx8nq6CD_RLSp8MbI9Puwco79vjwPX7EFgUfWUJL9cUVWCEEYrKrwwqRVc86t9PWVp7OLJTEjdNgfW5e4604Zo1ziIDjlpQDkNbyuftKtrA7a1a6ei_49x_L2V73Xbw=w640-h456" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Amacha translates as "sweet tea". Apparently the leaves make a concoction that tastes like that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Presumably, H. serrata 'Yae-no-amacha' shares the same attribute, although it's a larger specimen with soft blue double flowers. As my plant is still young, I'm not sure how large it will grow or how generous its bloom will be. I'm wondering if I have it in too much shade and may move it when it's dormant to a sunnier but still sheltered place.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRiYf1YpgzADmaTa10TTcI9sYNBWJ3By9gPQ1R9t9kvNaO3yMwck3qOEhbQmlu1vAadQp_RfOK4JpONEkj9kek3w4xHIsDSNPMOL2WBmvWjXjAw_35RmgPmol219jAqJHxCf6nNJgvYcq4AeD6ATB2tyYCKzIFl6GS7ys2rkqxjyDNPP0064HYCuOiDw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2462" data-original-width="3215" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRiYf1YpgzADmaTa10TTcI9sYNBWJ3By9gPQ1R9t9kvNaO3yMwck3qOEhbQmlu1vAadQp_RfOK4JpONEkj9kek3w4xHIsDSNPMOL2WBmvWjXjAw_35RmgPmol219jAqJHxCf6nNJgvYcq4AeD6ATB2tyYCKzIFl6GS7ys2rkqxjyDNPP0064HYCuOiDw=w640-h491" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally, I have to include Hydrangea. serrata 'Beni'. I've mentioned it before, but this year I remembered to record its transition from a white flower to a red one over just one month. I've put the dates underneath the photos to show the progress of this miraculous transformation.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinN3HGfsUG1hi1dWQKAP6d_FiLun8ULl-XK1i3UlM7x0rn98t24apGD-3sWgZDIr_3Z6yeBKUR_V2FGL-H5sgSenV2BYHqLSbbU2ztjPlRcBhY24wTQbJb877kSEKsvv6LmZeCb-p5K3byKTPKbVcZQ1hgUVP33LJA3x8_Dl2u9X36o7UCKp3eceJpcg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><img data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinN3HGfsUG1hi1dWQKAP6d_FiLun8ULl-XK1i3UlM7x0rn98t24apGD-3sWgZDIr_3Z6yeBKUR_V2FGL-H5sgSenV2BYHqLSbbU2ztjPlRcBhY24wTQbJb877kSEKsvv6LmZeCb-p5K3byKTPKbVcZQ1hgUVP33LJA3x8_Dl2u9X36o7UCKp3eceJpcg=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">June 20</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSlTEGsR1IFuoCqF1QLzmVqG49W5RQJcvuh7n_4Kbuc9gQnFic4gEafZsPfr-cQ7Qu2VHjheCcoWGNiYTU5_CAxkfGMwO-sRdYr7TTpE32Zst5YpbtHVSWmG1KqkS0_NB73tYfR5Cb5PE3gC9fectl2G21iYpMbdFYPupP19cIvsq7QOBhtFNuwRYHTQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3088" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSlTEGsR1IFuoCqF1QLzmVqG49W5RQJcvuh7n_4Kbuc9gQnFic4gEafZsPfr-cQ7Qu2VHjheCcoWGNiYTU5_CAxkfGMwO-sRdYr7TTpE32Zst5YpbtHVSWmG1KqkS0_NB73tYfR5Cb5PE3gC9fectl2G21iYpMbdFYPupP19cIvsq7QOBhtFNuwRYHTQ=w640-h420" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">June 30</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZdjIX1RE256EgdMNxrlmrCARhsi_vEoTPvbr_7Zwm8Ffwv06ICoHzXIxIsZ7ALECrkCoK_2AsBGICy8L7qOIAMn983zrD2PVf020ecoDnpGjd-tpvNlyhjKqEQtSsKEaDoGVfNErQzJPTddv6fNli0AOB4SbPyucBtNVJ8ObHh61YfOQ_BSjQ1cUN1A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZdjIX1RE256EgdMNxrlmrCARhsi_vEoTPvbr_7Zwm8Ffwv06ICoHzXIxIsZ7ALECrkCoK_2AsBGICy8L7qOIAMn983zrD2PVf020ecoDnpGjd-tpvNlyhjKqEQtSsKEaDoGVfNErQzJPTddv6fNli0AOB4SbPyucBtNVJ8ObHh61YfOQ_BSjQ1cUN1A=w640-h480" title="July 7" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">July 7</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjAHuRq0SvNGs6pCBLqCQgFZf6mtQFE7MzBuZsQNYhgWVXeaqZ9ds4yeJsvk14qq4lCXkLHWoRRzr_qLyC6LstR6bZPYHWkDRPCjDpxUFfK07PawYOvNaqdvsRn-ab4EBhCen52_onaywszmObvngZILJQLWNeYCkf4PIw9ilRMlhHnp5Td4ev4Xq5MA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="2505" data-original-width="3368" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjAHuRq0SvNGs6pCBLqCQgFZf6mtQFE7MzBuZsQNYhgWVXeaqZ9ds4yeJsvk14qq4lCXkLHWoRRzr_qLyC6LstR6bZPYHWkDRPCjDpxUFfK07PawYOvNaqdvsRn-ab4EBhCen52_onaywszmObvngZILJQLWNeYCkf4PIw9ilRMlhHnp5Td4ev4Xq5MA=w640-h476" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">July 17</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-81205736022878499482022-12-10T17:20:00.003-08:002022-12-10T17:21:29.190-08:00Summer Review<p style="text-align: center;">Time got away from me this year. Summer heat drove me from my desk in the dormer visible behind the roses in the first photo, and I've failed to catch up until now. When I began this entry I was looking back at some plants that not only survived the heat of this summer, but even flourished under demanding conditions.</p><p style="text-align: center;">The roses bloomed later than usual thanks to an unusually cold, wet spring, but when they did, it was an explosion of cream and apricot along our back fences. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6Y8c_XpkL3Wx8XFhqV87skJW980Jppht6aHoSl_G2y4Bdd0Jdfy-UlTADd9CmATa2uHjy6Br01dULouwKyuiaOAzxWgYnzjOki2zOvM7xaRUhpbpwjV4rrrmBGu_M0GlRwype5s0CrRRnGPlcX2aHASQA82VDs7UlXSYCh040dXuunMbtvt3qDA6oQ/s3478/IMG_8358.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2296" data-original-width="3478" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6Y8c_XpkL3Wx8XFhqV87skJW980Jppht6aHoSl_G2y4Bdd0Jdfy-UlTADd9CmATa2uHjy6Br01dULouwKyuiaOAzxWgYnzjOki2zOvM7xaRUhpbpwjV4rrrmBGu_M0GlRwype5s0CrRRnGPlcX2aHASQA82VDs7UlXSYCh040dXuunMbtvt3qDA6oQ/w640-h422/IMG_8358.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">As I write now, 'Ghislaine de FĂ©ligonde' on the right is beginning its second flush of bloom, </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtEoFpc33oFWuP3p1bTlvb96YEGjFubiDye5AlNkJ-iBjN-gFbyVHeScTJq94iYda53-1dWTgwox-MSpFWE27hNmQd7EuU7V7F9HWST7ewx3cWxfvnfSZwAmNSxWC1At42fBBWfLisN0nuKQ6QnFU7FZBwFz4vCQXoixYcIhHwLTGKQYMq0pTHrc-yg/s2887/IMG_8493.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2180" data-original-width="2887" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtEoFpc33oFWuP3p1bTlvb96YEGjFubiDye5AlNkJ-iBjN-gFbyVHeScTJq94iYda53-1dWTgwox-MSpFWE27hNmQd7EuU7V7F9HWST7ewx3cWxfvnfSZwAmNSxWC1At42fBBWfLisN0nuKQ6QnFU7FZBwFz4vCQXoixYcIhHwLTGKQYMq0pTHrc-yg/w640-h485/IMG_8493.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqk8jlYmGXGwFHO97islAb4yPuLibfEzxhXJd26W3rEA4KSAJvOInH_SWYo_up-8x4ZVoZejtbzHuL0ABj5vgvDkTETrDrA05CJMvNcXpsobDmh4Zzx9ShToJ3j29ewO1EfVPkAmyoZbfN1icGyC8RPpYS6rJ0b15g5vkze11qTTsXwew_6SOaZrDJig" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1759" data-original-width="2248" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqk8jlYmGXGwFHO97islAb4yPuLibfEzxhXJd26W3rEA4KSAJvOInH_SWYo_up-8x4ZVoZejtbzHuL0ABj5vgvDkTETrDrA05CJMvNcXpsobDmh4Zzx9ShToJ3j29ewO1EfVPkAmyoZbfN1icGyC8RPpYS6rJ0b15g5vkze11qTTsXwew_6SOaZrDJig=w400-h313" width="400" /></a></div><br />while 'Lykkefund' on the left is displaying a myriad of little green rosehips already on their way towards their winter red.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTT-j3ZHUjJ4-i9WNox0FzGvgfbujF1cH2eTaBs7dRZ8NGyVwEgb3G3jkeQemX3j513HFf5fVWkYvjdOLCwNDAxYMXbBFB1_Cp7Q5qHMxZw6xT1vPwh69-7yYfPWe6y3hMtQS1-7DlQOAKM3MUSj36KtbVp97eTdh-iyG6pubSBFDNecQNEDzA98YHQ/s3042/IMG_8490.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3042" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTT-j3ZHUjJ4-i9WNox0FzGvgfbujF1cH2eTaBs7dRZ8NGyVwEgb3G3jkeQemX3j513HFf5fVWkYvjdOLCwNDAxYMXbBFB1_Cp7Q5qHMxZw6xT1vPwh69-7yYfPWe6y3hMtQS1-7DlQOAKM3MUSj36KtbVp97eTdh-iyG6pubSBFDNecQNEDzA98YHQ/w640-h576/IMG_8490.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Throughout spring and summer, their unblemished foliage hearkens back to a time before size, colour and constant bloom took precedence over health and fragrance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The other group of plants that continues to amaze me with their beauty and resilience has been the hydrangeas. </div><div style="text-align: center;">This year my tree hydrangea (<i>H. aspera var. sargentiana</i>) has continued to make its way upwards, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpJAkq5nfnnockIeEejyW38XK9N8eKBmnnXXle5fBGtAtXgK95Le26fEeEUeU4ZMJx5ajCVdbQsh5hfPu35LYNqLLXH5ypCDUXmoFHmi1DbPF4NXJgBfSUwaFTMM78kPPb2cnxpm6Y1rVrOC705nc5y-kpkEUAfgnlUXjJBPh2iQfKe7susHsxWf8zQ/s3314/IMG_8466%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3314" data-original-width="2358" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpJAkq5nfnnockIeEejyW38XK9N8eKBmnnXXle5fBGtAtXgK95Le26fEeEUeU4ZMJx5ajCVdbQsh5hfPu35LYNqLLXH5ypCDUXmoFHmi1DbPF4NXJgBfSUwaFTMM78kPPb2cnxpm6Y1rVrOC705nc5y-kpkEUAfgnlUXjJBPh2iQfKe7susHsxWf8zQ/w456-h640/IMG_8466%20(1).jpeg" width="456" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and we now have a fine close-up view of its flowers awash with bees as we sit on our high front porch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdQvCSYK0uIisYTXf21ih5PkYmMFjQNrVDkAswvH1A5EaVyt0Kb8QdGgGoRr_lSsm0mqtJdz6X2LlWDsJJ5O3WonOTPe-1uvW3tNYx17un2uLiK0iVprhEBa7rj5Ofp4tM02-IwXbGeEkvABXzaXYnQ-5om13yu4oizAUM3cc-YztWZAQeUqDpfsziRQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1824" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdQvCSYK0uIisYTXf21ih5PkYmMFjQNrVDkAswvH1A5EaVyt0Kb8QdGgGoRr_lSsm0mqtJdz6X2LlWDsJJ5O3WonOTPe-1uvW3tNYx17un2uLiK0iVprhEBa7rj5Ofp4tM02-IwXbGeEkvABXzaXYnQ-5om13yu4oizAUM3cc-YztWZAQeUqDpfsziRQ=w640-h440" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the back garden, the purple foliage of Hydrangea serrata 'Kiyosumi' was a striking feature of the spring garden.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWIvmujxBFptAFpRv3CJjStTT1vzou4E-t9TPOHbi-9Q0FhYmY3dywGDmOGEgrknD8LdBdfvgB8F63RKvll-XkdJ_x7Tu9evTGms-Nc-8UGLtOcmtnzdtmBW2bKfoNZLLAD6dnyHTjBIqspw-D32VYJu3C7CdkBRqsls-73H5GFc7XhqDd8AqBNkN0vw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWIvmujxBFptAFpRv3CJjStTT1vzou4E-t9TPOHbi-9Q0FhYmY3dywGDmOGEgrknD8LdBdfvgB8F63RKvll-XkdJ_x7Tu9evTGms-Nc-8UGLtOcmtnzdtmBW2bKfoNZLLAD6dnyHTjBIqspw-D32VYJu3C7CdkBRqsls-73H5GFc7XhqDd8AqBNkN0vw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think I like it better as a foliage plant than a flowering one. The leaves become more green as they mature, and although the summer blooms are attractive, they're not quite as special at a time when there's a lot of competition from other plants.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxFOX9egeQv2Aq0lQ0ZFAU37eVlRSy3WlKt8cD_Qlc-n-i2nctcD4Be5hLZ3Mpnmu5HSY2acdoh-IpONwc-ogN-Rd-NtZ5JVNoS5jV3BZOMizPgP0GKBlV24N4mgft88mMI129NlG_4QZxxOnY3WknHzs9AAJaDzNiTcdiLIb8V24x0qXRSXb4hX0S7A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2086" data-original-width="3000" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxFOX9egeQv2Aq0lQ0ZFAU37eVlRSy3WlKt8cD_Qlc-n-i2nctcD4Be5hLZ3Mpnmu5HSY2acdoh-IpONwc-ogN-Rd-NtZ5JVNoS5jV3BZOMizPgP0GKBlV24N4mgft88mMI129NlG_4QZxxOnY3WknHzs9AAJaDzNiTcdiLIb8V24x0qXRSXb4hX0S7A=w640-h446" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">My smallest H. serrata is 'Amagi-amacha', which is tucked in between two larger shrubs, a Fothergilla and an Oakleaf Hydrangea. Neither give it much competition during its bloom period, which allows its delicate little leaves and white bracts on their short stalks to have pride of place.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqBag1IQxk9BHdElaBWw2o-H7_4ORDU-2U1DRbKCGZPxmmlkwrp_pij_UG6ztqx8nq6CD_RLSp8MbI9Puwco79vjwPX7EFgUfWUJL9cUVWCEEYrKrwwqRVc86t9PWVp7OLJTEjdNgfW5e4604Zo1ziIDjlpQDkNbyuftKtrA7a1a6ei_49x_L2V73Xbw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2227" data-original-width="3126" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqBag1IQxk9BHdElaBWw2o-H7_4ORDU-2U1DRbKCGZPxmmlkwrp_pij_UG6ztqx8nq6CD_RLSp8MbI9Puwco79vjwPX7EFgUfWUJL9cUVWCEEYrKrwwqRVc86t9PWVp7OLJTEjdNgfW5e4604Zo1ziIDjlpQDkNbyuftKtrA7a1a6ei_49x_L2V73Xbw=w640-h456" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Amacha translates as "sweet tea". Apparently the leaves make a concoction that tastes like that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Presumably, H. serrata 'Yae-no-amacha' shares the same attribute, although it's a larger specimen with soft blue double flowers. As my plant is still young, I'm not sure how large it will grow or how generous its bloom will be. I'm wondering if I have it in too much shade and may move it when it's dormant to a sunnier but still sheltered place.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRiYf1YpgzADmaTa10TTcI9sYNBWJ3By9gPQ1R9t9kvNaO3yMwck3qOEhbQmlu1vAadQp_RfOK4JpONEkj9kek3w4xHIsDSNPMOL2WBmvWjXjAw_35RmgPmol219jAqJHxCf6nNJgvYcq4AeD6ATB2tyYCKzIFl6GS7ys2rkqxjyDNPP0064HYCuOiDw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2462" data-original-width="3215" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRiYf1YpgzADmaTa10TTcI9sYNBWJ3By9gPQ1R9t9kvNaO3yMwck3qOEhbQmlu1vAadQp_RfOK4JpONEkj9kek3w4xHIsDSNPMOL2WBmvWjXjAw_35RmgPmol219jAqJHxCf6nNJgvYcq4AeD6ATB2tyYCKzIFl6GS7ys2rkqxjyDNPP0064HYCuOiDw=w640-h491" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally, I have to include Hydrangea. serrata 'Beni'. I've mentioned it before, but this year I remembered to record its transition from a white flower to a red one over just one month. I've put the dates underneath the photos to show the progress of this miraculous transformation.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinN3HGfsUG1hi1dWQKAP6d_FiLun8ULl-XK1i3UlM7x0rn98t24apGD-3sWgZDIr_3Z6yeBKUR_V2FGL-H5sgSenV2BYHqLSbbU2ztjPlRcBhY24wTQbJb877kSEKsvv6LmZeCb-p5K3byKTPKbVcZQ1hgUVP33LJA3x8_Dl2u9X36o7UCKp3eceJpcg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><img data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinN3HGfsUG1hi1dWQKAP6d_FiLun8ULl-XK1i3UlM7x0rn98t24apGD-3sWgZDIr_3Z6yeBKUR_V2FGL-H5sgSenV2BYHqLSbbU2ztjPlRcBhY24wTQbJb877kSEKsvv6LmZeCb-p5K3byKTPKbVcZQ1hgUVP33LJA3x8_Dl2u9X36o7UCKp3eceJpcg=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">June 20</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSlTEGsR1IFuoCqF1QLzmVqG49W5RQJcvuh7n_4Kbuc9gQnFic4gEafZsPfr-cQ7Qu2VHjheCcoWGNiYTU5_CAxkfGMwO-sRdYr7TTpE32Zst5YpbtHVSWmG1KqkS0_NB73tYfR5Cb5PE3gC9fectl2G21iYpMbdFYPupP19cIvsq7QOBhtFNuwRYHTQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="3088" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSlTEGsR1IFuoCqF1QLzmVqG49W5RQJcvuh7n_4Kbuc9gQnFic4gEafZsPfr-cQ7Qu2VHjheCcoWGNiYTU5_CAxkfGMwO-sRdYr7TTpE32Zst5YpbtHVSWmG1KqkS0_NB73tYfR5Cb5PE3gC9fectl2G21iYpMbdFYPupP19cIvsq7QOBhtFNuwRYHTQ=w640-h420" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">June 30</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZdjIX1RE256EgdMNxrlmrCARhsi_vEoTPvbr_7Zwm8Ffwv06ICoHzXIxIsZ7ALECrkCoK_2AsBGICy8L7qOIAMn983zrD2PVf020ecoDnpGjd-tpvNlyhjKqEQtSsKEaDoGVfNErQzJPTddv6fNli0AOB4SbPyucBtNVJ8ObHh61YfOQ_BSjQ1cUN1A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZdjIX1RE256EgdMNxrlmrCARhsi_vEoTPvbr_7Zwm8Ffwv06ICoHzXIxIsZ7ALECrkCoK_2AsBGICy8L7qOIAMn983zrD2PVf020ecoDnpGjd-tpvNlyhjKqEQtSsKEaDoGVfNErQzJPTddv6fNli0AOB4SbPyucBtNVJ8ObHh61YfOQ_BSjQ1cUN1A=w640-h480" title="July 7" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">July 7</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjAHuRq0SvNGs6pCBLqCQgFZf6mtQFE7MzBuZsQNYhgWVXeaqZ9ds4yeJsvk14qq4lCXkLHWoRRzr_qLyC6LstR6bZPYHWkDRPCjDpxUFfK07PawYOvNaqdvsRn-ab4EBhCen52_onaywszmObvngZILJQLWNeYCkf4PIw9ilRMlhHnp5Td4ev4Xq5MA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="2505" data-original-width="3368" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjAHuRq0SvNGs6pCBLqCQgFZf6mtQFE7MzBuZsQNYhgWVXeaqZ9ds4yeJsvk14qq4lCXkLHWoRRzr_qLyC6LstR6bZPYHWkDRPCjDpxUFfK07PawYOvNaqdvsRn-ab4EBhCen52_onaywszmObvngZILJQLWNeYCkf4PIw9ilRMlhHnp5Td4ev4Xq5MA=w640-h476" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">July 17</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-1893629254015421282022-06-27T11:48:00.001-07:002023-04-17T11:55:25.479-07:00Topiary with a Purpose<p style="text-align: center;"> On the way back from our weekend on the Gulf Islands (see previous post), we came across this strange piece of plant sculpture at the entrance to a lane in the small community of Deep Bay.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKd6H7de3VwX7q8HmLTZZCzW-YrQ6PzYjWldw4dxY8lxqSd_P_XRLPpEtn5GJf9a8JHJJw05bgCrzW_diclilUQ1FjaB3_bVaApy9XdKt0GW_OhhnMS4uYA0Bt_jyzU0rOmwCUVW90Az_-DPR0IfBNZYxR3uQ42yKUP-FdVWoMa_mqM90Stc1zl4HcQ/s3117/hole%20in%20bush.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2529" data-original-width="3117" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKd6H7de3VwX7q8HmLTZZCzW-YrQ6PzYjWldw4dxY8lxqSd_P_XRLPpEtn5GJf9a8JHJJw05bgCrzW_diclilUQ1FjaB3_bVaApy9XdKt0GW_OhhnMS4uYA0Bt_jyzU0rOmwCUVW90Az_-DPR0IfBNZYxR3uQ42yKUP-FdVWoMa_mqM90Stc1zl4HcQ/w640-h520/hole%20in%20bush.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Closer inspection revealed the purpose of the window. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFy3AR0laY43YpKT1Ksb-chHZ2pkszLXgZ3n9HZbLqi4yRiULOaAmyad8_i4pBVz9xyVHOg7b5tfK101sER3JEHcpownSdCGzB-MW8xvOMYzJ5mfZ0LU7ItUdUJCUug-BMonFp6sP66LqtWK0HYIOLPiBqiP1KvfpzzSi420qdvJhEYA2Ay_0XR0Zeg/s3340/footpathonlytobeachnovehicles.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2620" data-original-width="3340" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFy3AR0laY43YpKT1Ksb-chHZ2pkszLXgZ3n9HZbLqi4yRiULOaAmyad8_i4pBVz9xyVHOg7b5tfK101sER3JEHcpownSdCGzB-MW8xvOMYzJ5mfZ0LU7ItUdUJCUug-BMonFp6sP66LqtWK0HYIOLPiBqiP1KvfpzzSi420qdvJhEYA2Ay_0XR0Zeg/w640-h502/footpathonlytobeachnovehicles.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The sign reads: </div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>FOOTPATH ONLY TO BEACH</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>NO VEHICLES</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p>I was both amused and impressed. In some communities, local authorities would have chopped down the hedge.</p>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-24352475688515983422022-06-27T11:48:00.000-07:002022-06-27T11:48:25.490-07:00Topiary with a Purpose<p style="text-align: center;"> On the way back from our weekend on the Gulf Islands (see previous post), we came across this strange piece of plant sculpture at the entrance to a lane in the small community of Deep Bay.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKd6H7de3VwX7q8HmLTZZCzW-YrQ6PzYjWldw4dxY8lxqSd_P_XRLPpEtn5GJf9a8JHJJw05bgCrzW_diclilUQ1FjaB3_bVaApy9XdKt0GW_OhhnMS4uYA0Bt_jyzU0rOmwCUVW90Az_-DPR0IfBNZYxR3uQ42yKUP-FdVWoMa_mqM90Stc1zl4HcQ/s3117/hole%20in%20bush.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2529" data-original-width="3117" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKd6H7de3VwX7q8HmLTZZCzW-YrQ6PzYjWldw4dxY8lxqSd_P_XRLPpEtn5GJf9a8JHJJw05bgCrzW_diclilUQ1FjaB3_bVaApy9XdKt0GW_OhhnMS4uYA0Bt_jyzU0rOmwCUVW90Az_-DPR0IfBNZYxR3uQ42yKUP-FdVWoMa_mqM90Stc1zl4HcQ/w640-h520/hole%20in%20bush.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Closer inspection revealed the purpose of the window. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFy3AR0laY43YpKT1Ksb-chHZ2pkszLXgZ3n9HZbLqi4yRiULOaAmyad8_i4pBVz9xyVHOg7b5tfK101sER3JEHcpownSdCGzB-MW8xvOMYzJ5mfZ0LU7ItUdUJCUug-BMonFp6sP66LqtWK0HYIOLPiBqiP1KvfpzzSi420qdvJhEYA2Ay_0XR0Zeg/s3340/footpathonlytobeachnovehicles.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2620" data-original-width="3340" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFy3AR0laY43YpKT1Ksb-chHZ2pkszLXgZ3n9HZbLqi4yRiULOaAmyad8_i4pBVz9xyVHOg7b5tfK101sER3JEHcpownSdCGzB-MW8xvOMYzJ5mfZ0LU7ItUdUJCUug-BMonFp6sP66LqtWK0HYIOLPiBqiP1KvfpzzSi420qdvJhEYA2Ay_0XR0Zeg/w640-h502/footpathonlytobeachnovehicles.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The sign reads: </div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>FOOTPATH ONLY TO BEACH</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>NO VEHICLES</b></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p>I was both amused and impressed. In some communities, local authorities would have chopped down the hedge.</p>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-5944578892365245532022-06-18T17:31:00.001-07:002023-04-17T11:55:25.873-07:00Denman Island Garden Tour<p> After 2 years with no garden events, the news that the Denman Island Conservancy was preparing to hold their house and garden tour in June was too tempting to miss out on: <a href="https://www.denman-conservancy.org/home-and-garden-tour/">https://www.denman-conservancy.org/home-and-garden-tour/</a></p><p>As their website states, <span style="color: #38761d;">"Denman Island is located in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. it is a small rural gulf island near the east coast of Vancouver Island."</span></p><p>We were lucky enough to have good friends on nearby Hornby Island and fortunately Lauren and Jim were not only willing to put up with us for the weekend, but were keen to join us on the tour. </p><p>We took the little cable-stayed ferry between the islands to get to their delightful retreat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFnmr5dwVprQ4vMeW4lR1vr2uV7HlEHDtMcwSX_JT22LOJqjckxrNUD_4qu-ToawU7ClbMDx20rlJODsbWEdeVzfW_3hGbIMVX4UK6QKgt0NR5Jyfk15QxkY4y8AA2y2g09EpLtBQT5nAfixjoYDsiNp63rbgwiziJlD7Pbn5A28Zqlg_oZ2wWkZf9A/s3648/ferrytohornby.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFnmr5dwVprQ4vMeW4lR1vr2uV7HlEHDtMcwSX_JT22LOJqjckxrNUD_4qu-ToawU7ClbMDx20rlJODsbWEdeVzfW_3hGbIMVX4UK6QKgt0NR5Jyfk15QxkY4y8AA2y2g09EpLtBQT5nAfixjoYDsiNp63rbgwiziJlD7Pbn5A28Zqlg_oZ2wWkZf9A/w640-h480/ferrytohornby.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wGtYdoUHrNtX2I2ejBRSNNycp4HKMXlAUzuKyh5lPKCRnuxf2MXA4VyF05mfst8jS2dLkGZhNCA42nqE2YzP9fGaGj5SAAuD9_XAAX04C3Vxpq1zjUu4fy_JEdAy8ZshJB_8ZgkTi4NddWjto5SB3hya9-Ztsnwy2YgPVm3UMAPsjN4HcT45w99cZA/s3569/Wolfcottage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2676" data-original-width="3569" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wGtYdoUHrNtX2I2ejBRSNNycp4HKMXlAUzuKyh5lPKCRnuxf2MXA4VyF05mfst8jS2dLkGZhNCA42nqE2YzP9fGaGj5SAAuD9_XAAX04C3Vxpq1zjUu4fy_JEdAy8ZshJB_8ZgkTi4NddWjto5SB3hya9-Ztsnwy2YgPVm3UMAPsjN4HcT45w99cZA/w400-h300/Wolfcottage.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Amazingly, after the very wet spring we've been enduring, the weather gods smiled on Denman and the weekend was sunny.</p><p>The tour included several open houses as well as their gardens, but although nearly all the houses were beautiful examples of west coast modern style with abundant use of natural wood, I'm only slightly embarrassed to say it was the plants that took all my attention. As Denman has a large resident deer population, most gardens are protected at least in part by fencing, but many also had successful deer-resistant plantings outside the fences.</p><p>Given the Island's rural ambience and its issues with water shortages, I thought that this meadow garden approach was both practical and in tune with the surrounding countryside.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2AVZ5y5Uu_rfaARbfLIs9EobFlE7qliuJL-xsXgE_XkaIV-uHBgt4s4M-1JaUup5xlTEd3OVV-bCbBpEpGSBolYuhmuBIgB2WKj69cwi6Y2oZGKaivUivDYb29SbIl4rsdmG27kXzhml9dMKsMa6ToWAKsnLOHf1Gp_PqDNw-cZvvPTeKWdjC6PxZg/s3648/meadowborder.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2598" data-original-width="3648" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2AVZ5y5Uu_rfaARbfLIs9EobFlE7qliuJL-xsXgE_XkaIV-uHBgt4s4M-1JaUup5xlTEd3OVV-bCbBpEpGSBolYuhmuBIgB2WKj69cwi6Y2oZGKaivUivDYb29SbIl4rsdmG27kXzhml9dMKsMa6ToWAKsnLOHf1Gp_PqDNw-cZvvPTeKWdjC6PxZg/w640-h456/meadowborder.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLobov9xxiLeVbSoKXHdkweezAkRHY8XDL25dLkEOTYVDy6T-8nSZA_c7tx-RgjP1MsAcTHP2tH9g7k750HS5ZNk9cQrAYtChuyFvbnZRDFtXHwH-F7SjXH843wVwL6eKci9DDHi2yXgmIQZiuS3VKtSgVPQW10i20F8A7vPcc1OL2I011RfjHuigkwg/s3387/pool2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2540" data-original-width="3387" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLobov9xxiLeVbSoKXHdkweezAkRHY8XDL25dLkEOTYVDy6T-8nSZA_c7tx-RgjP1MsAcTHP2tH9g7k750HS5ZNk9cQrAYtChuyFvbnZRDFtXHwH-F7SjXH843wVwL6eKci9DDHi2yXgmIQZiuS3VKtSgVPQW10i20F8A7vPcc1OL2I011RfjHuigkwg/w640-h480/pool2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Pools were popular elements, and I was intrigued by both the colour of the water and the (home-made?) floating island at one garden.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk21r5VwkMt3bTGTFzU832qExtoFUeNMkNMPrCzTADwd9TKFeeGNPnaLelHdv8qxLbfxESJwPSJ_rGMIQrUrZpGo-ECgfi2KMPzJ0sgRucoVRA3-RL7i7V3QgwwfhRyC9cQ3qJosfaVSkI-biNHxJn2GPe1ZSNZtZqcURYzzgqEfXkbFkXIgrM5QY2yg/s3648/floatingisland.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk21r5VwkMt3bTGTFzU832qExtoFUeNMkNMPrCzTADwd9TKFeeGNPnaLelHdv8qxLbfxESJwPSJ_rGMIQrUrZpGo-ECgfi2KMPzJ0sgRucoVRA3-RL7i7V3QgwwfhRyC9cQ3qJosfaVSkI-biNHxJn2GPe1ZSNZtZqcURYzzgqEfXkbFkXIgrM5QY2yg/w640-h480/floatingisland.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div>Several properties were on sloping sites that lent themselves to landscaping on several different levels. It is not surprising that Sandy and Des Kennedy's lovingly-tended garden has graced the pages of many gardening magazines.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGIfpIUNl-JWSi79YnBZgH9B2N10o1VxlllLXxTlnBIS_IMw-lQmsG0IOHSHagZ2qq8cULX9_Xw8oRsD9RLypsrpIkevRQeQmBdtFArLMXqy5r4pMxHu_Vfo3cE9HKaWoEQ-myl9lsORGY1n9w5ssHDR7iZsqbO01j9Bqv8mbOMYeM_W3GKnPAl6F0w/s3648/kennedygdn1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGIfpIUNl-JWSi79YnBZgH9B2N10o1VxlllLXxTlnBIS_IMw-lQmsG0IOHSHagZ2qq8cULX9_Xw8oRsD9RLypsrpIkevRQeQmBdtFArLMXqy5r4pMxHu_Vfo3cE9HKaWoEQ-myl9lsORGY1n9w5ssHDR7iZsqbO01j9Bqv8mbOMYeM_W3GKnPAl6F0w/w640-h480/kennedygdn1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdgB821axqQiuPg_DlP63trFEeq9I_VCq9KRAtrZDitDZjygwHsrV_wagy1YAxKT1uVrq-jjLfZa4WbA70bb5ULQ9Y3FVVP3SUf7pDev6VWK-aEVjJaOMkgc_ME-LBBWpm_AZI46MVy2Qw-tua4hJSXs5xsUhWXWxb62ouTFZGJkvIIw0Z-tHgkNGNA/s3521/kennedygdnMK.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="3521" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdgB821axqQiuPg_DlP63trFEeq9I_VCq9KRAtrZDitDZjygwHsrV_wagy1YAxKT1uVrq-jjLfZa4WbA70bb5ULQ9Y3FVVP3SUf7pDev6VWK-aEVjJaOMkgc_ME-LBBWpm_AZI46MVy2Qw-tua4hJSXs5xsUhWXWxb62ouTFZGJkvIIw0Z-tHgkNGNA/w400-h300/kennedygdnMK.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm envious of the way a large garden can have a great swath of the same plant, in this case a dramatic ornamental onion, perhaps <i>Allium giganteum</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zL3m0p72vzwAq7x9URAcVp7nV2b0m8wrDW5ZM89M_tF-cu5rbULfpbKMCRyUT4l_lrOPLfQaq7_Z02NRQ0maKLoQmHLSLIqi_V58xTLEhnZHN5ptcQ-GlmFljBLNzPY-0iDEo0YjJhMY2YccOSTE0jbF4Yt_ARgRRIcvqGM--as9dYiEazIgB_EFGw/s3459/alliumgiganteums%3F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2511" data-original-width="3459" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zL3m0p72vzwAq7x9URAcVp7nV2b0m8wrDW5ZM89M_tF-cu5rbULfpbKMCRyUT4l_lrOPLfQaq7_Z02NRQ0maKLoQmHLSLIqi_V58xTLEhnZHN5ptcQ-GlmFljBLNzPY-0iDEo0YjJhMY2YccOSTE0jbF4Yt_ARgRRIcvqGM--as9dYiEazIgB_EFGw/w640-h464/alliumgiganteums%3F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The garden seemed to be having a purple moment and lavender spikes of Dame's Rocket (<i>Hesperis matronalis</i>) scattered throughout provided a satisfying unity to a richly varied tapestry.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01FuJ6M_qK2zF9mKsFgTnJA0eVYjt1EeWklOnVDzN9NSGkp56al5BfblK7TCJOxfg419J5YipU_EGwHwJmeYQPObqQSZUIetlDcwXUO2vLhiV3uysmxG38ojObfvLVvFZInYZxffm52Rj41hEEKyXAqCyVgMbjJxXhUnGhMd2yTZswNl9kqoNqu46zg/s3648/kennedygdn2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01FuJ6M_qK2zF9mKsFgTnJA0eVYjt1EeWklOnVDzN9NSGkp56al5BfblK7TCJOxfg419J5YipU_EGwHwJmeYQPObqQSZUIetlDcwXUO2vLhiV3uysmxG38ojObfvLVvFZInYZxffm52Rj41hEEKyXAqCyVgMbjJxXhUnGhMd2yTZswNl9kqoNqu46zg/w640-h480/kennedygdn2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Along with ornamental grasses, iris and poppies, it seemed a popular choice for for many islanders. At a different garden, another similar palette complemented another appealing home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvtD2AvnbvaG-Oq3GuOavwhMMwEGJhlZQzthETizhnkKC2im1WiejMLXm1Jk0NeUcyj_IocfJej8nhAZ0w9zlbmjChC1dy19d3F8W4-RHK0Uj6nJt6BwfkST--L6NvJbDNhu8QECHcDQV7c-0jYM1-u2R60735CfzM35bknvc7UGu-8CsxTpLuvy4Ow/s3457/perennialbed.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3457" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvtD2AvnbvaG-Oq3GuOavwhMMwEGJhlZQzthETizhnkKC2im1WiejMLXm1Jk0NeUcyj_IocfJej8nhAZ0w9zlbmjChC1dy19d3F8W4-RHK0Uj6nJt6BwfkST--L6NvJbDNhu8QECHcDQV7c-0jYM1-u2R60735CfzM35bknvc7UGu-8CsxTpLuvy4Ow/w640-h480/perennialbed.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>As I was admiring the charming cottage and its adjoining perennial bed, I had an unexpected chance to make friends with a resident cat.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJW5zYmwvTAnznC5Il1FgDa-_QyoMBxzEWhceHNgbBvWMQ_9TcFQNYtjLj82ckreRB5p95XkeK9v4YS-BzC94fePR5zSo7Cx7ejcSzMiwenPPIRy9VnZ7BiaFT_iolaXLjQDMJLYLMPF6Dum3iUUIe9LqvrWCpLzRnt8YobfsOE4EKFJtjJSi--3Jjg/s3243/cat.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2714" data-original-width="3243" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJW5zYmwvTAnznC5Il1FgDa-_QyoMBxzEWhceHNgbBvWMQ_9TcFQNYtjLj82ckreRB5p95XkeK9v4YS-BzC94fePR5zSo7Cx7ejcSzMiwenPPIRy9VnZ7BiaFT_iolaXLjQDMJLYLMPF6Dum3iUUIe9LqvrWCpLzRnt8YobfsOE4EKFJtjJSi--3Jjg/w400-h335/cat.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the end of the day, I was surprised when I looked through my photos that I hadn't taken more. Perhaps I was spoiled because Jim and Lauren had taken us to see the garden of a friend of theirs on Hornby Island the day before the Denman tour. It wasn't just that Eva has an enviable eye for composition and colour, but she also has been tending her garden for many years and that maturity shows as it did in the Kennedy's garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX60gCXRKHE4pvU6GBgg8nAgmzpFVHBt8i201WvVbk5n5SETo4jczgo9YPwNTaHuGw-zQh_YAxbQimCP86viE01raYHMDr8-JQtxO8mYJnI7RLNZLWg_INyxrlRXYuRJsyJZ9exrS-S09IDcmAg1I1YwXScitAihWUHJbse1wqRJPsC71DEEZnWgRqw/s3648/Eva1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX60gCXRKHE4pvU6GBgg8nAgmzpFVHBt8i201WvVbk5n5SETo4jczgo9YPwNTaHuGw-zQh_YAxbQimCP86viE01raYHMDr8-JQtxO8mYJnI7RLNZLWg_INyxrlRXYuRJsyJZ9exrS-S09IDcmAg1I1YwXScitAihWUHJbse1wqRJPsC71DEEZnWgRqw/w640-h480/Eva1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yAFi_QX8oTXRC3yIRxEE1huvI_XnylnxWmKIGKXioKbWtGgMTsCHYWKRG-IIjreQTH4XWGmtQwajR3s7_R1tVhHmd9bFDU_d7lBCD2DtjZgh96cBTxqbyqoRMgjxX2n2cZ9wdOfKk3YWgzzof03tfHuJIQxgxlN3CEZjSxiO_ktTUCYq6bpIznKtGw/s2581/Eva2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2545" data-original-width="2581" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yAFi_QX8oTXRC3yIRxEE1huvI_XnylnxWmKIGKXioKbWtGgMTsCHYWKRG-IIjreQTH4XWGmtQwajR3s7_R1tVhHmd9bFDU_d7lBCD2DtjZgh96cBTxqbyqoRMgjxX2n2cZ9wdOfKk3YWgzzof03tfHuJIQxgxlN3CEZjSxiO_ktTUCYq6bpIznKtGw/w640-h632/Eva2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6iSTs_U6NFQ014SaTLIuh4uRzf5yVd8ere2Hm2aHLQM6MjyvsbiqDXE_VXKyy9akbyIRJTLPScWxXnD_V5ISlfe2jv5d25Q5Xllj8wXFhZYLvpNNWJ2UPzhiEHZD-N2Z6YBd6C1R96t4uLMbSYNd64ieR6SV9d9qOPe2f_GGQe7ahKIvff4tIoBc7g/s3384/deerfern:geranium.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3384" data-original-width="2025" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6iSTs_U6NFQ014SaTLIuh4uRzf5yVd8ere2Hm2aHLQM6MjyvsbiqDXE_VXKyy9akbyIRJTLPScWxXnD_V5ISlfe2jv5d25Q5Xllj8wXFhZYLvpNNWJ2UPzhiEHZD-N2Z6YBd6C1R96t4uLMbSYNd64ieR6SV9d9qOPe2f_GGQe7ahKIvff4tIoBc7g/w382-h640/deerfern:geranium.jpeg" width="382" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc7tkh6ipFccChVeiVwKrbALVv9KKLIOGid7gUSY8YCUdaxfBi-H_8F9yUhc6A5mm4wnUFbLcCzvL6jZWOX-2nlj5nRA-hLzUXiisySlOch3x6pxthWGmGBA4p92rUmoQBHM5dl6oCgWmfQfMNfLhqKUqXmx5ZzVJIYBtLm2tch9dYkkKNgD2JlKciw/s3627/Eva3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2720" data-original-width="3627" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc7tkh6ipFccChVeiVwKrbALVv9KKLIOGid7gUSY8YCUdaxfBi-H_8F9yUhc6A5mm4wnUFbLcCzvL6jZWOX-2nlj5nRA-hLzUXiisySlOch3x6pxthWGmGBA4p92rUmoQBHM5dl6oCgWmfQfMNfLhqKUqXmx5ZzVJIYBtLm2tch9dYkkKNgD2JlKciw/w640-h480/Eva3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIsMArE_KWecwjMLpnMR2oxGJJXCJgfgRpLCha5v4YSvJgy-mY0G6kbjohedxdTW-UkFiOKzCCE8PBWhugAQIpjHI5yB_gKY3CCQ1W9tBituqogF_ym8pTZ86IZTHukWYcR9MhLcEb33TLrZV5F5XcB-4O8fk9-PwxpVvEcvSDJVaWANCmwyvrqRIQA/s3648/Evaceanothus.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIsMArE_KWecwjMLpnMR2oxGJJXCJgfgRpLCha5v4YSvJgy-mY0G6kbjohedxdTW-UkFiOKzCCE8PBWhugAQIpjHI5yB_gKY3CCQ1W9tBituqogF_ym8pTZ86IZTHukWYcR9MhLcEb33TLrZV5F5XcB-4O8fk9-PwxpVvEcvSDJVaWANCmwyvrqRIQA/w640-h480/Evaceanothus.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we sat on the beach waiting for the ferry back towards Denman and beyond it to Vancouver Island, I thought that those beautiful gardens and the natural beauty of the BC coast were a combination that few places in the world could rival.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzE9a-HrTd-yjVpr3kNq6OXAjoBs3HRNnLaL6ZEr-lbcO4dkYdlG8UUvAueIzx5ltL1qlgP2hETNeUqEAm5rcQ1CeeLSGxhxNN0KVhWfAIpDpJ4utWBzsyUOdXmKLHBQcAB_RDkfq7y84S2xqzWUTRflXmmgK_dRzmRBKnKWKW2D016xAe7ow7qBNLA/s3648/DenmanfromHornby.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzE9a-HrTd-yjVpr3kNq6OXAjoBs3HRNnLaL6ZEr-lbcO4dkYdlG8UUvAueIzx5ltL1qlgP2hETNeUqEAm5rcQ1CeeLSGxhxNN0KVhWfAIpDpJ4utWBzsyUOdXmKLHBQcAB_RDkfq7y84S2xqzWUTRflXmmgK_dRzmRBKnKWKW2D016xAe7ow7qBNLA/w640-h480/DenmanfromHornby.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-91674572712097084642022-06-18T17:31:00.000-07:002022-06-18T17:31:04.785-07:00Denman Island Garden Tour<p> After 2 years with no garden events, the news that the Denman Island Conservancy was preparing to hold their house and garden tour in June was too tempting to miss out on: <a href="https://www.denman-conservancy.org/home-and-garden-tour/">https://www.denman-conservancy.org/home-and-garden-tour/</a></p><p>As their website states, <span style="color: #38761d;">"Denman Island is located in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. it is a small rural gulf island near the east coast of Vancouver Island."</span></p><p>We were lucky enough to have good friends on nearby Hornby Island and fortunately Lauren and Jim were not only willing to put up with us for the weekend, but were keen to join us on the tour. </p><p>We took the little cable-stayed ferry between the islands to get to their delightful retreat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFnmr5dwVprQ4vMeW4lR1vr2uV7HlEHDtMcwSX_JT22LOJqjckxrNUD_4qu-ToawU7ClbMDx20rlJODsbWEdeVzfW_3hGbIMVX4UK6QKgt0NR5Jyfk15QxkY4y8AA2y2g09EpLtBQT5nAfixjoYDsiNp63rbgwiziJlD7Pbn5A28Zqlg_oZ2wWkZf9A/s3648/ferrytohornby.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFnmr5dwVprQ4vMeW4lR1vr2uV7HlEHDtMcwSX_JT22LOJqjckxrNUD_4qu-ToawU7ClbMDx20rlJODsbWEdeVzfW_3hGbIMVX4UK6QKgt0NR5Jyfk15QxkY4y8AA2y2g09EpLtBQT5nAfixjoYDsiNp63rbgwiziJlD7Pbn5A28Zqlg_oZ2wWkZf9A/w640-h480/ferrytohornby.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wGtYdoUHrNtX2I2ejBRSNNycp4HKMXlAUzuKyh5lPKCRnuxf2MXA4VyF05mfst8jS2dLkGZhNCA42nqE2YzP9fGaGj5SAAuD9_XAAX04C3Vxpq1zjUu4fy_JEdAy8ZshJB_8ZgkTi4NddWjto5SB3hya9-Ztsnwy2YgPVm3UMAPsjN4HcT45w99cZA/s3569/Wolfcottage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2676" data-original-width="3569" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wGtYdoUHrNtX2I2ejBRSNNycp4HKMXlAUzuKyh5lPKCRnuxf2MXA4VyF05mfst8jS2dLkGZhNCA42nqE2YzP9fGaGj5SAAuD9_XAAX04C3Vxpq1zjUu4fy_JEdAy8ZshJB_8ZgkTi4NddWjto5SB3hya9-Ztsnwy2YgPVm3UMAPsjN4HcT45w99cZA/w400-h300/Wolfcottage.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Amazingly, after the very wet spring we've been enduring, the weather gods smiled on Denman and the weekend was sunny.</p><p>The tour included several open houses as well as their gardens, but although nearly all the houses were beautiful examples of west coast modern style with abundant use of natural wood, I'm only slightly embarrassed to say it was the plants that took all my attention. As Denman has a large resident deer population, most gardens are protected at least in part by fencing, but many also had successful deer-resistant plantings outside the fences.</p><p>Given the Island's rural ambience and its issues with water shortages, I thought that this meadow garden approach was both practical and in tune with the surrounding countryside.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2AVZ5y5Uu_rfaARbfLIs9EobFlE7qliuJL-xsXgE_XkaIV-uHBgt4s4M-1JaUup5xlTEd3OVV-bCbBpEpGSBolYuhmuBIgB2WKj69cwi6Y2oZGKaivUivDYb29SbIl4rsdmG27kXzhml9dMKsMa6ToWAKsnLOHf1Gp_PqDNw-cZvvPTeKWdjC6PxZg/s3648/meadowborder.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2598" data-original-width="3648" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2AVZ5y5Uu_rfaARbfLIs9EobFlE7qliuJL-xsXgE_XkaIV-uHBgt4s4M-1JaUup5xlTEd3OVV-bCbBpEpGSBolYuhmuBIgB2WKj69cwi6Y2oZGKaivUivDYb29SbIl4rsdmG27kXzhml9dMKsMa6ToWAKsnLOHf1Gp_PqDNw-cZvvPTeKWdjC6PxZg/w640-h456/meadowborder.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLobov9xxiLeVbSoKXHdkweezAkRHY8XDL25dLkEOTYVDy6T-8nSZA_c7tx-RgjP1MsAcTHP2tH9g7k750HS5ZNk9cQrAYtChuyFvbnZRDFtXHwH-F7SjXH843wVwL6eKci9DDHi2yXgmIQZiuS3VKtSgVPQW10i20F8A7vPcc1OL2I011RfjHuigkwg/s3387/pool2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2540" data-original-width="3387" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLobov9xxiLeVbSoKXHdkweezAkRHY8XDL25dLkEOTYVDy6T-8nSZA_c7tx-RgjP1MsAcTHP2tH9g7k750HS5ZNk9cQrAYtChuyFvbnZRDFtXHwH-F7SjXH843wVwL6eKci9DDHi2yXgmIQZiuS3VKtSgVPQW10i20F8A7vPcc1OL2I011RfjHuigkwg/w640-h480/pool2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Pools were popular elements, and I was intrigued by both the colour of the water and the (home-made?) floating island at one garden.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk21r5VwkMt3bTGTFzU832qExtoFUeNMkNMPrCzTADwd9TKFeeGNPnaLelHdv8qxLbfxESJwPSJ_rGMIQrUrZpGo-ECgfi2KMPzJ0sgRucoVRA3-RL7i7V3QgwwfhRyC9cQ3qJosfaVSkI-biNHxJn2GPe1ZSNZtZqcURYzzgqEfXkbFkXIgrM5QY2yg/s3648/floatingisland.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk21r5VwkMt3bTGTFzU832qExtoFUeNMkNMPrCzTADwd9TKFeeGNPnaLelHdv8qxLbfxESJwPSJ_rGMIQrUrZpGo-ECgfi2KMPzJ0sgRucoVRA3-RL7i7V3QgwwfhRyC9cQ3qJosfaVSkI-biNHxJn2GPe1ZSNZtZqcURYzzgqEfXkbFkXIgrM5QY2yg/w640-h480/floatingisland.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div>Several properties were on sloping sites that lent themselves to landscaping on several different levels. It is not surprising that Sandy and Des Kennedy's lovingly-tended garden has graced the pages of many gardening magazines.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGIfpIUNl-JWSi79YnBZgH9B2N10o1VxlllLXxTlnBIS_IMw-lQmsG0IOHSHagZ2qq8cULX9_Xw8oRsD9RLypsrpIkevRQeQmBdtFArLMXqy5r4pMxHu_Vfo3cE9HKaWoEQ-myl9lsORGY1n9w5ssHDR7iZsqbO01j9Bqv8mbOMYeM_W3GKnPAl6F0w/s3648/kennedygdn1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGIfpIUNl-JWSi79YnBZgH9B2N10o1VxlllLXxTlnBIS_IMw-lQmsG0IOHSHagZ2qq8cULX9_Xw8oRsD9RLypsrpIkevRQeQmBdtFArLMXqy5r4pMxHu_Vfo3cE9HKaWoEQ-myl9lsORGY1n9w5ssHDR7iZsqbO01j9Bqv8mbOMYeM_W3GKnPAl6F0w/w640-h480/kennedygdn1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdgB821axqQiuPg_DlP63trFEeq9I_VCq9KRAtrZDitDZjygwHsrV_wagy1YAxKT1uVrq-jjLfZa4WbA70bb5ULQ9Y3FVVP3SUf7pDev6VWK-aEVjJaOMkgc_ME-LBBWpm_AZI46MVy2Qw-tua4hJSXs5xsUhWXWxb62ouTFZGJkvIIw0Z-tHgkNGNA/s3521/kennedygdnMK.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="3521" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdgB821axqQiuPg_DlP63trFEeq9I_VCq9KRAtrZDitDZjygwHsrV_wagy1YAxKT1uVrq-jjLfZa4WbA70bb5ULQ9Y3FVVP3SUf7pDev6VWK-aEVjJaOMkgc_ME-LBBWpm_AZI46MVy2Qw-tua4hJSXs5xsUhWXWxb62ouTFZGJkvIIw0Z-tHgkNGNA/w400-h300/kennedygdnMK.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm envious of the way a large garden can have a great swath of the same plant, in this case a dramatic ornamental onion, perhaps <i>Allium giganteum</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zL3m0p72vzwAq7x9URAcVp7nV2b0m8wrDW5ZM89M_tF-cu5rbULfpbKMCRyUT4l_lrOPLfQaq7_Z02NRQ0maKLoQmHLSLIqi_V58xTLEhnZHN5ptcQ-GlmFljBLNzPY-0iDEo0YjJhMY2YccOSTE0jbF4Yt_ARgRRIcvqGM--as9dYiEazIgB_EFGw/s3459/alliumgiganteums%3F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2511" data-original-width="3459" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zL3m0p72vzwAq7x9URAcVp7nV2b0m8wrDW5ZM89M_tF-cu5rbULfpbKMCRyUT4l_lrOPLfQaq7_Z02NRQ0maKLoQmHLSLIqi_V58xTLEhnZHN5ptcQ-GlmFljBLNzPY-0iDEo0YjJhMY2YccOSTE0jbF4Yt_ARgRRIcvqGM--as9dYiEazIgB_EFGw/w640-h464/alliumgiganteums%3F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The garden seemed to be having a purple moment and lavender spikes of Dame's Rocket (<i>Hesperis matronalis</i>) scattered throughout provided a satisfying unity to a richly varied tapestry.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01FuJ6M_qK2zF9mKsFgTnJA0eVYjt1EeWklOnVDzN9NSGkp56al5BfblK7TCJOxfg419J5YipU_EGwHwJmeYQPObqQSZUIetlDcwXUO2vLhiV3uysmxG38ojObfvLVvFZInYZxffm52Rj41hEEKyXAqCyVgMbjJxXhUnGhMd2yTZswNl9kqoNqu46zg/s3648/kennedygdn2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01FuJ6M_qK2zF9mKsFgTnJA0eVYjt1EeWklOnVDzN9NSGkp56al5BfblK7TCJOxfg419J5YipU_EGwHwJmeYQPObqQSZUIetlDcwXUO2vLhiV3uysmxG38ojObfvLVvFZInYZxffm52Rj41hEEKyXAqCyVgMbjJxXhUnGhMd2yTZswNl9kqoNqu46zg/w640-h480/kennedygdn2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Along with ornamental grasses, iris and poppies, it seemed a popular choice for for many islanders. At a different garden, another similar palette complemented another appealing home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvtD2AvnbvaG-Oq3GuOavwhMMwEGJhlZQzthETizhnkKC2im1WiejMLXm1Jk0NeUcyj_IocfJej8nhAZ0w9zlbmjChC1dy19d3F8W4-RHK0Uj6nJt6BwfkST--L6NvJbDNhu8QECHcDQV7c-0jYM1-u2R60735CfzM35bknvc7UGu-8CsxTpLuvy4Ow/s3457/perennialbed.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3457" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvtD2AvnbvaG-Oq3GuOavwhMMwEGJhlZQzthETizhnkKC2im1WiejMLXm1Jk0NeUcyj_IocfJej8nhAZ0w9zlbmjChC1dy19d3F8W4-RHK0Uj6nJt6BwfkST--L6NvJbDNhu8QECHcDQV7c-0jYM1-u2R60735CfzM35bknvc7UGu-8CsxTpLuvy4Ow/w640-h480/perennialbed.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>As I was admiring the charming cottage and its adjoining perennial bed, I had an unexpected chance to make friends with a resident cat.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJW5zYmwvTAnznC5Il1FgDa-_QyoMBxzEWhceHNgbBvWMQ_9TcFQNYtjLj82ckreRB5p95XkeK9v4YS-BzC94fePR5zSo7Cx7ejcSzMiwenPPIRy9VnZ7BiaFT_iolaXLjQDMJLYLMPF6Dum3iUUIe9LqvrWCpLzRnt8YobfsOE4EKFJtjJSi--3Jjg/s3243/cat.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2714" data-original-width="3243" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJW5zYmwvTAnznC5Il1FgDa-_QyoMBxzEWhceHNgbBvWMQ_9TcFQNYtjLj82ckreRB5p95XkeK9v4YS-BzC94fePR5zSo7Cx7ejcSzMiwenPPIRy9VnZ7BiaFT_iolaXLjQDMJLYLMPF6Dum3iUUIe9LqvrWCpLzRnt8YobfsOE4EKFJtjJSi--3Jjg/w400-h335/cat.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the end of the day, I was surprised when I looked through my photos that I hadn't taken more. Perhaps I was spoiled because Jim and Lauren had taken us to see the garden of a friend of theirs on Hornby Island the day before the Denman tour. It wasn't just that Eva has an enviable eye for composition and colour, but she also has been tending her garden for many years and that maturity shows as it did in the Kennedy's garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX60gCXRKHE4pvU6GBgg8nAgmzpFVHBt8i201WvVbk5n5SETo4jczgo9YPwNTaHuGw-zQh_YAxbQimCP86viE01raYHMDr8-JQtxO8mYJnI7RLNZLWg_INyxrlRXYuRJsyJZ9exrS-S09IDcmAg1I1YwXScitAihWUHJbse1wqRJPsC71DEEZnWgRqw/s3648/Eva1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX60gCXRKHE4pvU6GBgg8nAgmzpFVHBt8i201WvVbk5n5SETo4jczgo9YPwNTaHuGw-zQh_YAxbQimCP86viE01raYHMDr8-JQtxO8mYJnI7RLNZLWg_INyxrlRXYuRJsyJZ9exrS-S09IDcmAg1I1YwXScitAihWUHJbse1wqRJPsC71DEEZnWgRqw/w640-h480/Eva1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yAFi_QX8oTXRC3yIRxEE1huvI_XnylnxWmKIGKXioKbWtGgMTsCHYWKRG-IIjreQTH4XWGmtQwajR3s7_R1tVhHmd9bFDU_d7lBCD2DtjZgh96cBTxqbyqoRMgjxX2n2cZ9wdOfKk3YWgzzof03tfHuJIQxgxlN3CEZjSxiO_ktTUCYq6bpIznKtGw/s2581/Eva2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2545" data-original-width="2581" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yAFi_QX8oTXRC3yIRxEE1huvI_XnylnxWmKIGKXioKbWtGgMTsCHYWKRG-IIjreQTH4XWGmtQwajR3s7_R1tVhHmd9bFDU_d7lBCD2DtjZgh96cBTxqbyqoRMgjxX2n2cZ9wdOfKk3YWgzzof03tfHuJIQxgxlN3CEZjSxiO_ktTUCYq6bpIznKtGw/w640-h632/Eva2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6iSTs_U6NFQ014SaTLIuh4uRzf5yVd8ere2Hm2aHLQM6MjyvsbiqDXE_VXKyy9akbyIRJTLPScWxXnD_V5ISlfe2jv5d25Q5Xllj8wXFhZYLvpNNWJ2UPzhiEHZD-N2Z6YBd6C1R96t4uLMbSYNd64ieR6SV9d9qOPe2f_GGQe7ahKIvff4tIoBc7g/s3384/deerfern:geranium.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3384" data-original-width="2025" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6iSTs_U6NFQ014SaTLIuh4uRzf5yVd8ere2Hm2aHLQM6MjyvsbiqDXE_VXKyy9akbyIRJTLPScWxXnD_V5ISlfe2jv5d25Q5Xllj8wXFhZYLvpNNWJ2UPzhiEHZD-N2Z6YBd6C1R96t4uLMbSYNd64ieR6SV9d9qOPe2f_GGQe7ahKIvff4tIoBc7g/w382-h640/deerfern:geranium.jpeg" width="382" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc7tkh6ipFccChVeiVwKrbALVv9KKLIOGid7gUSY8YCUdaxfBi-H_8F9yUhc6A5mm4wnUFbLcCzvL6jZWOX-2nlj5nRA-hLzUXiisySlOch3x6pxthWGmGBA4p92rUmoQBHM5dl6oCgWmfQfMNfLhqKUqXmx5ZzVJIYBtLm2tch9dYkkKNgD2JlKciw/s3627/Eva3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2720" data-original-width="3627" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc7tkh6ipFccChVeiVwKrbALVv9KKLIOGid7gUSY8YCUdaxfBi-H_8F9yUhc6A5mm4wnUFbLcCzvL6jZWOX-2nlj5nRA-hLzUXiisySlOch3x6pxthWGmGBA4p92rUmoQBHM5dl6oCgWmfQfMNfLhqKUqXmx5ZzVJIYBtLm2tch9dYkkKNgD2JlKciw/w640-h480/Eva3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIsMArE_KWecwjMLpnMR2oxGJJXCJgfgRpLCha5v4YSvJgy-mY0G6kbjohedxdTW-UkFiOKzCCE8PBWhugAQIpjHI5yB_gKY3CCQ1W9tBituqogF_ym8pTZ86IZTHukWYcR9MhLcEb33TLrZV5F5XcB-4O8fk9-PwxpVvEcvSDJVaWANCmwyvrqRIQA/s3648/Evaceanothus.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIsMArE_KWecwjMLpnMR2oxGJJXCJgfgRpLCha5v4YSvJgy-mY0G6kbjohedxdTW-UkFiOKzCCE8PBWhugAQIpjHI5yB_gKY3CCQ1W9tBituqogF_ym8pTZ86IZTHukWYcR9MhLcEb33TLrZV5F5XcB-4O8fk9-PwxpVvEcvSDJVaWANCmwyvrqRIQA/w640-h480/Evaceanothus.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we sat on the beach waiting for the ferry back towards Denman and beyond it to Vancouver Island, I thought that those beautiful gardens and the natural beauty of the BC coast were a combination that few places in the world could rival.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzE9a-HrTd-yjVpr3kNq6OXAjoBs3HRNnLaL6ZEr-lbcO4dkYdlG8UUvAueIzx5ltL1qlgP2hETNeUqEAm5rcQ1CeeLSGxhxNN0KVhWfAIpDpJ4utWBzsyUOdXmKLHBQcAB_RDkfq7y84S2xqzWUTRflXmmgK_dRzmRBKnKWKW2D016xAe7ow7qBNLA/s3648/DenmanfromHornby.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzE9a-HrTd-yjVpr3kNq6OXAjoBs3HRNnLaL6ZEr-lbcO4dkYdlG8UUvAueIzx5ltL1qlgP2hETNeUqEAm5rcQ1CeeLSGxhxNN0KVhWfAIpDpJ4utWBzsyUOdXmKLHBQcAB_RDkfq7y84S2xqzWUTRflXmmgK_dRzmRBKnKWKW2D016xAe7ow7qBNLA/w640-h480/DenmanfromHornby.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-58314376398319400572022-02-27T16:11:00.002-08:002023-04-17T11:55:26.268-07:00Christmas Gardens in Australia<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFXARfTRz2RlgCGYscDetdgGZzX7aXDdRZmLM4lWZQY0QH3Y4eKlaX3YU7GyDYgOCMX0Sr7oBm5mIsmYi6k39TQ1j1LWllncysPcCMGbqmlJMCV_c76vI2soCix8UraSwCDtZon0zkULqFaEF2_FJdfLlfC3-q5p_cEHTzmui0SiipnP5dBDX1niCadQ=s3446"><img border="0" data-original-height="2678" data-original-width="3446" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFXARfTRz2RlgCGYscDetdgGZzX7aXDdRZmLM4lWZQY0QH3Y4eKlaX3YU7GyDYgOCMX0Sr7oBm5mIsmYi6k39TQ1j1LWllncysPcCMGbqmlJMCV_c76vI2soCix8UraSwCDtZon0zkULqFaEF2_FJdfLlfC3-q5p_cEHTzmui0SiipnP5dBDX1niCadQ=w400-h311" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When Air Canada reintroduced direct flights to Sydney in December, we made a spur-of-the moment decision to visit our daughter and grandson whom we had not seen for two years. There were a lot of restrictions and tests we had to comply with, but it was worth it. An unexpected bonus was missing the deluge of snow that fell on Vancouver just after we left.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Neighbours sent us photos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7khvBLNU6lxVvICkuV9DP9CyudACdAc_1TfaDoCRIzViz3Syrh3-ERAOwUOE4I8C0zHf1qNyRQsHLZpPhMxF5o6UFo1_5oOFT1G_bhddFjg0iIATzyucIKIiwozcRbm3r3tYEPJ7bE5f01h5XqM0HxorS0N5U30tcXxLa1alMNMdyjCMA9f7A_E3WsQ=s480" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7khvBLNU6lxVvICkuV9DP9CyudACdAc_1TfaDoCRIzViz3Syrh3-ERAOwUOE4I8C0zHf1qNyRQsHLZpPhMxF5o6UFo1_5oOFT1G_bhddFjg0iIATzyucIKIiwozcRbm3r3tYEPJ7bE5f01h5XqM0HxorS0N5U30tcXxLa1alMNMdyjCMA9f7A_E3WsQ=w402-h402" width="402" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile we were enjoying warmth and sunshine in Sydney at our daughter's house, almost hidden behind the lush summer growth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYLyTct_0FIg3eyI7AhiRlblGVZ0Yy7T6UqQ3wRracZSnEa9j29Akmdkdp8OFj1oX7yRjJ2ApAmePsGEM4ofaHi4UaqgLxXim4EOYHfiML4nA0jMY4NDTVkkPz0RoMa3C8BJVjVv_CBL7ruom9SDwcfW4VAzNPAr3ud_8p4-OlrvyaQtAFZsgCD8wYKQ=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYLyTct_0FIg3eyI7AhiRlblGVZ0Yy7T6UqQ3wRracZSnEa9j29Akmdkdp8OFj1oX7yRjJ2ApAmePsGEM4ofaHi4UaqgLxXim4EOYHfiML4nA0jMY4NDTVkkPz0RoMa3C8BJVjVv_CBL7ruom9SDwcfW4VAzNPAr3ud_8p4-OlrvyaQtAFZsgCD8wYKQ=w616-h347" width="616" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The pink flowers belong to a eucalyptus, <i>Corymbia</i> 'Summer Beauty', that was visited every morning by rainbow lorikeets feasting on its abundant nectar and waking us much too early with their squawking.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOmYs0o2fKzabWyjnECuq1tzlB8OlOj64bG0dSM4aWRqZN7b4u78_d_SwBEviv-ArFPkNT6wxlsedXqWKD-9yyP7jB6tG5WNE6WwMcePVLhkbVkz_iiAvn9yxd7Qz4CLT4AWgBdE_jWsr2IoA9BpSIAZP3KyBQmEPfPyKoG-pX5quad-2WtAAuJ98HTg=s1216" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1216" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOmYs0o2fKzabWyjnECuq1tzlB8OlOj64bG0dSM4aWRqZN7b4u78_d_SwBEviv-ArFPkNT6wxlsedXqWKD-9yyP7jB6tG5WNE6WwMcePVLhkbVkz_iiAvn9yxd7Qz4CLT4AWgBdE_jWsr2IoA9BpSIAZP3KyBQmEPfPyKoG-pX5quad-2WtAAuJ98HTg=w475-h359" width="475" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our daughter's garden is a combination of native plants and sub-tropical ones, which make it a pleasant retreat in which to spend our Covid-restricted visit. The rules here in Australia limited our movement much more than those in Canada.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_ke6hlkWyQJjo4HAFZj_y_FvpFOqZDNxhG2k5rwAPtjOzW_vSWHOcUL3a9pZVeM7q3vd9RyVhJb2LKkpWXplv19coKIX0dkwGgELCmvcwGwW4sfPvdn06kIxr04YkG9PNCdj-cj5ydXBAdGa_botU8lImsOClg15GIJmpO0K5E8aZ5aIFN9VRjej88A=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_ke6hlkWyQJjo4HAFZj_y_FvpFOqZDNxhG2k5rwAPtjOzW_vSWHOcUL3a9pZVeM7q3vd9RyVhJb2LKkpWXplv19coKIX0dkwGgELCmvcwGwW4sfPvdn06kIxr04YkG9PNCdj-cj5ydXBAdGa_botU8lImsOClg15GIJmpO0K5E8aZ5aIFN9VRjej88A=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBgtEROU2Ss8oPW0A7uIXE0JCsgqbMwQ_cnGLKrvy2A1qgEwe2qRaXu7ONidryhIasSqXiaREJFFgtPI6nn3qutY_AKQUwEA1f6Itevu4aC2iT-wKyMr1g-7x8R8jqM4Y4yLaol5TtvYuCvjeV9ISDExRKTDLcGotlzzWQwaOMVxc3_Ggeq9EqjEdUSQ=s3627" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2720" data-original-width="3627" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBgtEROU2Ss8oPW0A7uIXE0JCsgqbMwQ_cnGLKrvy2A1qgEwe2qRaXu7ONidryhIasSqXiaREJFFgtPI6nn3qutY_AKQUwEA1f6Itevu4aC2iT-wKyMr1g-7x8R8jqM4Y4yLaol5TtvYuCvjeV9ISDExRKTDLcGotlzzWQwaOMVxc3_Ggeq9EqjEdUSQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjMGJPo7m96I-e-wOoigYMLAKLPxfSRl3PTOkPsZpScO7tYGZdu87QOsJLMDUsxsgchhdK10-y5gyJvOso-lOJCI93C5Crz0PHGDSL4i3FLtv1q7u2BXIUQb4tMzMFiDl0xlwBi18NF26i1fiwECk-Ch0d2MHJOKaY0BdWJ0buxllFSObbi9k4FQJngw=s3163" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2646" data-original-width="3163" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjMGJPo7m96I-e-wOoigYMLAKLPxfSRl3PTOkPsZpScO7tYGZdu87QOsJLMDUsxsgchhdK10-y5gyJvOso-lOJCI93C5Crz0PHGDSL4i3FLtv1q7u2BXIUQb4tMzMFiDl0xlwBi18NF26i1fiwECk-Ch0d2MHJOKaY0BdWJ0buxllFSObbi9k4FQJngw=w400-h335" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaabqyf0mCY73cabr1z_tpAqICu2JCNzWfU9vX6dRPNUeNBsl4GXDslsxsWZv3F7kMKUi52MTAZBcSDiERijrwKhTLuJmRdCuXn6mt8IK3QCFVKm3XmgHt-8R6U-V4bcevmYb1FPS7YGacEBbwBAf-pQ0W4IdsMcuR6yqzkn2H2pS_F1ORhtTsvKfRUw=s3606" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2704" data-original-width="3606" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaabqyf0mCY73cabr1z_tpAqICu2JCNzWfU9vX6dRPNUeNBsl4GXDslsxsWZv3F7kMKUi52MTAZBcSDiERijrwKhTLuJmRdCuXn6mt8IK3QCFVKm3XmgHt-8R6U-V4bcevmYb1FPS7YGacEBbwBAf-pQ0W4IdsMcuR6yqzkn2H2pS_F1ORhtTsvKfRUw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The <i>Trachycarpus</i> palm leaves were worth a closer look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhibkzzE6Gs7ik0Uqj8-DrOzTA5amkSMf9o8xUMkolifFjXvFBPOyekiR8QSJV4CLthCJf-RAZh0SqM-CXIZVwMSoVOLtTbqyYawi-3_Km937kkSSmWAvD-aTPSz9aP1lOQ1mRs5WCoZ4wklmpGRs7dW4gopJ4zzyrPruQZUWGwI2OnmqvJZZONZKNNoQ=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhibkzzE6Gs7ik0Uqj8-DrOzTA5amkSMf9o8xUMkolifFjXvFBPOyekiR8QSJV4CLthCJf-RAZh0SqM-CXIZVwMSoVOLtTbqyYawi-3_Km937kkSSmWAvD-aTPSz9aP1lOQ1mRs5WCoZ4wklmpGRs7dW4gopJ4zzyrPruQZUWGwI2OnmqvJZZONZKNNoQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As well as enjoying the serenity of her garden, we could walk a block away to Rookwood, not only the largest cemetery in the southern hemisphere with over 1 million graves, but also one of the oldest <a href="http://rookwoodnecropolistrust.com.au/history/" target="_blank">http://rookwoodnecropolistrust.com.au/history/</a> . We particularly enjoyed wandering in the oldest sections among the Victorian-era gravestones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp7QSy5ZIKpuKrP_tnFlmcV8PrAhkvhnIUmITwarsriKnt-ELl7ghwG37Nm_6Cb6SElmkXvHP_xZlq8gfWu0GREstM-nL8j3CwqIpnoEhRev1XWA6sxatjkl1WxJtAOqjtFGj7xNToj4FKB5RuseRpvAZ_jTvXrZqK5MLFj43hybi9iYLjbmQFoOw5SA=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp7QSy5ZIKpuKrP_tnFlmcV8PrAhkvhnIUmITwarsriKnt-ELl7ghwG37Nm_6Cb6SElmkXvHP_xZlq8gfWu0GREstM-nL8j3CwqIpnoEhRev1XWA6sxatjkl1WxJtAOqjtFGj7xNToj4FKB5RuseRpvAZ_jTvXrZqK5MLFj43hybi9iYLjbmQFoOw5SA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3M3Il1nt1ToeIGgLoTfszCUnCnc7mxZAB_cZCD38xpKr5U2PljZowgnvkRIuf0_QtzEmoK5CcdCvdyrox60U70YwRHEJu3cUPv0t1aAJjsY8wEVZS_jHOEhw_rvLovrWAnLOwVUhYSnOXRxgrpYg7YTEH6uSw4GX9vQWIyBbRvBUC1nNEPGQXWZStew=s3598" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3598" data-original-width="2698" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3M3Il1nt1ToeIGgLoTfszCUnCnc7mxZAB_cZCD38xpKr5U2PljZowgnvkRIuf0_QtzEmoK5CcdCvdyrox60U70YwRHEJu3cUPv0t1aAJjsY8wEVZS_jHOEhw_rvLovrWAnLOwVUhYSnOXRxgrpYg7YTEH6uSw4GX9vQWIyBbRvBUC1nNEPGQXWZStew=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Among the graves were many magnificent specimens of trees, both native and from surrounding regions. The tall, narrow ones in the photos above are <i>Araucaria columnaris</i>, a relative of the Monkey Puzzle. I read that they typically lean 8Âş north in the southern hemisphere and the same degree south in the northern hemisphere, but these seemed to lean in various directions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another <i>Araucaria </i>(and my favourite) was also planted in considerable numbers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3J8yObnPn8Yxp6o1ZCXVMx2cWgLIIvxS6oVKk2bD8OEd-27UqaNUVL32FRWx0enZIbq0OfQs3zqWxHggO6cPTQvsXJMQukKabm9lrBeR9v3fs-arVbw4habiiBYBKrkJg33xNoNy6tysGOG_g8Drpo3qKIIIkh3bMJ8a43GXBxuOU_28OHYsVjJtEqg=s3152" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3152" data-original-width="2045" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3J8yObnPn8Yxp6o1ZCXVMx2cWgLIIvxS6oVKk2bD8OEd-27UqaNUVL32FRWx0enZIbq0OfQs3zqWxHggO6cPTQvsXJMQukKabm9lrBeR9v3fs-arVbw4habiiBYBKrkJg33xNoNy6tysGOG_g8Drpo3qKIIIkh3bMJ8a43GXBxuOU_28OHYsVjJtEqg=w440-h676" width="440" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is <i>Araucaria bidwillii</i>, the Bunya-Bunya. Of all the trees in the cemetery, these are the most imposing and I took far too many photos of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9xbKrIpL4HXyZYw3DKklST4aOtozofXRf-RWfPgBa-IucANuYlt-c-FYCUF42W9j7c-171XUhMZjqkN750-0LlGa64R9ESV1uQPHd1ex5sLP2EtC_Xy6qGA5rAWk0ZW-RAiPB2RrktK-1WDWYiPMdPbWX3JJ0SHx8hYSIjpnWpMEwGboEoZ4wylheXg=s3574" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2680" data-original-width="3574" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9xbKrIpL4HXyZYw3DKklST4aOtozofXRf-RWfPgBa-IucANuYlt-c-FYCUF42W9j7c-171XUhMZjqkN750-0LlGa64R9ESV1uQPHd1ex5sLP2EtC_Xy6qGA5rAWk0ZW-RAiPB2RrktK-1WDWYiPMdPbWX3JJ0SHx8hYSIjpnWpMEwGboEoZ4wylheXg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />It is a dangerous tree to walk under from December to March, when the cones are ripe and ready to fall. Each one is about twice the size of a pineapple and can weigh up to 10 Kg.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rookwood is also home to many other Australian native plants, like this Honey Myrtle (<i>Melaleuca thymifolia</i>) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEUB3znILPj02r4qyxFd3MZfV9oiqvjWFsy2EgYCNC1EIMRE4428mMZFDKyE3MR00nY9kAbcH6dlWn0fv4M43LFW4Bjb91z5X2nmlTv0llRwC4GUQ9_LK5RBJbIEwvzXpMlxzCYJzu4vjm9OcYXMQ8uv90JKctvK0npjcup4W-cVaxsRSiomHyGOz7Lw=s2259" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1940" data-original-width="2259" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEUB3znILPj02r4qyxFd3MZfV9oiqvjWFsy2EgYCNC1EIMRE4428mMZFDKyE3MR00nY9kAbcH6dlWn0fv4M43LFW4Bjb91z5X2nmlTv0llRwC4GUQ9_LK5RBJbIEwvzXpMlxzCYJzu4vjm9OcYXMQ8uv90JKctvK0npjcup4W-cVaxsRSiomHyGOz7Lw=w400-h344" width="400" /></a></div><br />and Purple Hyacinth Orchid (<i>Dipodium atropurpureum</i>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxM_hfCyXmPVfJlhcbHwWFwPtf4K_tzerfz9HtZ1fwVt8Zp5av55EDzOJkubYd_2_p9pNkPHNUETp93qEdfz51s9iSgY8wYLq_EnMGpmXm_EOOEIky2BXmvisPBPC6ajsm2JD3mnTXkvhyMeYReT5e5ULWOyN2W7wE8yy0gkR25sjHfUIzeYVMigdQZQ=s2858" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2858" data-original-width="2296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxM_hfCyXmPVfJlhcbHwWFwPtf4K_tzerfz9HtZ1fwVt8Zp5av55EDzOJkubYd_2_p9pNkPHNUETp93qEdfz51s9iSgY8wYLq_EnMGpmXm_EOOEIky2BXmvisPBPC6ajsm2JD3mnTXkvhyMeYReT5e5ULWOyN2W7wE8yy0gkR25sjHfUIzeYVMigdQZQ=w321-h400" width="321" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The orchid is endemic to New South Wales and common in the wild, but has resisted attempts to cultivate it, due to its relationship with a mycorrhizal fungus in its natural habitat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Perhaps the rarest species in the grounds is the endangered Downy Wattle (<i>Acacia pubescens)</i> that has been gradually disappearing as the city has expanded.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7I_8g-M5rsFQd7Ydpz3ablu_JAIooLOPB4kVS8vDPUE2xBP89gkmtn25GhfqMYXvFn_VuyheS_4QmfZ6emFMzVoYcBYDNjfHG8F2guIagtPgKsaM3WNWLARd-NmsaPZpRhOS5K2t2wCqXEWal44h8LZKFXAmyhIy69YB235JHRGtwu1_8NVbwFeF86Q=s3299" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2379" data-original-width="3299" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7I_8g-M5rsFQd7Ydpz3ablu_JAIooLOPB4kVS8vDPUE2xBP89gkmtn25GhfqMYXvFn_VuyheS_4QmfZ6emFMzVoYcBYDNjfHG8F2guIagtPgKsaM3WNWLARd-NmsaPZpRhOS5K2t2wCqXEWal44h8LZKFXAmyhIy69YB235JHRGtwu1_8NVbwFeF86Q=w640-h462" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was one of the first wattles cultivated in Europe, where a specimen was recorded growing in Empress Josephine's garden at Malmaison in France.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, we made time to visit the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, which lies right on the harbour between the famous Opera House and the Art Gallery. Both the Gallery and the Garden are free to enter, demonstrating an Australian belief that such cultural experiences should be available to all. It poured rain that day and as I've posted images of the garden on my travel blog in the past, I'll just add this magnificent gum tree (<i>Eucalyptus grandis)</i> near the Gallery entrance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuTJamTHo26winw-PgxRBUE8_y2l0MiKtn5-euweJYa22V1sL_67CexXRDmBfTmhxuyCVIT8zfLsjqlpsgiUMCTRVC7Uh6bYB-XStVS7LetfAhwQjVO3qZoDPNv_U9ZWFcWh8zLVsqBZYNgWFtXgddjDtR0HXQlBcVeWVudptGTSgluLBnJyXtrliPQ/s3408/Eucalyptus%20grandis3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3408" data-original-width="2322" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuTJamTHo26winw-PgxRBUE8_y2l0MiKtn5-euweJYa22V1sL_67CexXRDmBfTmhxuyCVIT8zfLsjqlpsgiUMCTRVC7Uh6bYB-XStVS7LetfAhwQjVO3qZoDPNv_U9ZWFcWh8zLVsqBZYNgWFtXgddjDtR0HXQlBcVeWVudptGTSgluLBnJyXtrliPQ/w436-h640/Eucalyptus%20grandis3.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However, we also had the opportunity to visit Mt Annan Botanical Garden on the western outskirts of Sydney. This 416-hectare garden opened in 1988 with the mission to preserve and display Australian native plants. I hadn't visited since its very early days and the transformation from former grazing land is amazing, starting with a grove of tree ferns near the visitor centre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67BWJrCtMCXgjeIa9ZUqC-w7Tu0PgCcBNRR2vVXE6f91oottaXVpwtwaM7ozQeN8U20GPpU0aL0n8T6tDDabdSBa2cJWT8fxDWqhgLHuFgB7yB27V-1maf0ffwaKFcZC37kUgTN_NH49_K0bq8NP7tJnzcZzHdTYs-UReDiIIh5HVJzYSodd6z4i4qg/s3387/tree%20ferns.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2648" data-original-width="3387" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67BWJrCtMCXgjeIa9ZUqC-w7Tu0PgCcBNRR2vVXE6f91oottaXVpwtwaM7ozQeN8U20GPpU0aL0n8T6tDDabdSBa2cJWT8fxDWqhgLHuFgB7yB27V-1maf0ffwaKFcZC37kUgTN_NH49_K0bq8NP7tJnzcZzHdTYs-UReDiIIh5HVJzYSodd6z4i4qg/w640-h500/tree%20ferns.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not far away, a giant bee presides over lower-growing plants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG0oax6suuGxabG5Ou1Td5p2-Kf_SdcVTqFwudV_jgm88Knz5QfdqVqkUhgCe_syVxkBIxclEacxLQXZ-phDiGTpqbsPVtMPLUKwjkkrAvPYtM_MqJiVRAIF6cuWTiPIvnzwk8kn8kQBeNu2N6VKxuFcuu0HBeZC16QSohh2IoN6xikyc-y9s73a13Q/s3648/bee%20sculpture.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG0oax6suuGxabG5Ou1Td5p2-Kf_SdcVTqFwudV_jgm88Knz5QfdqVqkUhgCe_syVxkBIxclEacxLQXZ-phDiGTpqbsPVtMPLUKwjkkrAvPYtM_MqJiVRAIF6cuWTiPIvnzwk8kn8kQBeNu2N6VKxuFcuu0HBeZC16QSohh2IoN6xikyc-y9s73a13Q/w400-h300/bee%20sculpture.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">There are large drifts of my favourite kangaroo paws (</span><i style="text-align: left;">Anigozanthos</i><span style="text-align: left;">),</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xbdpYqtGXJC9dpc5oYFWT8EXt2CCNCdFcLdYxTRkd9ihjBLoLtvd_DRlAJajyCPql-hwE5mlTHq7YHS1VHylZCwSAerszo49JSxYXRRqkTaaPd9knU8UzncOeA9i3Bo3sStX1TypCd6x3vxO1ZaDnkal3HhAaM7tIOuTN-QugpXa-KBQObbpJSaoFg/s3627/Anigozanthos1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2720" data-original-width="3627" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xbdpYqtGXJC9dpc5oYFWT8EXt2CCNCdFcLdYxTRkd9ihjBLoLtvd_DRlAJajyCPql-hwE5mlTHq7YHS1VHylZCwSAerszo49JSxYXRRqkTaaPd9knU8UzncOeA9i3Bo3sStX1TypCd6x3vxO1ZaDnkal3HhAaM7tIOuTN-QugpXa-KBQObbpJSaoFg/w640-h480/Anigozanthos1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">demonstrating why they got their common name.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZ3GgOKN2XiaJeKIknKVYmD41vZ46a6AXqcS65v9YThrWAJvUkzJFFT2A1ALHx0EeyVlq9r8Quld15WI-MgPamgj1TZoOC3JhgCRlRwXP1T4uGT3y91K_6n5lPIq9Hy-sBpLbMQhEPExjVM3DL0t_a3iyAV3jzye_WaSxVXmSQo3m1R3_Dg-zHho9kg/s3648/Anigozanthos3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZ3GgOKN2XiaJeKIknKVYmD41vZ46a6AXqcS65v9YThrWAJvUkzJFFT2A1ALHx0EeyVlq9r8Quld15WI-MgPamgj1TZoOC3JhgCRlRwXP1T4uGT3y91K_6n5lPIq9Hy-sBpLbMQhEPExjVM3DL0t_a3iyAV3jzye_WaSxVXmSQo3m1R3_Dg-zHho9kg/w400-h300/Anigozanthos3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">and many other plants familiar to most Australians like Old Man Banksia (<i>Banksia serrata</i>) and grass trees (<i>Xanthorrhoea</i>).</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtP4rLME3m-f1rRvj_1grcObVxAvgl-Z_-3vjHeHZi855p5rfeSndOyoof3fn3nGHgVoU9Z95u6TBuhwW6EEmKw210IsDpCa6X-c3U6ADyhiEWCFMWRMyllkS8GJYhiQbKMnWmirujumV5OyLI2QaEzSIwajA_esYoDZ8fpoBauRPyyhvBWlOGGjv8A/s2672/banksia&grass%20trees.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="2336" data-original-width="2672" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtP4rLME3m-f1rRvj_1grcObVxAvgl-Z_-3vjHeHZi855p5rfeSndOyoof3fn3nGHgVoU9Z95u6TBuhwW6EEmKw210IsDpCa6X-c3U6ADyhiEWCFMWRMyllkS8GJYhiQbKMnWmirujumV5OyLI2QaEzSIwajA_esYoDZ8fpoBauRPyyhvBWlOGGjv8A/w640-h560/banksia&grass%20trees.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Banksias are among the strangest of plants among many strange native species.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWJ8sPZIO6Kk6cMcXueolYc-s4TgMIZNhZr8McXrUyOrDIiyGFBLqPs8YEDjwLW_jNh5hHqsdkJ2UrBlUtxWOh8QzLof3_zoUwXmEaTbU-AurBFG-6-Zclizoa9Ye2F_DAOHQ1X8c48mc9mEz_5BgUMr5zo3wX9dEy2Qwy21zx0-k9vD8vI0VkMJcng/s2716/banksia.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2716" data-original-width="2681" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWJ8sPZIO6Kk6cMcXueolYc-s4TgMIZNhZr8McXrUyOrDIiyGFBLqPs8YEDjwLW_jNh5hHqsdkJ2UrBlUtxWOh8QzLof3_zoUwXmEaTbU-AurBFG-6-Zclizoa9Ye2F_DAOHQ1X8c48mc9mEz_5BgUMr5zo3wX9dEy2Qwy21zx0-k9vD8vI0VkMJcng/w395-h400/banksia.jpeg" width="395" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Other oddities include a Queensland bottle tree (<i>Brachychiton rupestris</i>),</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOo_SALk7xXSPV-fSdVSNk07npTj9Xrq7xTsSrf8FUaUb-ws4tYhXCmt-UU6acLuSvPuYqaKzwTx0WZ2iAgX9EMt8S6yG0Zacv3cWE2-T-hkyyC0IzdZpNTw5F66RS3nx5tiFKKxz-cTR1-DORh_-sE86tXxI2GcJXbn0_Z7FqsYq-Ivq-kt2eXNwHQ/s2840/Brachychiton%20rupestris.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2358" data-original-width="2840" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOo_SALk7xXSPV-fSdVSNk07npTj9Xrq7xTsSrf8FUaUb-ws4tYhXCmt-UU6acLuSvPuYqaKzwTx0WZ2iAgX9EMt8S6yG0Zacv3cWE2-T-hkyyC0IzdZpNTw5F66RS3nx5tiFKKxz-cTR1-DORh_-sE86tXxI2GcJXbn0_Z7FqsYq-Ivq-kt2eXNwHQ/w640-h532/Brachychiton%20rupestris.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">which has a beautiful green trunk with "eyes" staring back at you.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwURr0tZRPV7MMI7sSzWI5l5RTkvtxwzzloHF4Qtu5lPyS4AOaLcGOiiwrDzlfPpAZaXxNAl-AdUdGhFMgHsE47x-jBbYt8MCbB4a6rdfCsBJnDyJ2S07FsTXY2ZtMfpei2DbgAK_LtAmkaTknsStYji_FyMeEWMnFNoCd5bhNqElHYuS5w-s5c_6Dyw/s3569/bottletree%20trunk.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3569" data-original-width="2675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwURr0tZRPV7MMI7sSzWI5l5RTkvtxwzzloHF4Qtu5lPyS4AOaLcGOiiwrDzlfPpAZaXxNAl-AdUdGhFMgHsE47x-jBbYt8MCbB4a6rdfCsBJnDyJ2S07FsTXY2ZtMfpei2DbgAK_LtAmkaTknsStYji_FyMeEWMnFNoCd5bhNqElHYuS5w-s5c_6Dyw/w300-h400/bottletree%20trunk.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There's also the Pineapple Zamia, with its characteristic cone-shaped flower. As this specimen wasn't in bloom, I thought it could just as easily have been called Peacock Zamia for those lovely green "tail feathers".</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKansVZoMig3gmwC7en277v0aSmHtlQE1iVZy-KVYadFhKBOqRlYsEu6TCZEcse95_6RJR2D5o0yRZXVYjVFlHWQheWWKz-CxuURF4r4T52HlcLKBhzAvBECnSesWIMjwiO0DN_fuSZbupDW_6Hnr-6oAe1vuCKjWUpBGvsRTvUGx86_Wd85LbCKUhRQ/s3648/pineapple%20zamia.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKansVZoMig3gmwC7en277v0aSmHtlQE1iVZy-KVYadFhKBOqRlYsEu6TCZEcse95_6RJR2D5o0yRZXVYjVFlHWQheWWKz-CxuURF4r4T52HlcLKBhzAvBECnSesWIMjwiO0DN_fuSZbupDW_6Hnr-6oAe1vuCKjWUpBGvsRTvUGx86_Wd85LbCKUhRQ/w640-h480/pineapple%20zamia.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Its label saves me the effort of writing out its complicated botanical name.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3gDK5DkoI2C6MmwNq_4Ow2uC0M9opNmEvfQO68Jm5_vsv5JnKcTV_8AikXEQfGg5SikpjS0X05OzftPAWb5-sn_-6h_7idjp1-IWbqAOxfY_t_xoe5y5_pDP-Pc5VSQCQZIY91Nxkg7pC9a3l6Oiy3Q-ej1Kxg06SyYdZp2WWdvOPSol9dmH3cOssA/s2906/pineapple%20zamia%20label.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1942" data-original-width="2906" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3gDK5DkoI2C6MmwNq_4Ow2uC0M9opNmEvfQO68Jm5_vsv5JnKcTV_8AikXEQfGg5SikpjS0X05OzftPAWb5-sn_-6h_7idjp1-IWbqAOxfY_t_xoe5y5_pDP-Pc5VSQCQZIY91Nxkg7pC9a3l6Oiy3Q-ej1Kxg06SyYdZp2WWdvOPSol9dmH3cOssA/w400-h268/pineapple%20zamia%20label.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Apart from plant labels, we encountered occasional warning signs, important in a country that is home to seven of the world's most venomous snakes.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBKngJjyPJu0Ky0A_ieIU_qF4RuqYsvzWRHIO3mkwXzYyoAVZQGMx9An3Jl_nbTQHb7ivzBSU8Ah7MkO8AV1x6scaSuU82xVCgG3tZwXvm5Ti5AkHgws5cd_P85t6kegFIc06vg_WodYLFiExh_TTQ2jyxWfitOX8hPAq_uhFAzV_PBwP8FPFfu0V7w/s3429/wildlife%20warning.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="2572" data-original-width="3429" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBKngJjyPJu0Ky0A_ieIU_qF4RuqYsvzWRHIO3mkwXzYyoAVZQGMx9An3Jl_nbTQHb7ivzBSU8Ah7MkO8AV1x6scaSuU82xVCgG3tZwXvm5Ti5AkHgws5cd_P85t6kegFIc06vg_WodYLFiExh_TTQ2jyxWfitOX8hPAq_uhFAzV_PBwP8FPFfu0V7w/w640-h480/wildlife%20warning.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">However, luckily for us the more dangerous ones kept out of our way, perhaps justifiably thinking we were dangerous too.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaabqyf0mCY73cabr1z_tpAqICu2JCNzWfU9vX6dRPNUeNBsl4GXDslsxsWZv3F7kMKUi52MTAZBcSDiERijrwKhTLuJmRdCuXn6mt8IK3QCFVKm3XmgHt-8R6U-V4bcevmYb1FPS7YGacEBbwBAf-pQ0W4IdsMcuR6yqzkn2H2pS_F1ORhtTsvKfRUw=s3606" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div><br /><br /><br /></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-41376043809776803132022-02-27T16:11:00.001-08:002022-04-05T16:50:51.680-07:00Christmas Gardens in Australia<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFXARfTRz2RlgCGYscDetdgGZzX7aXDdRZmLM4lWZQY0QH3Y4eKlaX3YU7GyDYgOCMX0Sr7oBm5mIsmYi6k39TQ1j1LWllncysPcCMGbqmlJMCV_c76vI2soCix8UraSwCDtZon0zkULqFaEF2_FJdfLlfC3-q5p_cEHTzmui0SiipnP5dBDX1niCadQ=s3446"><img border="0" data-original-height="2678" data-original-width="3446" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFXARfTRz2RlgCGYscDetdgGZzX7aXDdRZmLM4lWZQY0QH3Y4eKlaX3YU7GyDYgOCMX0Sr7oBm5mIsmYi6k39TQ1j1LWllncysPcCMGbqmlJMCV_c76vI2soCix8UraSwCDtZon0zkULqFaEF2_FJdfLlfC3-q5p_cEHTzmui0SiipnP5dBDX1niCadQ=w400-h311" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When Air Canada reintroduced direct flights to Sydney in December, we made a spur-of-the moment decision to visit our daughter and grandson whom we had not seen for two years. There were a lot of restrictions and tests we had to comply with, but it was worth it. An unexpected bonus was missing the deluge of snow that fell on Vancouver just after we left.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Neighbours sent us photos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7khvBLNU6lxVvICkuV9DP9CyudACdAc_1TfaDoCRIzViz3Syrh3-ERAOwUOE4I8C0zHf1qNyRQsHLZpPhMxF5o6UFo1_5oOFT1G_bhddFjg0iIATzyucIKIiwozcRbm3r3tYEPJ7bE5f01h5XqM0HxorS0N5U30tcXxLa1alMNMdyjCMA9f7A_E3WsQ=s480" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7khvBLNU6lxVvICkuV9DP9CyudACdAc_1TfaDoCRIzViz3Syrh3-ERAOwUOE4I8C0zHf1qNyRQsHLZpPhMxF5o6UFo1_5oOFT1G_bhddFjg0iIATzyucIKIiwozcRbm3r3tYEPJ7bE5f01h5XqM0HxorS0N5U30tcXxLa1alMNMdyjCMA9f7A_E3WsQ=w402-h402" width="402" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile we were enjoying warmth and sunshine in Sydney at our daughter's house, almost hidden behind the lush summer growth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYLyTct_0FIg3eyI7AhiRlblGVZ0Yy7T6UqQ3wRracZSnEa9j29Akmdkdp8OFj1oX7yRjJ2ApAmePsGEM4ofaHi4UaqgLxXim4EOYHfiML4nA0jMY4NDTVkkPz0RoMa3C8BJVjVv_CBL7ruom9SDwcfW4VAzNPAr3ud_8p4-OlrvyaQtAFZsgCD8wYKQ=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYLyTct_0FIg3eyI7AhiRlblGVZ0Yy7T6UqQ3wRracZSnEa9j29Akmdkdp8OFj1oX7yRjJ2ApAmePsGEM4ofaHi4UaqgLxXim4EOYHfiML4nA0jMY4NDTVkkPz0RoMa3C8BJVjVv_CBL7ruom9SDwcfW4VAzNPAr3ud_8p4-OlrvyaQtAFZsgCD8wYKQ=w616-h347" width="616" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The pink flowers belong to a eucalyptus, <i>Corymbia</i> 'Summer Beauty', that was visited every morning by rainbow lorikeets feasting on its abundant nectar and waking us much too early with their squawking.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOmYs0o2fKzabWyjnECuq1tzlB8OlOj64bG0dSM4aWRqZN7b4u78_d_SwBEviv-ArFPkNT6wxlsedXqWKD-9yyP7jB6tG5WNE6WwMcePVLhkbVkz_iiAvn9yxd7Qz4CLT4AWgBdE_jWsr2IoA9BpSIAZP3KyBQmEPfPyKoG-pX5quad-2WtAAuJ98HTg=s1216" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1216" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOmYs0o2fKzabWyjnECuq1tzlB8OlOj64bG0dSM4aWRqZN7b4u78_d_SwBEviv-ArFPkNT6wxlsedXqWKD-9yyP7jB6tG5WNE6WwMcePVLhkbVkz_iiAvn9yxd7Qz4CLT4AWgBdE_jWsr2IoA9BpSIAZP3KyBQmEPfPyKoG-pX5quad-2WtAAuJ98HTg=w475-h359" width="475" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our daughter's garden is a combination of native plants and sub-tropical ones, which make it a pleasant retreat in which to spend our Covid-restricted visit. The rules here in Australia limited our movement much more than those in Canada.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_ke6hlkWyQJjo4HAFZj_y_FvpFOqZDNxhG2k5rwAPtjOzW_vSWHOcUL3a9pZVeM7q3vd9RyVhJb2LKkpWXplv19coKIX0dkwGgELCmvcwGwW4sfPvdn06kIxr04YkG9PNCdj-cj5ydXBAdGa_botU8lImsOClg15GIJmpO0K5E8aZ5aIFN9VRjej88A=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_ke6hlkWyQJjo4HAFZj_y_FvpFOqZDNxhG2k5rwAPtjOzW_vSWHOcUL3a9pZVeM7q3vd9RyVhJb2LKkpWXplv19coKIX0dkwGgELCmvcwGwW4sfPvdn06kIxr04YkG9PNCdj-cj5ydXBAdGa_botU8lImsOClg15GIJmpO0K5E8aZ5aIFN9VRjej88A=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBgtEROU2Ss8oPW0A7uIXE0JCsgqbMwQ_cnGLKrvy2A1qgEwe2qRaXu7ONidryhIasSqXiaREJFFgtPI6nn3qutY_AKQUwEA1f6Itevu4aC2iT-wKyMr1g-7x8R8jqM4Y4yLaol5TtvYuCvjeV9ISDExRKTDLcGotlzzWQwaOMVxc3_Ggeq9EqjEdUSQ=s3627" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2720" data-original-width="3627" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBgtEROU2Ss8oPW0A7uIXE0JCsgqbMwQ_cnGLKrvy2A1qgEwe2qRaXu7ONidryhIasSqXiaREJFFgtPI6nn3qutY_AKQUwEA1f6Itevu4aC2iT-wKyMr1g-7x8R8jqM4Y4yLaol5TtvYuCvjeV9ISDExRKTDLcGotlzzWQwaOMVxc3_Ggeq9EqjEdUSQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjMGJPo7m96I-e-wOoigYMLAKLPxfSRl3PTOkPsZpScO7tYGZdu87QOsJLMDUsxsgchhdK10-y5gyJvOso-lOJCI93C5Crz0PHGDSL4i3FLtv1q7u2BXIUQb4tMzMFiDl0xlwBi18NF26i1fiwECk-Ch0d2MHJOKaY0BdWJ0buxllFSObbi9k4FQJngw=s3163" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2646" data-original-width="3163" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjMGJPo7m96I-e-wOoigYMLAKLPxfSRl3PTOkPsZpScO7tYGZdu87QOsJLMDUsxsgchhdK10-y5gyJvOso-lOJCI93C5Crz0PHGDSL4i3FLtv1q7u2BXIUQb4tMzMFiDl0xlwBi18NF26i1fiwECk-Ch0d2MHJOKaY0BdWJ0buxllFSObbi9k4FQJngw=w400-h335" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaabqyf0mCY73cabr1z_tpAqICu2JCNzWfU9vX6dRPNUeNBsl4GXDslsxsWZv3F7kMKUi52MTAZBcSDiERijrwKhTLuJmRdCuXn6mt8IK3QCFVKm3XmgHt-8R6U-V4bcevmYb1FPS7YGacEBbwBAf-pQ0W4IdsMcuR6yqzkn2H2pS_F1ORhtTsvKfRUw=s3606" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2704" data-original-width="3606" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaabqyf0mCY73cabr1z_tpAqICu2JCNzWfU9vX6dRPNUeNBsl4GXDslsxsWZv3F7kMKUi52MTAZBcSDiERijrwKhTLuJmRdCuXn6mt8IK3QCFVKm3XmgHt-8R6U-V4bcevmYb1FPS7YGacEBbwBAf-pQ0W4IdsMcuR6yqzkn2H2pS_F1ORhtTsvKfRUw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The <i>Trachycarpus</i> palm leaves were worth a closer look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhibkzzE6Gs7ik0Uqj8-DrOzTA5amkSMf9o8xUMkolifFjXvFBPOyekiR8QSJV4CLthCJf-RAZh0SqM-CXIZVwMSoVOLtTbqyYawi-3_Km937kkSSmWAvD-aTPSz9aP1lOQ1mRs5WCoZ4wklmpGRs7dW4gopJ4zzyrPruQZUWGwI2OnmqvJZZONZKNNoQ=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhibkzzE6Gs7ik0Uqj8-DrOzTA5amkSMf9o8xUMkolifFjXvFBPOyekiR8QSJV4CLthCJf-RAZh0SqM-CXIZVwMSoVOLtTbqyYawi-3_Km937kkSSmWAvD-aTPSz9aP1lOQ1mRs5WCoZ4wklmpGRs7dW4gopJ4zzyrPruQZUWGwI2OnmqvJZZONZKNNoQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As well as enjoying the serenity of her garden, we could walk a block away to Rookwood, not only the largest cemetery in the southern hemisphere with over 1 million graves, but also one of the oldest <a href="http://rookwoodnecropolistrust.com.au/history/" target="_blank">http://rookwoodnecropolistrust.com.au/history/</a> . We particularly enjoyed wandering in the oldest sections among the Victorian-era gravestones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp7QSy5ZIKpuKrP_tnFlmcV8PrAhkvhnIUmITwarsriKnt-ELl7ghwG37Nm_6Cb6SElmkXvHP_xZlq8gfWu0GREstM-nL8j3CwqIpnoEhRev1XWA6sxatjkl1WxJtAOqjtFGj7xNToj4FKB5RuseRpvAZ_jTvXrZqK5MLFj43hybi9iYLjbmQFoOw5SA=s3648" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp7QSy5ZIKpuKrP_tnFlmcV8PrAhkvhnIUmITwarsriKnt-ELl7ghwG37Nm_6Cb6SElmkXvHP_xZlq8gfWu0GREstM-nL8j3CwqIpnoEhRev1XWA6sxatjkl1WxJtAOqjtFGj7xNToj4FKB5RuseRpvAZ_jTvXrZqK5MLFj43hybi9iYLjbmQFoOw5SA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3M3Il1nt1ToeIGgLoTfszCUnCnc7mxZAB_cZCD38xpKr5U2PljZowgnvkRIuf0_QtzEmoK5CcdCvdyrox60U70YwRHEJu3cUPv0t1aAJjsY8wEVZS_jHOEhw_rvLovrWAnLOwVUhYSnOXRxgrpYg7YTEH6uSw4GX9vQWIyBbRvBUC1nNEPGQXWZStew=s3598" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3598" data-original-width="2698" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3M3Il1nt1ToeIGgLoTfszCUnCnc7mxZAB_cZCD38xpKr5U2PljZowgnvkRIuf0_QtzEmoK5CcdCvdyrox60U70YwRHEJu3cUPv0t1aAJjsY8wEVZS_jHOEhw_rvLovrWAnLOwVUhYSnOXRxgrpYg7YTEH6uSw4GX9vQWIyBbRvBUC1nNEPGQXWZStew=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Among the graves were many magnificent specimens of trees, both native and from surrounding regions. The tall, narrow ones in the photos above are <i>Araucaria columnaris</i>, a relative of the Monkey Puzzle. I read that they typically lean 8Âş north in the southern hemisphere and the same degree south in the northern hemisphere, but these seemed to lean in various directions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another <i>Araucaria </i>(and my favourite) was also planted in considerable numbers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3J8yObnPn8Yxp6o1ZCXVMx2cWgLIIvxS6oVKk2bD8OEd-27UqaNUVL32FRWx0enZIbq0OfQs3zqWxHggO6cPTQvsXJMQukKabm9lrBeR9v3fs-arVbw4habiiBYBKrkJg33xNoNy6tysGOG_g8Drpo3qKIIIkh3bMJ8a43GXBxuOU_28OHYsVjJtEqg=s3152" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3152" data-original-width="2045" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3J8yObnPn8Yxp6o1ZCXVMx2cWgLIIvxS6oVKk2bD8OEd-27UqaNUVL32FRWx0enZIbq0OfQs3zqWxHggO6cPTQvsXJMQukKabm9lrBeR9v3fs-arVbw4habiiBYBKrkJg33xNoNy6tysGOG_g8Drpo3qKIIIkh3bMJ8a43GXBxuOU_28OHYsVjJtEqg=w440-h676" width="440" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is <i>Araucaria bidwillii</i>, the Bunya-Bunya. Of all the trees in the cemetery, these are the most imposing and I took far too many photos of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9xbKrIpL4HXyZYw3DKklST4aOtozofXRf-RWfPgBa-IucANuYlt-c-FYCUF42W9j7c-171XUhMZjqkN750-0LlGa64R9ESV1uQPHd1ex5sLP2EtC_Xy6qGA5rAWk0ZW-RAiPB2RrktK-1WDWYiPMdPbWX3JJ0SHx8hYSIjpnWpMEwGboEoZ4wylheXg=s3574" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2680" data-original-width="3574" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9xbKrIpL4HXyZYw3DKklST4aOtozofXRf-RWfPgBa-IucANuYlt-c-FYCUF42W9j7c-171XUhMZjqkN750-0LlGa64R9ESV1uQPHd1ex5sLP2EtC_Xy6qGA5rAWk0ZW-RAiPB2RrktK-1WDWYiPMdPbWX3JJ0SHx8hYSIjpnWpMEwGboEoZ4wylheXg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />It is a dangerous tree to walk under from December to March, when the cones are ripe and ready to fall. Each one is about twice the size of a pineapple and can weigh up to 10 Kg.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rookwood is also home to many other Australian native plants, like this Honey Myrtle (<i>Melaleuca thymifolia</i>) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEUB3znILPj02r4qyxFd3MZfV9oiqvjWFsy2EgYCNC1EIMRE4428mMZFDKyE3MR00nY9kAbcH6dlWn0fv4M43LFW4Bjb91z5X2nmlTv0llRwC4GUQ9_LK5RBJbIEwvzXpMlxzCYJzu4vjm9OcYXMQ8uv90JKctvK0npjcup4W-cVaxsRSiomHyGOz7Lw=s2259" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1940" data-original-width="2259" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEUB3znILPj02r4qyxFd3MZfV9oiqvjWFsy2EgYCNC1EIMRE4428mMZFDKyE3MR00nY9kAbcH6dlWn0fv4M43LFW4Bjb91z5X2nmlTv0llRwC4GUQ9_LK5RBJbIEwvzXpMlxzCYJzu4vjm9OcYXMQ8uv90JKctvK0npjcup4W-cVaxsRSiomHyGOz7Lw=w400-h344" width="400" /></a></div><br />and Purple Hyacinth Orchid (<i>Dipodium atropurpureum</i>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxM_hfCyXmPVfJlhcbHwWFwPtf4K_tzerfz9HtZ1fwVt8Zp5av55EDzOJkubYd_2_p9pNkPHNUETp93qEdfz51s9iSgY8wYLq_EnMGpmXm_EOOEIky2BXmvisPBPC6ajsm2JD3mnTXkvhyMeYReT5e5ULWOyN2W7wE8yy0gkR25sjHfUIzeYVMigdQZQ=s2858" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2858" data-original-width="2296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxM_hfCyXmPVfJlhcbHwWFwPtf4K_tzerfz9HtZ1fwVt8Zp5av55EDzOJkubYd_2_p9pNkPHNUETp93qEdfz51s9iSgY8wYLq_EnMGpmXm_EOOEIky2BXmvisPBPC6ajsm2JD3mnTXkvhyMeYReT5e5ULWOyN2W7wE8yy0gkR25sjHfUIzeYVMigdQZQ=w321-h400" width="321" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The orchid is endemic to New South Wales and common in the wild, but has resisted attempts to cultivate it, due to its relationship with a mycorrhizal fungus in its natural habitat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Perhaps the rarest species in the grounds is the endangered Downy Wattle (<i>Acacia pubescens)</i> that has been gradually disappearing as the city has expanded.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7I_8g-M5rsFQd7Ydpz3ablu_JAIooLOPB4kVS8vDPUE2xBP89gkmtn25GhfqMYXvFn_VuyheS_4QmfZ6emFMzVoYcBYDNjfHG8F2guIagtPgKsaM3WNWLARd-NmsaPZpRhOS5K2t2wCqXEWal44h8LZKFXAmyhIy69YB235JHRGtwu1_8NVbwFeF86Q=s3299" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2379" data-original-width="3299" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7I_8g-M5rsFQd7Ydpz3ablu_JAIooLOPB4kVS8vDPUE2xBP89gkmtn25GhfqMYXvFn_VuyheS_4QmfZ6emFMzVoYcBYDNjfHG8F2guIagtPgKsaM3WNWLARd-NmsaPZpRhOS5K2t2wCqXEWal44h8LZKFXAmyhIy69YB235JHRGtwu1_8NVbwFeF86Q=w640-h462" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was one of the first wattles cultivated in Europe, where a specimen was recorded growing in Empress Josephine's garden at Malmaison in France.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, we made time to visit the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, which lies right on the harbour between the famous Opera House and the Art Gallery. Both the Gallery and the Garden are free to enter, demonstrating an Australian belief that such cultural experiences should be available to all. It poured rain that day and as I've posted images of the garden on my travel blog in the past, I'll just add this magnificent gum tree (<i>Eucalyptus grandis)</i> near the Gallery entrance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuTJamTHo26winw-PgxRBUE8_y2l0MiKtn5-euweJYa22V1sL_67CexXRDmBfTmhxuyCVIT8zfLsjqlpsgiUMCTRVC7Uh6bYB-XStVS7LetfAhwQjVO3qZoDPNv_U9ZWFcWh8zLVsqBZYNgWFtXgddjDtR0HXQlBcVeWVudptGTSgluLBnJyXtrliPQ/s3408/Eucalyptus%20grandis3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3408" data-original-width="2322" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuTJamTHo26winw-PgxRBUE8_y2l0MiKtn5-euweJYa22V1sL_67CexXRDmBfTmhxuyCVIT8zfLsjqlpsgiUMCTRVC7Uh6bYB-XStVS7LetfAhwQjVO3qZoDPNv_U9ZWFcWh8zLVsqBZYNgWFtXgddjDtR0HXQlBcVeWVudptGTSgluLBnJyXtrliPQ/w436-h640/Eucalyptus%20grandis3.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However, we also had the opportunity to visit Mt Annan Botanical Garden on the western outskirts of Sydney. This 416-hectare garden opened in 1988 with the mission to preserve and display Australian native plants. I hadn't visited since its very early days and the transformation from former grazing land is amazing, starting with a grove of tree ferns near the visitor centre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67BWJrCtMCXgjeIa9ZUqC-w7Tu0PgCcBNRR2vVXE6f91oottaXVpwtwaM7ozQeN8U20GPpU0aL0n8T6tDDabdSBa2cJWT8fxDWqhgLHuFgB7yB27V-1maf0ffwaKFcZC37kUgTN_NH49_K0bq8NP7tJnzcZzHdTYs-UReDiIIh5HVJzYSodd6z4i4qg/s3387/tree%20ferns.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2648" data-original-width="3387" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67BWJrCtMCXgjeIa9ZUqC-w7Tu0PgCcBNRR2vVXE6f91oottaXVpwtwaM7ozQeN8U20GPpU0aL0n8T6tDDabdSBa2cJWT8fxDWqhgLHuFgB7yB27V-1maf0ffwaKFcZC37kUgTN_NH49_K0bq8NP7tJnzcZzHdTYs-UReDiIIh5HVJzYSodd6z4i4qg/w640-h500/tree%20ferns.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not far away, a giant bee presides over lower-growing plants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG0oax6suuGxabG5Ou1Td5p2-Kf_SdcVTqFwudV_jgm88Knz5QfdqVqkUhgCe_syVxkBIxclEacxLQXZ-phDiGTpqbsPVtMPLUKwjkkrAvPYtM_MqJiVRAIF6cuWTiPIvnzwk8kn8kQBeNu2N6VKxuFcuu0HBeZC16QSohh2IoN6xikyc-y9s73a13Q/s3648/bee%20sculpture.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG0oax6suuGxabG5Ou1Td5p2-Kf_SdcVTqFwudV_jgm88Knz5QfdqVqkUhgCe_syVxkBIxclEacxLQXZ-phDiGTpqbsPVtMPLUKwjkkrAvPYtM_MqJiVRAIF6cuWTiPIvnzwk8kn8kQBeNu2N6VKxuFcuu0HBeZC16QSohh2IoN6xikyc-y9s73a13Q/w400-h300/bee%20sculpture.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">There are large drifts of my favourite kangaroo paws (</span><i style="text-align: left;">Anigozanthos</i><span style="text-align: left;">),</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xbdpYqtGXJC9dpc5oYFWT8EXt2CCNCdFcLdYxTRkd9ihjBLoLtvd_DRlAJajyCPql-hwE5mlTHq7YHS1VHylZCwSAerszo49JSxYXRRqkTaaPd9knU8UzncOeA9i3Bo3sStX1TypCd6x3vxO1ZaDnkal3HhAaM7tIOuTN-QugpXa-KBQObbpJSaoFg/s3627/Anigozanthos1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2720" data-original-width="3627" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xbdpYqtGXJC9dpc5oYFWT8EXt2CCNCdFcLdYxTRkd9ihjBLoLtvd_DRlAJajyCPql-hwE5mlTHq7YHS1VHylZCwSAerszo49JSxYXRRqkTaaPd9knU8UzncOeA9i3Bo3sStX1TypCd6x3vxO1ZaDnkal3HhAaM7tIOuTN-QugpXa-KBQObbpJSaoFg/w640-h480/Anigozanthos1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">demonstrating why they got their common name.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZ3GgOKN2XiaJeKIknKVYmD41vZ46a6AXqcS65v9YThrWAJvUkzJFFT2A1ALHx0EeyVlq9r8Quld15WI-MgPamgj1TZoOC3JhgCRlRwXP1T4uGT3y91K_6n5lPIq9Hy-sBpLbMQhEPExjVM3DL0t_a3iyAV3jzye_WaSxVXmSQo3m1R3_Dg-zHho9kg/s3648/Anigozanthos3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZ3GgOKN2XiaJeKIknKVYmD41vZ46a6AXqcS65v9YThrWAJvUkzJFFT2A1ALHx0EeyVlq9r8Quld15WI-MgPamgj1TZoOC3JhgCRlRwXP1T4uGT3y91K_6n5lPIq9Hy-sBpLbMQhEPExjVM3DL0t_a3iyAV3jzye_WaSxVXmSQo3m1R3_Dg-zHho9kg/w400-h300/Anigozanthos3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">and many other plants familiar to most Australians like Old Man Banksia (<i>Banksia serrata</i>) and grass trees (<i>Xanthorrhoea</i>).</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtP4rLME3m-f1rRvj_1grcObVxAvgl-Z_-3vjHeHZi855p5rfeSndOyoof3fn3nGHgVoU9Z95u6TBuhwW6EEmKw210IsDpCa6X-c3U6ADyhiEWCFMWRMyllkS8GJYhiQbKMnWmirujumV5OyLI2QaEzSIwajA_esYoDZ8fpoBauRPyyhvBWlOGGjv8A/s2672/banksia&grass%20trees.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="2336" data-original-width="2672" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtP4rLME3m-f1rRvj_1grcObVxAvgl-Z_-3vjHeHZi855p5rfeSndOyoof3fn3nGHgVoU9Z95u6TBuhwW6EEmKw210IsDpCa6X-c3U6ADyhiEWCFMWRMyllkS8GJYhiQbKMnWmirujumV5OyLI2QaEzSIwajA_esYoDZ8fpoBauRPyyhvBWlOGGjv8A/w640-h560/banksia&grass%20trees.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Banksias are among the strangest of plants among many strange native species.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWJ8sPZIO6Kk6cMcXueolYc-s4TgMIZNhZr8McXrUyOrDIiyGFBLqPs8YEDjwLW_jNh5hHqsdkJ2UrBlUtxWOh8QzLof3_zoUwXmEaTbU-AurBFG-6-Zclizoa9Ye2F_DAOHQ1X8c48mc9mEz_5BgUMr5zo3wX9dEy2Qwy21zx0-k9vD8vI0VkMJcng/s2716/banksia.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2716" data-original-width="2681" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWJ8sPZIO6Kk6cMcXueolYc-s4TgMIZNhZr8McXrUyOrDIiyGFBLqPs8YEDjwLW_jNh5hHqsdkJ2UrBlUtxWOh8QzLof3_zoUwXmEaTbU-AurBFG-6-Zclizoa9Ye2F_DAOHQ1X8c48mc9mEz_5BgUMr5zo3wX9dEy2Qwy21zx0-k9vD8vI0VkMJcng/w395-h400/banksia.jpeg" width="395" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Other oddities include a Queensland bottle tree (<i>Brachychiton rupestris</i>),</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOo_SALk7xXSPV-fSdVSNk07npTj9Xrq7xTsSrf8FUaUb-ws4tYhXCmt-UU6acLuSvPuYqaKzwTx0WZ2iAgX9EMt8S6yG0Zacv3cWE2-T-hkyyC0IzdZpNTw5F66RS3nx5tiFKKxz-cTR1-DORh_-sE86tXxI2GcJXbn0_Z7FqsYq-Ivq-kt2eXNwHQ/s2840/Brachychiton%20rupestris.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2358" data-original-width="2840" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOo_SALk7xXSPV-fSdVSNk07npTj9Xrq7xTsSrf8FUaUb-ws4tYhXCmt-UU6acLuSvPuYqaKzwTx0WZ2iAgX9EMt8S6yG0Zacv3cWE2-T-hkyyC0IzdZpNTw5F66RS3nx5tiFKKxz-cTR1-DORh_-sE86tXxI2GcJXbn0_Z7FqsYq-Ivq-kt2eXNwHQ/w640-h532/Brachychiton%20rupestris.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">which has a beautiful green trunk with "eyes" staring back at you.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwURr0tZRPV7MMI7sSzWI5l5RTkvtxwzzloHF4Qtu5lPyS4AOaLcGOiiwrDzlfPpAZaXxNAl-AdUdGhFMgHsE47x-jBbYt8MCbB4a6rdfCsBJnDyJ2S07FsTXY2ZtMfpei2DbgAK_LtAmkaTknsStYji_FyMeEWMnFNoCd5bhNqElHYuS5w-s5c_6Dyw/s3569/bottletree%20trunk.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3569" data-original-width="2675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwURr0tZRPV7MMI7sSzWI5l5RTkvtxwzzloHF4Qtu5lPyS4AOaLcGOiiwrDzlfPpAZaXxNAl-AdUdGhFMgHsE47x-jBbYt8MCbB4a6rdfCsBJnDyJ2S07FsTXY2ZtMfpei2DbgAK_LtAmkaTknsStYji_FyMeEWMnFNoCd5bhNqElHYuS5w-s5c_6Dyw/w300-h400/bottletree%20trunk.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There's also the Pineapple Zamia, with its characteristic cone-shaped flower. As this specimen wasn't in bloom, I thought it could just as easily have been called Peacock Zamia for those lovely green "tail feathers".</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKansVZoMig3gmwC7en277v0aSmHtlQE1iVZy-KVYadFhKBOqRlYsEu6TCZEcse95_6RJR2D5o0yRZXVYjVFlHWQheWWKz-CxuURF4r4T52HlcLKBhzAvBECnSesWIMjwiO0DN_fuSZbupDW_6Hnr-6oAe1vuCKjWUpBGvsRTvUGx86_Wd85LbCKUhRQ/s3648/pineapple%20zamia.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKansVZoMig3gmwC7en277v0aSmHtlQE1iVZy-KVYadFhKBOqRlYsEu6TCZEcse95_6RJR2D5o0yRZXVYjVFlHWQheWWKz-CxuURF4r4T52HlcLKBhzAvBECnSesWIMjwiO0DN_fuSZbupDW_6Hnr-6oAe1vuCKjWUpBGvsRTvUGx86_Wd85LbCKUhRQ/w640-h480/pineapple%20zamia.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Its label saves me the effort of writing out its complicated botanical name.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3gDK5DkoI2C6MmwNq_4Ow2uC0M9opNmEvfQO68Jm5_vsv5JnKcTV_8AikXEQfGg5SikpjS0X05OzftPAWb5-sn_-6h_7idjp1-IWbqAOxfY_t_xoe5y5_pDP-Pc5VSQCQZIY91Nxkg7pC9a3l6Oiy3Q-ej1Kxg06SyYdZp2WWdvOPSol9dmH3cOssA/s2906/pineapple%20zamia%20label.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1942" data-original-width="2906" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3gDK5DkoI2C6MmwNq_4Ow2uC0M9opNmEvfQO68Jm5_vsv5JnKcTV_8AikXEQfGg5SikpjS0X05OzftPAWb5-sn_-6h_7idjp1-IWbqAOxfY_t_xoe5y5_pDP-Pc5VSQCQZIY91Nxkg7pC9a3l6Oiy3Q-ej1Kxg06SyYdZp2WWdvOPSol9dmH3cOssA/w400-h268/pineapple%20zamia%20label.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Apart from plant labels, we encountered occasional warning signs, important in a country that is home to seven of the world's most venomous snakes.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBKngJjyPJu0Ky0A_ieIU_qF4RuqYsvzWRHIO3mkwXzYyoAVZQGMx9An3Jl_nbTQHb7ivzBSU8Ah7MkO8AV1x6scaSuU82xVCgG3tZwXvm5Ti5AkHgws5cd_P85t6kegFIc06vg_WodYLFiExh_TTQ2jyxWfitOX8hPAq_uhFAzV_PBwP8FPFfu0V7w/s3429/wildlife%20warning.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="2572" data-original-width="3429" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBKngJjyPJu0Ky0A_ieIU_qF4RuqYsvzWRHIO3mkwXzYyoAVZQGMx9An3Jl_nbTQHb7ivzBSU8Ah7MkO8AV1x6scaSuU82xVCgG3tZwXvm5Ti5AkHgws5cd_P85t6kegFIc06vg_WodYLFiExh_TTQ2jyxWfitOX8hPAq_uhFAzV_PBwP8FPFfu0V7w/w640-h480/wildlife%20warning.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">However, luckily for us the more dangerous ones kept out of our way, perhaps justifiably thinking we were dangerous too.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaabqyf0mCY73cabr1z_tpAqICu2JCNzWfU9vX6dRPNUeNBsl4GXDslsxsWZv3F7kMKUi52MTAZBcSDiERijrwKhTLuJmRdCuXn6mt8IK3QCFVKm3XmgHt-8R6U-V4bcevmYb1FPS7YGacEBbwBAf-pQ0W4IdsMcuR6yqzkn2H2pS_F1ORhtTsvKfRUw=s3606" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div><br /><br /><br /></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-35106049245498865122021-11-11T16:04:00.003-08:002023-04-17T11:55:26.664-07:00Autumn Colours<p> I haven't posted many summer photos because I'd only be repeating what I've recorded in previous years - a sign that the garden is maturing after ten years of cultivation.</p><p>However, changes are coming this winter so I'll probably have a few different plants to highlight next year.</p><p>Meanwhile, in my ongoing quest to create a garden that offers year-round interest, I've been slowly adding more plants that offer fall interest. In fact, this October has been more vibrant than ever.</p><p>As always the back garden is dominated by the brilliant blue of the late blooming monkshood, <i>Aconitum carmichaelii</i> 'Arendsii'. Closer to the house, my dwarf oakleaf hydrangea has turned red and gold, and gets an echo in the back corner from the red leaves of <i>Stewartia pseudocamellia </i>and the blueberry beside it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuH5ds54IsB1z7r52SzKwEXQO5Kh7S7DJXbZxDcbANJOSLSX7PvFeDQtB6zDyVa5naLI4LiBAwZ1ELiwMVrtfzcZEYlaxTplnKqK9spDmO9kocv2eQHs0L5p9fb7zOraf6exo5bzY12i0/s2048/backgdnOct21b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2048" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuH5ds54IsB1z7r52SzKwEXQO5Kh7S7DJXbZxDcbANJOSLSX7PvFeDQtB6zDyVa5naLI4LiBAwZ1ELiwMVrtfzcZEYlaxTplnKqK9spDmO9kocv2eQHs0L5p9fb7zOraf6exo5bzY12i0/w640-h458/backgdnOct21b.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In front of the old pear tree,<i> Hosta</i> 'Krossa Regal' has turned lemon yellow and is beginning to flop. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAXY-6bQna3h-KLba_ksbJTJ5xO59yHE2NCAdMPFiztzYT9-TeUg025gCLZW3BBAcZycLNySOgv9NqBA2jo5F4RwvKOj-BgACl5ElUPrYaOdyz9TCz4cSaai-v8280ympl4KoTx34qAH3/s2048/BackgdnOct21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAXY-6bQna3h-KLba_ksbJTJ5xO59yHE2NCAdMPFiztzYT9-TeUg025gCLZW3BBAcZycLNySOgv9NqBA2jo5F4RwvKOj-BgACl5ElUPrYaOdyz9TCz4cSaai-v8280ympl4KoTx34qAH3/w640-h480/BackgdnOct21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">By November other hostas in this shady bed are turning yellow too and adding a suggestion of sunlight in this shady area.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kZfVaBDUAmZCyZaluPhLZVgOkt2omfXBxDGejHcOZDOXBSxYJ_N3lotfmZJ-RpsPtNS-PoJ_cdPPMV1pxSoG2bihEE85tYrHLhGKaAZcySTpSg2Rxp0iEbxZ8BYdz0H7LCONAh0WXeMo/s1643/Hostas11%253A11%253A21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1643" data-original-width="1316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kZfVaBDUAmZCyZaluPhLZVgOkt2omfXBxDGejHcOZDOXBSxYJ_N3lotfmZJ-RpsPtNS-PoJ_cdPPMV1pxSoG2bihEE85tYrHLhGKaAZcySTpSg2Rxp0iEbxZ8BYdz0H7LCONAh0WXeMo/w512-h640/Hostas11%253A11%253A21.jpeg" width="512" /></a></div><br /></div><div>In the corner by the house, there's another golden echo from <i>Corylopsis pauciflora,</i> which has swapped its pale yellow blooms of spring for its rich gold leaves of autumn, just as the purple of <i>Aster</i> 'Monch' below begins to fade.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONZeeopPSscT4xvVUf0B1Rs7OL01a_m262JiaojnhuIpiDvL7sjfjdkNlSOZbTa_PrJfrehQnOGRWqKVXyZFE5l3NpJkJGhi2AiPE6kNXEfKd5lEvUY3b_ohCBKpm5GUL2z_4EN73vaB_/s2048/CorylopsisOct+21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONZeeopPSscT4xvVUf0B1Rs7OL01a_m262JiaojnhuIpiDvL7sjfjdkNlSOZbTa_PrJfrehQnOGRWqKVXyZFE5l3NpJkJGhi2AiPE6kNXEfKd5lEvUY3b_ohCBKpm5GUL2z_4EN73vaB_/w640-h480/CorylopsisOct+21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>Meanwhile, out front, the sycamore maples on the street, which usually turn a dull brown, are showing brighter colour than usual - just in time for Halloween.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGFMt_HphndD9QDY5SA-EzEHzrBvIYVSyxIWClqdecKLDyA8EEkIyYAQqwOMU7Qlw_JFaWoNB5LmHBAkTheYxoK4hGNLb45FYnOxZRa6JIvdofj_vNov_3NM5X8ZtVAi7rxdKR__4Bspy/s2048/IMG_8006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGFMt_HphndD9QDY5SA-EzEHzrBvIYVSyxIWClqdecKLDyA8EEkIyYAQqwOMU7Qlw_JFaWoNB5LmHBAkTheYxoK4hGNLb45FYnOxZRa6JIvdofj_vNov_3NM5X8ZtVAi7rxdKR__4Bspy/w640-h448/IMG_8006.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-35801422101349582762021-11-11T16:04:00.002-08:002021-11-11T16:04:48.059-08:00Autumn Colours<p> I haven't posted many summer photos because I'd only be repeating what I've recorded in previous years - a sign that the garden is maturing after ten years of cultivation.</p><p>However, changes are coming this winter so I'll probably have a few different plants to highlight next year.</p><p>Meanwhile, in my ongoing quest to create a garden that offers year-round interest, I've been slowly adding more plants that offer fall interest. In fact, this October has been more vibrant than ever.</p><p>As always the back garden is dominated by the brilliant blue of the late blooming monkshood, <i>Aconitum carmichaelii</i> 'Arendsii'. Closer to the house, my dwarf oakleaf hydrangea has turned red and gold, and gets an echo in the back corner from the red leaves of <i>Stewartia pseudocamellia </i>and the blueberry beside it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuH5ds54IsB1z7r52SzKwEXQO5Kh7S7DJXbZxDcbANJOSLSX7PvFeDQtB6zDyVa5naLI4LiBAwZ1ELiwMVrtfzcZEYlaxTplnKqK9spDmO9kocv2eQHs0L5p9fb7zOraf6exo5bzY12i0/s2048/backgdnOct21b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2048" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuH5ds54IsB1z7r52SzKwEXQO5Kh7S7DJXbZxDcbANJOSLSX7PvFeDQtB6zDyVa5naLI4LiBAwZ1ELiwMVrtfzcZEYlaxTplnKqK9spDmO9kocv2eQHs0L5p9fb7zOraf6exo5bzY12i0/w640-h458/backgdnOct21b.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In front of the old pear tree,<i> Hosta</i> 'Krossa Regal' has turned lemon yellow and is beginning to flop. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAXY-6bQna3h-KLba_ksbJTJ5xO59yHE2NCAdMPFiztzYT9-TeUg025gCLZW3BBAcZycLNySOgv9NqBA2jo5F4RwvKOj-BgACl5ElUPrYaOdyz9TCz4cSaai-v8280ympl4KoTx34qAH3/s2048/BackgdnOct21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAXY-6bQna3h-KLba_ksbJTJ5xO59yHE2NCAdMPFiztzYT9-TeUg025gCLZW3BBAcZycLNySOgv9NqBA2jo5F4RwvKOj-BgACl5ElUPrYaOdyz9TCz4cSaai-v8280ympl4KoTx34qAH3/w640-h480/BackgdnOct21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">By November other hostas in this shady bed are turning yellow too and adding a suggestion of sunlight in this shady area.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kZfVaBDUAmZCyZaluPhLZVgOkt2omfXBxDGejHcOZDOXBSxYJ_N3lotfmZJ-RpsPtNS-PoJ_cdPPMV1pxSoG2bihEE85tYrHLhGKaAZcySTpSg2Rxp0iEbxZ8BYdz0H7LCONAh0WXeMo/s1643/Hostas11%253A11%253A21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1643" data-original-width="1316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kZfVaBDUAmZCyZaluPhLZVgOkt2omfXBxDGejHcOZDOXBSxYJ_N3lotfmZJ-RpsPtNS-PoJ_cdPPMV1pxSoG2bihEE85tYrHLhGKaAZcySTpSg2Rxp0iEbxZ8BYdz0H7LCONAh0WXeMo/w512-h640/Hostas11%253A11%253A21.jpeg" width="512" /></a></div><br /></div><div>In the corner by the house, there's another golden echo from <i>Corylopsis pauciflora,</i> which has swapped its pale yellow blooms of spring for its rich gold leaves of autumn, just as the purple of <i>Aster</i> 'Monch' below begins to fade.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONZeeopPSscT4xvVUf0B1Rs7OL01a_m262JiaojnhuIpiDvL7sjfjdkNlSOZbTa_PrJfrehQnOGRWqKVXyZFE5l3NpJkJGhi2AiPE6kNXEfKd5lEvUY3b_ohCBKpm5GUL2z_4EN73vaB_/s2048/CorylopsisOct+21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONZeeopPSscT4xvVUf0B1Rs7OL01a_m262JiaojnhuIpiDvL7sjfjdkNlSOZbTa_PrJfrehQnOGRWqKVXyZFE5l3NpJkJGhi2AiPE6kNXEfKd5lEvUY3b_ohCBKpm5GUL2z_4EN73vaB_/w640-h480/CorylopsisOct+21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>Meanwhile, out front, the sycamore maples on the street, which usually turn a dull brown, are showing brighter colour than usual - just in time for Halloween.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGFMt_HphndD9QDY5SA-EzEHzrBvIYVSyxIWClqdecKLDyA8EEkIyYAQqwOMU7Qlw_JFaWoNB5LmHBAkTheYxoK4hGNLb45FYnOxZRa6JIvdofj_vNov_3NM5X8ZtVAi7rxdKR__4Bspy/s2048/IMG_8006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGFMt_HphndD9QDY5SA-EzEHzrBvIYVSyxIWClqdecKLDyA8EEkIyYAQqwOMU7Qlw_JFaWoNB5LmHBAkTheYxoK4hGNLb45FYnOxZRa6JIvdofj_vNov_3NM5X8ZtVAi7rxdKR__4Bspy/w640-h448/IMG_8006.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-11358510046606265762021-07-28T15:44:00.005-07:002023-04-17T11:55:27.255-07:00Summer Whites<p> Gardens are rich in many different colours during the summer months, but just to continue the colour theme I started in April, I'm going to focus on white for this post. </p><p><i>Ranuculus aconitifolius</i> 'Flore Pleno'is a long name for a small button of a flower. What it lacks in individual size, however, it makes up for in generosity of blooms.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHyC-5IRndhq9DhMTF-59_F4cjZGfkEIC6XjBPPVQ-xMazoizLRa02VsV8LYuMrObTm8AoiTDZSmN1NGklIcfIAAMGp_Aa7pqkPNjW8CW9FdMHaNwd_h4tsjniysjF39felDdyt_Av7a_/s2048/RanuncFlorePleno21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="2048" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHyC-5IRndhq9DhMTF-59_F4cjZGfkEIC6XjBPPVQ-xMazoizLRa02VsV8LYuMrObTm8AoiTDZSmN1NGklIcfIAAMGp_Aa7pqkPNjW8CW9FdMHaNwd_h4tsjniysjF39felDdyt_Av7a_/w640-h440/RanuncFlorePleno21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Although it is a member of the buttercup family, it doesn't run. I have two plants side by side each making a sturdy clump that remains quite narrow at the base while spreading twice as wide at the top to make a cloud of bloom. I find that quite a few white flowers turn an unattractive pink as they age, but this perennial stays fresh-looking right until it starts to die. Various sources recommend it for boggy areas and it could probably use more water than it gets in my garden, but it doesn't seem to mind.</p><p>Brightening the shade garden in late June, <i>Gillenia trifoliata</i> spreads its constellation of dainty white stars over its lower neighbours. Reddish stems and calyces only heighten its pristine effect. It was a surprise to learn that it's a member of the rose family.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGTGdHD4NV1u7axQx_1lionOFM6XN1LagwCLtBadvDv0zQ8HIOFZX4C50Xd_A0qPyiz7jvTcd_UiyDSLI2c5UN6rGaK9FbzWbbseyGJwnHwiiBZQn3hLVnjz6yOwbzFduWc0PCGb6AGm1/s2048/Gillenia21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGTGdHD4NV1u7axQx_1lionOFM6XN1LagwCLtBadvDv0zQ8HIOFZX4C50Xd_A0qPyiz7jvTcd_UiyDSLI2c5UN6rGaK9FbzWbbseyGJwnHwiiBZQn3hLVnjz6yOwbzFduWc0PCGb6AGm1/w640-h480/Gillenia21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>By the end of July it will have completed its bloom cycle and be overpowered in its turn by the dark leaves of Actea 'Hillside Black Beauty' and the pleated green ones of Hosta 'Krossa Regal'.</p><p>Also enjoying the shade is <i>Astrantia major</i>, whose flowers have a more substantial presence. The stamens start out pink but gradually turn greenish-white like the central flower in this cluster. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkjD4TrZfUm4rV_zIjOckfGDLhfmAMuthaGX2iOC_uv7JM7KrUR15cFv21v3khfrkB-PkmHgNZjXPqEL44eY_rUTQeUvUoNaSjJ0dFvGWsX25DXxKQXBPUDWgZZkJ2up3mgZfwZCZW5AD/s2048/Astrantia2021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="2048" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkjD4TrZfUm4rV_zIjOckfGDLhfmAMuthaGX2iOC_uv7JM7KrUR15cFv21v3khfrkB-PkmHgNZjXPqEL44eY_rUTQeUvUoNaSjJ0dFvGWsX25DXxKQXBPUDWgZZkJ2up3mgZfwZCZW5AD/w640-h538/Astrantia2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>This particular plant is self-sown as the Astrantia family is inclined to do, but plants that will flower in dark corners are not common and its easy to edit out unwanted seedlings.</p><p>Another shade lover is my tree hydrangea (<i>Hydrangea aspera</i> ssp. <i>sargentiana</i>) Its flowers are actually the tiny purple dots in the centre, but I'm including it here for the fringe of pristine white bracts that give each bloom the look of an exploding firework.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnXu8nkxs1nUzOIfzxMlAKS1P1Bi3qUF8ft39kfQnJH1T7GHDzLRtgfCb1ityPb08eYVc2s5Imek7D59YWR_CrSNVJtvaOP2lgv-fwG23W1n68iIdXoVPQPERZXbfzvX3vfmz9Q2fm1An/s2048/Hydrangeassarg21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnXu8nkxs1nUzOIfzxMlAKS1P1Bi3qUF8ft39kfQnJH1T7GHDzLRtgfCb1ityPb08eYVc2s5Imek7D59YWR_CrSNVJtvaOP2lgv-fwG23W1n68iIdXoVPQPERZXbfzvX3vfmz9Q2fm1An/w640-h418/Hydrangeassarg21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">Rosa</i><span style="text-align: left;"> 'Lykkefund' prefers bright sunshine. Every year it extends its reach along the west fence, casting its powerful scent across the whole garden on warm summer evenings. Huge trusses of flowers cascade down behind whatever is blooming below. Here they are providing a backdrop to a stand of electric blue aconites.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Bqo7G1v30T4tpbvSerfII9mQgpPtJcF3JTAwc5LViXNEQGcaEPg5-zvebr-3zFZxAxdroyF1PIAEdjXvNWT1YoMxvuN3XR5muFPXDSuOLrMFRAg-9-HC7VbvWN6xX_4XSuZqyhX3Z41d/s2048/lykkefund2021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Bqo7G1v30T4tpbvSerfII9mQgpPtJcF3JTAwc5LViXNEQGcaEPg5-zvebr-3zFZxAxdroyF1PIAEdjXvNWT1YoMxvuN3XR5muFPXDSuOLrMFRAg-9-HC7VbvWN6xX_4XSuZqyhX3Z41d/w640-h486/lykkefund2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Although the effect is of a white curtain, a close inspection of individual flowers shows them to have golden stamens and pale salmon-pink buds.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj1AZyLGmsBPAGj8yOjNMY-GbGjvWJWcxkM_-nByqk2nq0pn9yXahyyy_LsEzYrBF_YVB15WX-uWSImyNvPyt3jZz5npzW0O2nD162cS6xkBPMpJDSfQL6B3SeDQR8UTYWICpO4Ten2U7/s2048/R.Lyk16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj1AZyLGmsBPAGj8yOjNMY-GbGjvWJWcxkM_-nByqk2nq0pn9yXahyyy_LsEzYrBF_YVB15WX-uWSImyNvPyt3jZz5npzW0O2nD162cS6xkBPMpJDSfQL6B3SeDQR8UTYWICpO4Ten2U7/w640-h480/R.Lyk16.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Across the garden on the east fence, <i>Clematis</i> 'Huldine' also provides a curtain of white. Like the rose its buds are deceptive, being striped in two shades of pink, but as the flowers open to show only their upper surfaces, they glisten satin-white in the sunshine.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYWaCwKnyU47Rt7N79WZ_NLL4_62tTOopCxNo1Ro4Xk9al_Oj-ZovMaVVAJjAh0aSUSCVQ0SGtt1bRhxGFxqtcXGFXMSI2sZBvXF_fghJR1WCiwT1VZ4IUTWCqc0LuhvHBb_OrocgvQKC/s2048/C.Huldine2020.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2048" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYWaCwKnyU47Rt7N79WZ_NLL4_62tTOopCxNo1Ro4Xk9al_Oj-ZovMaVVAJjAh0aSUSCVQ0SGtt1bRhxGFxqtcXGFXMSI2sZBvXF_fghJR1WCiwT1VZ4IUTWCqc0LuhvHBb_OrocgvQKC/w640-h394/C.Huldine2020.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Also enjoying the sun is <i>Stewartia pseudocamellia</i>. It's easy to see how this tall slender tree got the pseudocamellia part of its name as soon as it flowers. Some people call it poached egg tree but I feel that doesn't do justice to the elegant fringed white flowers that do indeed imitate camellias.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi7MIGudq1DF-WMAOmnBgHgIDVFuDwXRoTVuH1q68SCrPlaRwVp9QwuSlFqc6I9AKsaorVBmvUlN2yma7fr0iXPCZhsxnrOZDvzV77Ow5U9JOTQ2oft9n8SUcNnbDWf6qNlW8L6MVYtSb/s2048/stewartia2021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1895" data-original-width="2048" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi7MIGudq1DF-WMAOmnBgHgIDVFuDwXRoTVuH1q68SCrPlaRwVp9QwuSlFqc6I9AKsaorVBmvUlN2yma7fr0iXPCZhsxnrOZDvzV77Ow5U9JOTQ2oft9n8SUcNnbDWf6qNlW8L6MVYtSb/w400-h370/stewartia2021.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Giant clover (<i>Trifolium ochroleucum</i>) grows beneath it and flowers at the same time. It's a bit of a stretch to call it white since the flowers are partly green and the petals quite quickly turn to cream but for a little while it fits the description.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjopYO97pCAZD79xdca0UwwYe7Vbv0zvneVNCDraiycj0iZ7g1nkBRHCXIn6ZVtQnbececbgsZY2lM2GW-Dt74uO_anvtNmjPYsJFtshakYGR7vCadWOHQeuIyohVLr4sObUEClE7enNJ/s2048/Trifoliumochro21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="2048" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjopYO97pCAZD79xdca0UwwYe7Vbv0zvneVNCDraiycj0iZ7g1nkBRHCXIn6ZVtQnbececbgsZY2lM2GW-Dt74uO_anvtNmjPYsJFtshakYGR7vCadWOHQeuIyohVLr4sObUEClE7enNJ/w640-h504/Trifoliumochro21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It is makes a sturdy clump that needs dividing every few years, but is not at all invasive like some of its cousins. </div><div><br /></div><div>The same can't be said of <i>Eryngium giganteum</i>, the giant thistle better known as Miss Willmott's Ghost. This biennial plant is inclined to seed itself around, and small offspring have to be pulled out before their tenacious tap roots get too strong a grip. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful sight in flower, perhaps more silver and green than white.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_YQd8x5bMdObiI3r2LydaV1G8NzQnDX7gCCAuAwDscQU9Vfa6cA_LpGYpxCetox6vn8zde98e1Zi0ozG6YemeBvbfL4D9X5jeP4LkzCBKJiKkiDwXfpF4DNE30eYfaXaPT8mjqPVyHyv/s2048/Eryngigantium21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1868" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_YQd8x5bMdObiI3r2LydaV1G8NzQnDX7gCCAuAwDscQU9Vfa6cA_LpGYpxCetox6vn8zde98e1Zi0ozG6YemeBvbfL4D9X5jeP4LkzCBKJiKkiDwXfpF4DNE30eYfaXaPT8mjqPVyHyv/w584-h640/Eryngigantium21.jpeg" width="584" /></a></div><br /><div>Harvested and allowed to dry naturally, the flowers make excellent additions to dried flower arrangements, slowly turning the colour of old linen.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-56736204897835875642021-07-28T15:44:00.004-07:002021-08-24T17:03:17.239-07:00Summer Whites<p> Gardens are rich in many different colours during the summer months, but just to continue the colour theme I started in April, I'm going to focus on white for this post. </p><p><i>Ranuculus aconitifolius</i> 'Flore Pleno'is a long name for a small button of a flower. What it lacks in individual size, however, it makes up for in generosity of blooms.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHyC-5IRndhq9DhMTF-59_F4cjZGfkEIC6XjBPPVQ-xMazoizLRa02VsV8LYuMrObTm8AoiTDZSmN1NGklIcfIAAMGp_Aa7pqkPNjW8CW9FdMHaNwd_h4tsjniysjF39felDdyt_Av7a_/s2048/RanuncFlorePleno21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="2048" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHyC-5IRndhq9DhMTF-59_F4cjZGfkEIC6XjBPPVQ-xMazoizLRa02VsV8LYuMrObTm8AoiTDZSmN1NGklIcfIAAMGp_Aa7pqkPNjW8CW9FdMHaNwd_h4tsjniysjF39felDdyt_Av7a_/w640-h440/RanuncFlorePleno21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Although it is a member of the buttercup family, it doesn't run. I have two plants side by side each making a sturdy clump that remains quite narrow at the base while spreading twice as wide at the top to make a cloud of bloom. I find that quite a few white flowers turn an unattractive pink as they age, but this perennial stays fresh-looking right until it starts to die. Various sources recommend it for boggy areas and it could probably use more water than it gets in my garden, but it doesn't seem to mind.</p><p>Brightening the shade garden in late June, <i>Gillenia trifoliata</i> spreads its constellation of dainty white stars over its lower neighbours. Reddish stems and calyces only heighten its pristine effect. It was a surprise to learn that it's a member of the rose family.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGTGdHD4NV1u7axQx_1lionOFM6XN1LagwCLtBadvDv0zQ8HIOFZX4C50Xd_A0qPyiz7jvTcd_UiyDSLI2c5UN6rGaK9FbzWbbseyGJwnHwiiBZQn3hLVnjz6yOwbzFduWc0PCGb6AGm1/s2048/Gillenia21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGTGdHD4NV1u7axQx_1lionOFM6XN1LagwCLtBadvDv0zQ8HIOFZX4C50Xd_A0qPyiz7jvTcd_UiyDSLI2c5UN6rGaK9FbzWbbseyGJwnHwiiBZQn3hLVnjz6yOwbzFduWc0PCGb6AGm1/w640-h480/Gillenia21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>By the end of July it will have completed its bloom cycle and be overpowered in its turn by the dark leaves of Actea 'Hillside Black Beauty' and the pleated green ones of Hosta 'Krossa Regal'.</p><p>Also enjoying the shade is <i>Astrantia major</i>, whose flowers have a more substantial presence. The stamens start out pink but gradually turn greenish-white like the central flower in this cluster. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkjD4TrZfUm4rV_zIjOckfGDLhfmAMuthaGX2iOC_uv7JM7KrUR15cFv21v3khfrkB-PkmHgNZjXPqEL44eY_rUTQeUvUoNaSjJ0dFvGWsX25DXxKQXBPUDWgZZkJ2up3mgZfwZCZW5AD/s2048/Astrantia2021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="2048" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkjD4TrZfUm4rV_zIjOckfGDLhfmAMuthaGX2iOC_uv7JM7KrUR15cFv21v3khfrkB-PkmHgNZjXPqEL44eY_rUTQeUvUoNaSjJ0dFvGWsX25DXxKQXBPUDWgZZkJ2up3mgZfwZCZW5AD/w640-h538/Astrantia2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>This particular plant is self-sown as the Astrantia family is inclined to do, but plants that will flower in dark corners are not common and its easy to edit out unwanted seedlings.</p><p>Another shade lover is my tree hydrangea (<i>Hydrangea aspera</i> ssp. <i>sargentiana</i>) Its flowers are actually the tiny purple dots in the centre, but I'm including it here for the fringe of pristine white bracts that give each bloom the look of an exploding firework.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnXu8nkxs1nUzOIfzxMlAKS1P1Bi3qUF8ft39kfQnJH1T7GHDzLRtgfCb1ityPb08eYVc2s5Imek7D59YWR_CrSNVJtvaOP2lgv-fwG23W1n68iIdXoVPQPERZXbfzvX3vfmz9Q2fm1An/s2048/Hydrangeassarg21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnXu8nkxs1nUzOIfzxMlAKS1P1Bi3qUF8ft39kfQnJH1T7GHDzLRtgfCb1ityPb08eYVc2s5Imek7D59YWR_CrSNVJtvaOP2lgv-fwG23W1n68iIdXoVPQPERZXbfzvX3vfmz9Q2fm1An/w640-h418/Hydrangeassarg21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">Rosa</i><span style="text-align: left;"> 'Lykkefund' prefers bright sunshine. Every year it extends its reach along the west fence, casting its powerful scent across the whole garden on warm summer evenings. Huge trusses of flowers cascade down behind whatever is blooming below. Here they are providing a backdrop to a stand of electric blue aconites.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Bqo7G1v30T4tpbvSerfII9mQgpPtJcF3JTAwc5LViXNEQGcaEPg5-zvebr-3zFZxAxdroyF1PIAEdjXvNWT1YoMxvuN3XR5muFPXDSuOLrMFRAg-9-HC7VbvWN6xX_4XSuZqyhX3Z41d/s2048/lykkefund2021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Bqo7G1v30T4tpbvSerfII9mQgpPtJcF3JTAwc5LViXNEQGcaEPg5-zvebr-3zFZxAxdroyF1PIAEdjXvNWT1YoMxvuN3XR5muFPXDSuOLrMFRAg-9-HC7VbvWN6xX_4XSuZqyhX3Z41d/w640-h486/lykkefund2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Although the effect is of a white curtain, a close inspection of individual flowers shows them to have golden stamens and pale salmon-pink buds.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj1AZyLGmsBPAGj8yOjNMY-GbGjvWJWcxkM_-nByqk2nq0pn9yXahyyy_LsEzYrBF_YVB15WX-uWSImyNvPyt3jZz5npzW0O2nD162cS6xkBPMpJDSfQL6B3SeDQR8UTYWICpO4Ten2U7/s2048/R.Lyk16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj1AZyLGmsBPAGj8yOjNMY-GbGjvWJWcxkM_-nByqk2nq0pn9yXahyyy_LsEzYrBF_YVB15WX-uWSImyNvPyt3jZz5npzW0O2nD162cS6xkBPMpJDSfQL6B3SeDQR8UTYWICpO4Ten2U7/w640-h480/R.Lyk16.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Across the garden on the east fence, <i>Clematis</i> 'Huldine' also provides a curtain of white. Like the rose its buds are deceptive, being striped in two shades of pink, but as the flowers open to show only their upper surfaces, they glisten satin-white in the sunshine.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYWaCwKnyU47Rt7N79WZ_NLL4_62tTOopCxNo1Ro4Xk9al_Oj-ZovMaVVAJjAh0aSUSCVQ0SGtt1bRhxGFxqtcXGFXMSI2sZBvXF_fghJR1WCiwT1VZ4IUTWCqc0LuhvHBb_OrocgvQKC/s2048/C.Huldine2020.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2048" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYWaCwKnyU47Rt7N79WZ_NLL4_62tTOopCxNo1Ro4Xk9al_Oj-ZovMaVVAJjAh0aSUSCVQ0SGtt1bRhxGFxqtcXGFXMSI2sZBvXF_fghJR1WCiwT1VZ4IUTWCqc0LuhvHBb_OrocgvQKC/w640-h394/C.Huldine2020.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Also enjoying the sun is <i>Stewartia pseudocamellia</i>. It's easy to see how this tall slender tree got the pseudocamellia part of its name as soon as it flowers. Some people call it poached egg tree but I feel that doesn't do justice to the elegant fringed white flowers that do indeed imitate camellias.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi7MIGudq1DF-WMAOmnBgHgIDVFuDwXRoTVuH1q68SCrPlaRwVp9QwuSlFqc6I9AKsaorVBmvUlN2yma7fr0iXPCZhsxnrOZDvzV77Ow5U9JOTQ2oft9n8SUcNnbDWf6qNlW8L6MVYtSb/s2048/stewartia2021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1895" data-original-width="2048" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi7MIGudq1DF-WMAOmnBgHgIDVFuDwXRoTVuH1q68SCrPlaRwVp9QwuSlFqc6I9AKsaorVBmvUlN2yma7fr0iXPCZhsxnrOZDvzV77Ow5U9JOTQ2oft9n8SUcNnbDWf6qNlW8L6MVYtSb/w400-h370/stewartia2021.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Giant clover (<i>Trifolium ochroleucum</i>) grows beneath it and flowers at the same time. It's a bit of a stretch to call it white since the flowers are partly green and the petals quite quickly turn to cream but for a little while it fits the description.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjopYO97pCAZD79xdca0UwwYe7Vbv0zvneVNCDraiycj0iZ7g1nkBRHCXIn6ZVtQnbececbgsZY2lM2GW-Dt74uO_anvtNmjPYsJFtshakYGR7vCadWOHQeuIyohVLr4sObUEClE7enNJ/s2048/Trifoliumochro21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="2048" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjopYO97pCAZD79xdca0UwwYe7Vbv0zvneVNCDraiycj0iZ7g1nkBRHCXIn6ZVtQnbececbgsZY2lM2GW-Dt74uO_anvtNmjPYsJFtshakYGR7vCadWOHQeuIyohVLr4sObUEClE7enNJ/w640-h504/Trifoliumochro21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It is makes a sturdy clump that needs dividing every few years, but is not at all invasive like some of its cousins. </div><div><br /></div><div>The same can't be said of <i>Eryngium giganteum</i>, the giant thistle better known as Miss Willmott's Ghost. This biennial plant is inclined to seed itself around, and small offspring have to be pulled out before their tenacious tap roots get too strong a grip. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful sight in flower, perhaps more silver and green than white.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_YQd8x5bMdObiI3r2LydaV1G8NzQnDX7gCCAuAwDscQU9Vfa6cA_LpGYpxCetox6vn8zde98e1Zi0ozG6YemeBvbfL4D9X5jeP4LkzCBKJiKkiDwXfpF4DNE30eYfaXaPT8mjqPVyHyv/s2048/Eryngigantium21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1868" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_YQd8x5bMdObiI3r2LydaV1G8NzQnDX7gCCAuAwDscQU9Vfa6cA_LpGYpxCetox6vn8zde98e1Zi0ozG6YemeBvbfL4D9X5jeP4LkzCBKJiKkiDwXfpF4DNE30eYfaXaPT8mjqPVyHyv/w584-h640/Eryngigantium21.jpeg" width="584" /></a></div><br /><div>Harvested and allowed to dry naturally, the flowers make excellent additions to dried flower arrangements, slowly turning the colour of old linen.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-82888313861942125612021-06-12T12:35:00.005-07:002023-04-17T11:55:27.647-07:00 MAYTIME BLUES<p> If April is yellow, then May is blue - at least, it is in my garden.</p><p>One of the most vibrant blues comes from <i>Geranium </i>'Terre Franche', whose wiry flower stems rise above a compact clump of contrasting green foliage.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N7z8ZeYcSekx7n6YNgPoXQycFZK_H9I6ToysEphl3673GW27OQZSYoU9Q65xI4Lgd6Sqi3fLUgAB_Us18Er2WkruH-itGQtFnV5dO_EbXc9eU-oi-SJ7WcKaubdQdYYJoKH978qNHX5c/s2048/GeraniumTF21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1416" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N7z8ZeYcSekx7n6YNgPoXQycFZK_H9I6ToysEphl3673GW27OQZSYoU9Q65xI4Lgd6Sqi3fLUgAB_Us18Er2WkruH-itGQtFnV5dO_EbXc9eU-oi-SJ7WcKaubdQdYYJoKH978qNHX5c/w442-h640/GeraniumTF21.jpeg" width="442" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCdXcTF8eRua9EQbbLbp944_6ks_Buuj297m2fn7NcKcVRyedjSntGc1ZQOCQmrVY5LwCVH38Ot8X9IfVrby1z_ZrJJIUO_YmGrSEAtK4AeTd2F-StUKzC-vJ5zMYhG_vF0uNBfy-ndeK/s2048/GErTerreFranche%253Acu21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1581" data-original-width="2048" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCdXcTF8eRua9EQbbLbp944_6ks_Buuj297m2fn7NcKcVRyedjSntGc1ZQOCQmrVY5LwCVH38Ot8X9IfVrby1z_ZrJJIUO_YmGrSEAtK4AeTd2F-StUKzC-vJ5zMYhG_vF0uNBfy-ndeK/w400-h309/GErTerreFranche%253Acu21.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Close by, spikes of <i>Salvia officinalis</i>, the familiar kitchen sage, bloom in similar colours but contrasting shape.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaozqrWaP-Q2hUYk0zYygFJAdqTW4r2v6yl398A5W-iKrYg-VEJo6q8xiqTs4phCfNWFB7Pe6FEpn-3hS9IlzPYSFQYwg-QrVSvbyW3iOIZV9ziRQeByM2ssZwoPecz0xd3m88T58Wt6Rd/s2048/Salviaoffic2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2048" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaozqrWaP-Q2hUYk0zYygFJAdqTW4r2v6yl398A5W-iKrYg-VEJo6q8xiqTs4phCfNWFB7Pe6FEpn-3hS9IlzPYSFQYwg-QrVSvbyW3iOIZV9ziRQeByM2ssZwoPecz0xd3m88T58Wt6Rd/w640-h500/Salviaoffic2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It may not be quite as attractive to me as the geranium, but it is certainly more so to the bees that bustle around it. A single hummingbird is another daily visitor. This year both the sage and the geranium have been particularly luxuriant and I've had to pin them from back from competing to block the narrow path that divides them.</p><p><i>Iris pallida</i> 'Variegata' is worth having for just for its decorative leaves, and becomes even more dramatic when its blue flowers open.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kjobifaa2bZ7M3yTjrbQuvgRa8FRA-F370QzRJUeJ27V_8bOZIQ7gMiQ0OGogpORHwJAcQu7g-ct8AgNhM1HBSrRdjndSSFDdmRtlE0lUMVO-MTYfHxmM6xzz5M3jrSSlUD8aauK5ATD/s2048/IrispallidaVariegata21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1866" data-original-width="2048" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kjobifaa2bZ7M3yTjrbQuvgRa8FRA-F370QzRJUeJ27V_8bOZIQ7gMiQ0OGogpORHwJAcQu7g-ct8AgNhM1HBSrRdjndSSFDdmRtlE0lUMVO-MTYfHxmM6xzz5M3jrSSlUD8aauK5ATD/w640-h584/IrispallidaVariegata21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> It's now such a large clump that I'm making a note to divide it this winter. The only problem is going to be where to find space for the extras.<p></p><p>To the left of it, a quite different iris, less showy but to my eyes more elegant, is sending slim spears of flowers up behind our little water feature. It came to me unnamed but I think it is <i>Iris sibirica</i> 'Shaker's Prayer'. That's a lovely name so until I hear otherwise that's what I'm calling it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK85gwimMzEIX7_zQRqEVTeQhgGVbdGbeoeKEggZwil-Yl_ejADTor5t3Gr5kM3gyX7aIuY823OlL10NUtjTnX7UB8D-kqjWB0_mH_eXzxMnjq4IjIrMctyAjDnDknqC3PL3YdBb1WJ2I/s2048/IrisShakersPrayer2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK85gwimMzEIX7_zQRqEVTeQhgGVbdGbeoeKEggZwil-Yl_ejADTor5t3Gr5kM3gyX7aIuY823OlL10NUtjTnX7UB8D-kqjWB0_mH_eXzxMnjq4IjIrMctyAjDnDknqC3PL3YdBb1WJ2I/w480-h640/IrisShakersPrayer2021.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I have three clumps of it that, with the bamboo screening behind, give a slightly Japanese air to this corner of the garden. It's a shy bloomer for me because it's in shade for at least half a day. Ideally it would like more sun.</p><p>A bolder combination occupies a dominant position in the middle of the garden. The lime-tinted leaves of oakleaf hydrangea 'Sikes Dwarf' look as if they have suddenly sprouted large cobalt-blue flowers. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChXAYfAZJG3eEeccV-bUKR7vVyDMe_ufegHyy4M0-ekYcNIeN2dtW02r7Lab7b3AT3Chr2fULzf5aCenS4TDCBf5NQ46wyOsehokrCc5AcT-Jt5anwbYq25SXAbUQSpCsbbCBOaXPNvcO/s2022/Cdurandii%253Ahydrangea2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1957" data-original-width="2022" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChXAYfAZJG3eEeccV-bUKR7vVyDMe_ufegHyy4M0-ekYcNIeN2dtW02r7Lab7b3AT3Chr2fULzf5aCenS4TDCBf5NQ46wyOsehokrCc5AcT-Jt5anwbYq25SXAbUQSpCsbbCBOaXPNvcO/w640-h620/Cdurandii%253Ahydrangea2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>In fact, these blooms belong to<i> Clematis</i> x <i>durandii</i> which is planted underneath. This clematis lacks the clinging tendrils of most vining clematis and needs a host like the hydrangea to scramble through. The two plants combine so well that visitors are occasionally fooled into thinking it a single plant.</p><p><i>Ajuga reptans</i> has the mystifying common name of Bugle. A vigorous spreader, it's perfect for my sidewalk garden, which is home to various plants too enthusiastic for the main garden. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMtbfVBDYmRYILHmqb_b6tD2MwQKbJ189HqzdCB6EVMjSqCvHUfG62O_E7xtmYjDRvCfTJ0MnXsvRQKiftF7ZeUX2c8F6u6eMhmCEW2JMwjt7gonGgbVuShJ090vNFyBdeKyL6xRJoXxB/s2048/Ajuga2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMtbfVBDYmRYILHmqb_b6tD2MwQKbJ189HqzdCB6EVMjSqCvHUfG62O_E7xtmYjDRvCfTJ0MnXsvRQKiftF7ZeUX2c8F6u6eMhmCEW2JMwjt7gonGgbVuShJ090vNFyBdeKyL6xRJoXxB/w640-h480/Ajuga2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Anything that will survive in these dry beds, infested by roots from the street maple, is welcome here.</p><p>There are few plants that will cope with all-day shade but one that seems unfazed is <i>Corydalis temulifolia</i> 'Chocolate Stars'. Its pale blue tubular flowers are floppy, but they brighten a gloomy corner on the north side of the house. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwbo7GcW5DhzXe2KNUJCMVsR3GXknvmFHy8BCgbGYz3zXvTsnEttQW0tvfbehyphenhyphen18T72twfLQTT-vGz3m2uQrcMYRehysA9M_cVoHmQHHkUiSSWdX3EgQbS8adBPj7PSmnznb0uxu9umhi/s2048/Corydalis+temuli2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2048" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwbo7GcW5DhzXe2KNUJCMVsR3GXknvmFHy8BCgbGYz3zXvTsnEttQW0tvfbehyphenhyphen18T72twfLQTT-vGz3m2uQrcMYRehysA9M_cVoHmQHHkUiSSWdX3EgQbS8adBPj7PSmnznb0uxu9umhi/w640-h516/Corydalis+temuli2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>By the time it blooms, the foliage is a tender green so you might wonder at the name. However, the reason for it is not so much the flowers but the emerging foliage, which I've celebrated in an earlier post.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyD5NlMISLSZ8PkRFaimHSMZa2DHfSI8wcSayXstqN827R_fjiXtXQwgfwu-c_wnlZCb7Rh9R23v1So_5aqQot5rECLyvt2EvB7NiUCfKSfA49xo-UemzoWV2ean-psLlNDoTrYS3SE7M/s2048/Corydalis+quantmeyeriana.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="2048" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyD5NlMISLSZ8PkRFaimHSMZa2DHfSI8wcSayXstqN827R_fjiXtXQwgfwu-c_wnlZCb7Rh9R23v1So_5aqQot5rECLyvt2EvB7NiUCfKSfA49xo-UemzoWV2ean-psLlNDoTrYS3SE7M/w640-h440/Corydalis+quantmeyeriana.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div> <div>It used to be called <i>Corydalis quantmeyeriana</i> and is still occasionally sold under that name, but this is a rare instance where the nomenclature experts have given us a shorter, more pronounceable name than the old one.</div><div><br /></div><div>A last contender in the blue range is ice-blue <i>Amsonia hubrichtii</i>. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfRoyBvmwYCpaHskeSq7nb38Df82uhzpmYoQX7auzxlssUWAoxjv-zUwEYAG7euhrgJn5lpqxM8o7I3XNoZjgrzKjmOH5NzYNEfJQKwxrgq3A-zoxYyIrEmVCm-MzUBy19rNogq2KsAiB/s2048/Amsoniahub2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfRoyBvmwYCpaHskeSq7nb38Df82uhzpmYoQX7auzxlssUWAoxjv-zUwEYAG7euhrgJn5lpqxM8o7I3XNoZjgrzKjmOH5NzYNEfJQKwxrgq3A-zoxYyIrEmVCm-MzUBy19rNogq2KsAiB/w640-h430/Amsoniahub2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>It's unusual to find flowers this pale and it needs a suitable companion not to look washed out, so I'm happy to find it a good companion for the muted pink flowers of Astrantia 'Roma'. </p><p>In the fall, the Amsonia's feathery leaves will turn golden, making it a really good two-season addition to the garden.</p></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-17119789902900508802021-06-12T12:35:00.004-07:002021-06-12T12:37:07.516-07:00 MAYTIME BLUES<p> If April is yellow, then May is blue - at least, it is in my garden.</p><p>One of the most vibrant blues comes from <i>Geranium </i>'Terre Franche', whose wiry flower stems rise above a compact clump of contrasting green foliage.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N7z8ZeYcSekx7n6YNgPoXQycFZK_H9I6ToysEphl3673GW27OQZSYoU9Q65xI4Lgd6Sqi3fLUgAB_Us18Er2WkruH-itGQtFnV5dO_EbXc9eU-oi-SJ7WcKaubdQdYYJoKH978qNHX5c/s2048/GeraniumTF21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1416" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N7z8ZeYcSekx7n6YNgPoXQycFZK_H9I6ToysEphl3673GW27OQZSYoU9Q65xI4Lgd6Sqi3fLUgAB_Us18Er2WkruH-itGQtFnV5dO_EbXc9eU-oi-SJ7WcKaubdQdYYJoKH978qNHX5c/w442-h640/GeraniumTF21.jpeg" width="442" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCdXcTF8eRua9EQbbLbp944_6ks_Buuj297m2fn7NcKcVRyedjSntGc1ZQOCQmrVY5LwCVH38Ot8X9IfVrby1z_ZrJJIUO_YmGrSEAtK4AeTd2F-StUKzC-vJ5zMYhG_vF0uNBfy-ndeK/s2048/GErTerreFranche%253Acu21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1581" data-original-width="2048" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCdXcTF8eRua9EQbbLbp944_6ks_Buuj297m2fn7NcKcVRyedjSntGc1ZQOCQmrVY5LwCVH38Ot8X9IfVrby1z_ZrJJIUO_YmGrSEAtK4AeTd2F-StUKzC-vJ5zMYhG_vF0uNBfy-ndeK/w400-h309/GErTerreFranche%253Acu21.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Close by, spikes of <i>Salvia officinalis</i>, the familiar kitchen sage, bloom in similar colours but contrasting shape.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaozqrWaP-Q2hUYk0zYygFJAdqTW4r2v6yl398A5W-iKrYg-VEJo6q8xiqTs4phCfNWFB7Pe6FEpn-3hS9IlzPYSFQYwg-QrVSvbyW3iOIZV9ziRQeByM2ssZwoPecz0xd3m88T58Wt6Rd/s2048/Salviaoffic2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2048" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaozqrWaP-Q2hUYk0zYygFJAdqTW4r2v6yl398A5W-iKrYg-VEJo6q8xiqTs4phCfNWFB7Pe6FEpn-3hS9IlzPYSFQYwg-QrVSvbyW3iOIZV9ziRQeByM2ssZwoPecz0xd3m88T58Wt6Rd/w640-h500/Salviaoffic2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It may not be quite as attractive to me as the geranium, but it is certainly more so to the bees that bustle around it. A single hummingbird is another daily visitor. This year both the sage and the geranium have been particularly luxuriant and I've had to pin them from back from competing to block the narrow path that divides them.</p><p><i>Iris pallida</i> 'Variegata' is worth having for just for its decorative leaves, and becomes even more dramatic when its blue flowers open.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kjobifaa2bZ7M3yTjrbQuvgRa8FRA-F370QzRJUeJ27V_8bOZIQ7gMiQ0OGogpORHwJAcQu7g-ct8AgNhM1HBSrRdjndSSFDdmRtlE0lUMVO-MTYfHxmM6xzz5M3jrSSlUD8aauK5ATD/s2048/IrispallidaVariegata21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1866" data-original-width="2048" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kjobifaa2bZ7M3yTjrbQuvgRa8FRA-F370QzRJUeJ27V_8bOZIQ7gMiQ0OGogpORHwJAcQu7g-ct8AgNhM1HBSrRdjndSSFDdmRtlE0lUMVO-MTYfHxmM6xzz5M3jrSSlUD8aauK5ATD/w640-h584/IrispallidaVariegata21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> It's now such a large clump that I'm making a note to divide it this winter. The only problem is going to be where to find space for the extras.<p></p><p>To the left of it, a quite different iris, less showy but to my eyes more elegant, is sending slim spears of flowers up behind our little water feature. It came to me unnamed but I think it is <i>Iris sibirica</i> 'Shaker's Prayer'. That's a lovely name so until I hear otherwise that's what I'm calling it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK85gwimMzEIX7_zQRqEVTeQhgGVbdGbeoeKEggZwil-Yl_ejADTor5t3Gr5kM3gyX7aIuY823OlL10NUtjTnX7UB8D-kqjWB0_mH_eXzxMnjq4IjIrMctyAjDnDknqC3PL3YdBb1WJ2I/s2048/IrisShakersPrayer2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK85gwimMzEIX7_zQRqEVTeQhgGVbdGbeoeKEggZwil-Yl_ejADTor5t3Gr5kM3gyX7aIuY823OlL10NUtjTnX7UB8D-kqjWB0_mH_eXzxMnjq4IjIrMctyAjDnDknqC3PL3YdBb1WJ2I/w480-h640/IrisShakersPrayer2021.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I have three clumps of it that, with the bamboo screening behind, give a slightly Japanese air to this corner of the garden. It's a shy bloomer for me because it's in shade for at least half a day. Ideally it would like more sun.</p><p>A bolder combination occupies a dominant position in the middle of the garden. The lime-tinted leaves of oakleaf hydrangea 'Sikes Dwarf' look as if they have suddenly sprouted large cobalt-blue flowers. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChXAYfAZJG3eEeccV-bUKR7vVyDMe_ufegHyy4M0-ekYcNIeN2dtW02r7Lab7b3AT3Chr2fULzf5aCenS4TDCBf5NQ46wyOsehokrCc5AcT-Jt5anwbYq25SXAbUQSpCsbbCBOaXPNvcO/s2022/Cdurandii%253Ahydrangea2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1957" data-original-width="2022" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChXAYfAZJG3eEeccV-bUKR7vVyDMe_ufegHyy4M0-ekYcNIeN2dtW02r7Lab7b3AT3Chr2fULzf5aCenS4TDCBf5NQ46wyOsehokrCc5AcT-Jt5anwbYq25SXAbUQSpCsbbCBOaXPNvcO/w640-h620/Cdurandii%253Ahydrangea2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>In fact, these blooms belong to<i> Clematis</i> x <i>durandii</i> which is planted underneath. This clematis lacks the clinging tendrils of most vining clematis and needs a host like the hydrangea to scramble through. The two plants combine so well that visitors are occasionally fooled into thinking it a single plant.</p><p><i>Ajuga reptans</i> has the mystifying common name of Bugle. A vigorous spreader, it's perfect for my sidewalk garden, which is home to various plants too enthusiastic for the main garden. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMtbfVBDYmRYILHmqb_b6tD2MwQKbJ189HqzdCB6EVMjSqCvHUfG62O_E7xtmYjDRvCfTJ0MnXsvRQKiftF7ZeUX2c8F6u6eMhmCEW2JMwjt7gonGgbVuShJ090vNFyBdeKyL6xRJoXxB/s2048/Ajuga2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMtbfVBDYmRYILHmqb_b6tD2MwQKbJ189HqzdCB6EVMjSqCvHUfG62O_E7xtmYjDRvCfTJ0MnXsvRQKiftF7ZeUX2c8F6u6eMhmCEW2JMwjt7gonGgbVuShJ090vNFyBdeKyL6xRJoXxB/w640-h480/Ajuga2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Anything that will survive in these dry beds, infested by roots from the street maple, is welcome here.</p><p>There are few plants that will cope with all-day shade but one that seems unfazed is <i>Corydalis temulifolia</i> 'Chocolate Stars'. Its pale blue tubular flowers are floppy, but they brighten a gloomy corner on the north side of the house. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwbo7GcW5DhzXe2KNUJCMVsR3GXknvmFHy8BCgbGYz3zXvTsnEttQW0tvfbehyphenhyphen18T72twfLQTT-vGz3m2uQrcMYRehysA9M_cVoHmQHHkUiSSWdX3EgQbS8adBPj7PSmnznb0uxu9umhi/s2048/Corydalis+temuli2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2048" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwbo7GcW5DhzXe2KNUJCMVsR3GXknvmFHy8BCgbGYz3zXvTsnEttQW0tvfbehyphenhyphen18T72twfLQTT-vGz3m2uQrcMYRehysA9M_cVoHmQHHkUiSSWdX3EgQbS8adBPj7PSmnznb0uxu9umhi/w640-h516/Corydalis+temuli2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>By the time it blooms, the foliage is a tender green so you might wonder at the name. However, the reason for it is not so much the flowers but the emerging foliage, which I've celebrated in an earlier post.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyD5NlMISLSZ8PkRFaimHSMZa2DHfSI8wcSayXstqN827R_fjiXtXQwgfwu-c_wnlZCb7Rh9R23v1So_5aqQot5rECLyvt2EvB7NiUCfKSfA49xo-UemzoWV2ean-psLlNDoTrYS3SE7M/s2048/Corydalis+quantmeyeriana.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="2048" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyD5NlMISLSZ8PkRFaimHSMZa2DHfSI8wcSayXstqN827R_fjiXtXQwgfwu-c_wnlZCb7Rh9R23v1So_5aqQot5rECLyvt2EvB7NiUCfKSfA49xo-UemzoWV2ean-psLlNDoTrYS3SE7M/w640-h440/Corydalis+quantmeyeriana.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div> <div>It used to be called <i>Corydalis quantmeyeriana</i> and is still occasionally sold under that name, but this is a rare instance where the nomenclature experts have given us a shorter, more pronounceable name than the old one.</div><div><br /></div><div>A last contender in the blue range is ice-blue <i>Amsonia hubrichtii</i>. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfRoyBvmwYCpaHskeSq7nb38Df82uhzpmYoQX7auzxlssUWAoxjv-zUwEYAG7euhrgJn5lpqxM8o7I3XNoZjgrzKjmOH5NzYNEfJQKwxrgq3A-zoxYyIrEmVCm-MzUBy19rNogq2KsAiB/s2048/Amsoniahub2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfRoyBvmwYCpaHskeSq7nb38Df82uhzpmYoQX7auzxlssUWAoxjv-zUwEYAG7euhrgJn5lpqxM8o7I3XNoZjgrzKjmOH5NzYNEfJQKwxrgq3A-zoxYyIrEmVCm-MzUBy19rNogq2KsAiB/w640-h430/Amsoniahub2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>It's unusual to find flowers this pale and it needs a suitable companion not to look washed out, so I'm happy to find it a good companion for the muted pink flowers of Astrantia 'Roma'. </p><p>In the fall, the Amsonia's feathery leaves will turn golden, making it a really good two-season addition to the garden.</p></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-55031515629015760642021-04-07T16:34:00.003-07:002023-04-17T11:55:28.036-07:00Spring is Yellow<p> Of course, there are other colours in spring gardens, particularly the bright greens of emerging foliage, but it always strikes me how many April flowers are rich or pale reflections of the sunshine we also welcome to our gardens at this time of year.</p><p>Daffodils are a spring staple and I've already enthused over 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation', which has almost gone before the end of March.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy_57HLzTgVu3uIxaDgrzxY_zy01-veIgdD_oGX-H_h08SX3hgFNSRVB2ISA62onaK4ZfIFYiylhjLH7vYhYMkD73tlNwVXII2bKc8crK3MWx2ck0Z_ZFkv1yWYo7oN9Sx_oTTOWeIk2p/s2048/narcissusRijn.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy_57HLzTgVu3uIxaDgrzxY_zy01-veIgdD_oGX-H_h08SX3hgFNSRVB2ISA62onaK4ZfIFYiylhjLH7vYhYMkD73tlNwVXII2bKc8crK3MWx2ck0Z_ZFkv1yWYo7oN9Sx_oTTOWeIk2p/w640-h480/narcissusRijn.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Just as it fades, 'Jack Snipe' opens.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvknY0CnIPGGEdbLSoMI8dFNvFtOrl3lS09anuXaQlxMVsokSzLWPamEJ2UAr_eojqeFNGzBe_hu_m7PPE3ljjpBlUpexRzKM1owiLeEYFRq6vNx1Lq-quwRtg2xhaHEJftQmMsF_ccci/s2048/IMG_7567.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvknY0CnIPGGEdbLSoMI8dFNvFtOrl3lS09anuXaQlxMVsokSzLWPamEJ2UAr_eojqeFNGzBe_hu_m7PPE3ljjpBlUpexRzKM1owiLeEYFRq6vNx1Lq-quwRtg2xhaHEJftQmMsF_ccci/w640-h368/IMG_7567.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I like this narcissus for its airy presence, as if it's on the point of taking flight. Being less bold in both size and colour than Rijnveld's creation, it blends better with other delicate spring hues. Another attribute is how quickly it forms large clumps, allowing me to spread it around the garden, as well as give some away to other gardeners.</p><p>This is also prime time for <i>Corylopsis pauciflora</i>, which is anchoring a corner by the house. I celebrate its flowering every year, and this year it seems better than ever.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmePYUv-44ZW8COpVRyrRe1XebIDr46Nhtkt8GY8-U-SDeUsz4goCq2jmjpVPj2x-aulf4vXdcbajlG4Ad3VCH5SVsc2EM9MyjLN64iU8e47078tLP6eEaPDS7dHQOvHYO-QeP_HT_Kpl/s2048/Corylopsis2021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmePYUv-44ZW8COpVRyrRe1XebIDr46Nhtkt8GY8-U-SDeUsz4goCq2jmjpVPj2x-aulf4vXdcbajlG4Ad3VCH5SVsc2EM9MyjLN64iU8e47078tLP6eEaPDS7dHQOvHYO-QeP_HT_Kpl/w640-h480/Corylopsis2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I tuck my birdbath under the overhanging branches so that only small birds like the house finches can get access to it. When I had it in a more exposed location, local crows were inclined to use it to wash various disgusting bits of food they'd salvaged from neighbouring green bins.</div><div>"Pauciflora" means "few flowers", which used to surprise me until I saw a specimen of <i>Corylopsis multiflora</i>, which has double flowers hanging in pairs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Under the <i>Corylopsis</i>, among blue-flowered Anemones, the slender stems of <i>Tulipa turkestanica</i> display their starry flowers with golden centres.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivvK9APGbILZYBkLlpx5K-qErksp2-jfV5hBwXk6-I3yiOXN34cHMILQZCdBhWFBtgRCEwWRMMRPiZv_2cFP7IzY0LKsvUDv7XPwtTCA4hpy-AcjXgaliRqQBHYrVN5WJddj4uPVQxb-A/s2048/IMG_7572.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivvK9APGbILZYBkLlpx5K-qErksp2-jfV5hBwXk6-I3yiOXN34cHMILQZCdBhWFBtgRCEwWRMMRPiZv_2cFP7IzY0LKsvUDv7XPwtTCA4hpy-AcjXgaliRqQBHYrVN5WJddj4uPVQxb-A/w640-h480/IMG_7572.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>They never spread as vigorously as I'd like, but they'd probably prefer conditions more like the stony hillsides of Central Asia that are their natural habitat.<br /><p>In the same bed are some snow crocus in complementary colours.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjWqWcikUNX-WIAv81m7GOFvo19G09wJzoGUIlIaU5fM58DOd1iHjgAwhyM95euTl0FRn_zWDFaHgnpZZ_aISx7bIHKwXNUC5q52vtOlX6MCmnhH1CpWFdpGPW1AFSDbiJlpEFAWFExll/s2048/crocusblue%253Ayellow.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1565" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjWqWcikUNX-WIAv81m7GOFvo19G09wJzoGUIlIaU5fM58DOd1iHjgAwhyM95euTl0FRn_zWDFaHgnpZZ_aISx7bIHKwXNUC5q52vtOlX6MCmnhH1CpWFdpGPW1AFSDbiJlpEFAWFExll/w306-h400/crocusblue%253Ayellow.jpeg" width="306" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think the yellow one is 'Cream Beauty', but as these came to me in an unmarked package, I'm only guessing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My last spring yellow is the aptly named <i>Ranunculus</i> 'Brazen Hussy'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XX9R8LkSMYv5PZE04iYxyHArsfIzx5DtIsqdoJCCSRV2rzmCwB3TRD5ocU03qmsyNXla2xy-Z5KUw7S6KMLfofqSNGZI2jTFfT3b438Vriz707yx-lfCTtRd82icojT4Wkw8D5ZW18mn/s2048/RanBrazenHussy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="2048" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XX9R8LkSMYv5PZE04iYxyHArsfIzx5DtIsqdoJCCSRV2rzmCwB3TRD5ocU03qmsyNXla2xy-Z5KUw7S6KMLfofqSNGZI2jTFfT3b438Vriz707yx-lfCTtRd82icojT4Wkw8D5ZW18mn/w640-h534/RanBrazenHussy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a small plant, but the combination of those waxy, golden flowers with the dark, metallic leaves creates a contrast that is hard to miss. Like a lot of its family it spreads, but so far only a little and only in its immediate vicinity. For now I've been happy to let it do that, and since it's easy to dig up, I'll have even more plants to share with friends if it gets too enthusiastic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-21284926427135812792021-04-07T16:34:00.002-07:002021-04-07T16:34:57.250-07:00Spring is Yellow<p> Of course, there are other colours in spring gardens, particularly the bright greens of emerging foliage, but it always strikes me how many April flowers are rich or pale reflections of the sunshine we also welcome to our gardens at this time of year.</p><p>Daffodils are a spring staple and I've already enthused over 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation', which has almost gone before the end of March.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy_57HLzTgVu3uIxaDgrzxY_zy01-veIgdD_oGX-H_h08SX3hgFNSRVB2ISA62onaK4ZfIFYiylhjLH7vYhYMkD73tlNwVXII2bKc8crK3MWx2ck0Z_ZFkv1yWYo7oN9Sx_oTTOWeIk2p/s2048/narcissusRijn.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy_57HLzTgVu3uIxaDgrzxY_zy01-veIgdD_oGX-H_h08SX3hgFNSRVB2ISA62onaK4ZfIFYiylhjLH7vYhYMkD73tlNwVXII2bKc8crK3MWx2ck0Z_ZFkv1yWYo7oN9Sx_oTTOWeIk2p/w640-h480/narcissusRijn.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Just as it fades, 'Jack Snipe' opens.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvknY0CnIPGGEdbLSoMI8dFNvFtOrl3lS09anuXaQlxMVsokSzLWPamEJ2UAr_eojqeFNGzBe_hu_m7PPE3ljjpBlUpexRzKM1owiLeEYFRq6vNx1Lq-quwRtg2xhaHEJftQmMsF_ccci/s2048/IMG_7567.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="2048" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvknY0CnIPGGEdbLSoMI8dFNvFtOrl3lS09anuXaQlxMVsokSzLWPamEJ2UAr_eojqeFNGzBe_hu_m7PPE3ljjpBlUpexRzKM1owiLeEYFRq6vNx1Lq-quwRtg2xhaHEJftQmMsF_ccci/w640-h368/IMG_7567.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I like this narcissus for its airy presence, as if it's on the point of taking flight. Being less bold in both size and colour than Rijnveld's creation, it blends better with other delicate spring hues. Another attribute is how quickly it forms large clumps, allowing me to spread it around the garden, as well as give some away to other gardeners.</p><p>This is also prime time for <i>Corylopsis pauciflora</i>, which is anchoring a corner by the house. I celebrate its flowering every year, and this year it seems better than ever.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmePYUv-44ZW8COpVRyrRe1XebIDr46Nhtkt8GY8-U-SDeUsz4goCq2jmjpVPj2x-aulf4vXdcbajlG4Ad3VCH5SVsc2EM9MyjLN64iU8e47078tLP6eEaPDS7dHQOvHYO-QeP_HT_Kpl/s2048/Corylopsis2021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmePYUv-44ZW8COpVRyrRe1XebIDr46Nhtkt8GY8-U-SDeUsz4goCq2jmjpVPj2x-aulf4vXdcbajlG4Ad3VCH5SVsc2EM9MyjLN64iU8e47078tLP6eEaPDS7dHQOvHYO-QeP_HT_Kpl/w640-h480/Corylopsis2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I tuck my birdbath under the overhanging branches so that only small birds like the house finches can get access to it. When I had it in a more exposed location, local crows were inclined to use it to wash various disgusting bits of food they'd salvaged from neighbouring green bins.</div><div>"Pauciflora" means "few flowers", which used to surprise me until I saw a specimen of <i>Corylopsis multiflora</i>, which has double flowers hanging in pairs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Under the <i>Corylopsis</i>, among blue-flowered Anemones, the slender stems of <i>Tulipa turkestanica</i> display their starry flowers with golden centres.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivvK9APGbILZYBkLlpx5K-qErksp2-jfV5hBwXk6-I3yiOXN34cHMILQZCdBhWFBtgRCEwWRMMRPiZv_2cFP7IzY0LKsvUDv7XPwtTCA4hpy-AcjXgaliRqQBHYrVN5WJddj4uPVQxb-A/s2048/IMG_7572.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivvK9APGbILZYBkLlpx5K-qErksp2-jfV5hBwXk6-I3yiOXN34cHMILQZCdBhWFBtgRCEwWRMMRPiZv_2cFP7IzY0LKsvUDv7XPwtTCA4hpy-AcjXgaliRqQBHYrVN5WJddj4uPVQxb-A/w640-h480/IMG_7572.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>They never spread as vigorously as I'd like, but they'd probably prefer conditions more like the stony hillsides of Central Asia that are their natural habitat.<br /><p>In the same bed are some snow crocus in complementary colours.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjWqWcikUNX-WIAv81m7GOFvo19G09wJzoGUIlIaU5fM58DOd1iHjgAwhyM95euTl0FRn_zWDFaHgnpZZ_aISx7bIHKwXNUC5q52vtOlX6MCmnhH1CpWFdpGPW1AFSDbiJlpEFAWFExll/s2048/crocusblue%253Ayellow.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1565" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjWqWcikUNX-WIAv81m7GOFvo19G09wJzoGUIlIaU5fM58DOd1iHjgAwhyM95euTl0FRn_zWDFaHgnpZZ_aISx7bIHKwXNUC5q52vtOlX6MCmnhH1CpWFdpGPW1AFSDbiJlpEFAWFExll/w306-h400/crocusblue%253Ayellow.jpeg" width="306" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think the yellow one is 'Cream Beauty', but as these came to me in an unmarked package, I'm only guessing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My last spring yellow is the aptly named <i>Ranunculus</i> 'Brazen Hussy'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XX9R8LkSMYv5PZE04iYxyHArsfIzx5DtIsqdoJCCSRV2rzmCwB3TRD5ocU03qmsyNXla2xy-Z5KUw7S6KMLfofqSNGZI2jTFfT3b438Vriz707yx-lfCTtRd82icojT4Wkw8D5ZW18mn/s2048/RanBrazenHussy.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="2048" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XX9R8LkSMYv5PZE04iYxyHArsfIzx5DtIsqdoJCCSRV2rzmCwB3TRD5ocU03qmsyNXla2xy-Z5KUw7S6KMLfofqSNGZI2jTFfT3b438Vriz707yx-lfCTtRd82icojT4Wkw8D5ZW18mn/w640-h534/RanBrazenHussy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a small plant, but the combination of those waxy, golden flowers with the dark, metallic leaves creates a contrast that is hard to miss. Like a lot of its family it spreads, but so far only a little and only in its immediate vicinity. For now I've been happy to let it do that, and since it's easy to dig up, I'll have even more plants to share with friends if it gets too enthusiastic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-68555021827682972232021-03-28T12:06:00.002-07:002023-04-17T11:55:28.429-07:00Hellebores Galore<p> One of the great pleasures of March is the blooming of the hellebores. I've posted photos of my small collection in previous years, but to see a whole drift of them, nothing beats a visit to VanDusen Botanical Garden here in Vancouver.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisz04BqsO3aMyTHsoprjuBazbZ7SwYJAk5-mqIg02fbZj6FaIdTnH8_q8wZfXy_jWGAK1eCFmlLCDM5zDCOf4c4u_vCjJEmEsPmA1MlkhA4i1TvxwvF0b_KKihkpS9zsFV1S7aebyxd8GI/s2048/helleboredriftVDG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisz04BqsO3aMyTHsoprjuBazbZ7SwYJAk5-mqIg02fbZj6FaIdTnH8_q8wZfXy_jWGAK1eCFmlLCDM5zDCOf4c4u_vCjJEmEsPmA1MlkhA4i1TvxwvF0b_KKihkpS9zsFV1S7aebyxd8GI/w640-h360/helleboredriftVDG.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>A slight drawback with many hellebores, especially the doubles, is that so many hang their heads, making it difficult to see the beauty of the inner petals. James, the gardener for this area, overcomes this by floating a selection of the flowers in wide shallow bowls.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDxyf2yb5ZRxiH_EbrwuzU3uCErJ5UhSVQPEt7EoJUEXz0jQgHzQ9R58d1Dj258C2u2FCz0veomkPs9ZRQ2xlAPGhW6YeiKf99XH4mKKqPbMt4dgkH814tDhLzoARS0IIoxrbzU1RpxgC/s2048/helleboresVanDusen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="2048" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDxyf2yb5ZRxiH_EbrwuzU3uCErJ5UhSVQPEt7EoJUEXz0jQgHzQ9R58d1Dj258C2u2FCz0veomkPs9ZRQ2xlAPGhW6YeiKf99XH4mKKqPbMt4dgkH814tDhLzoARS0IIoxrbzU1RpxgC/w640-h512/helleboresVanDusen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>This year I decided to follow his example, and although I had a limited supply of flowers in my little garden to choose from and had to settle for a smaller container, I'm still happy with my more modest display.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTFq75u9ep2SBzEuFCOyQNSlJ7Vl0pmr5ILVBkMAwm528to1HckiB0Ia5dExo3PTyQ4PCJ-WL7ckqjhnDDOXMQ66EBzFyBI0Uil09BMneHehZUkicV584JcxX4PFAJRvOGJERxNapIAfk/s2048/helleboresinbowl.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1785" data-original-width="2048" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTFq75u9ep2SBzEuFCOyQNSlJ7Vl0pmr5ILVBkMAwm528to1HckiB0Ia5dExo3PTyQ4PCJ-WL7ckqjhnDDOXMQ66EBzFyBI0Uil09BMneHehZUkicV584JcxX4PFAJRvOGJERxNapIAfk/w640-h558/helleboresinbowl.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-59432274154516441692021-03-28T12:06:00.001-07:002021-03-28T12:06:29.365-07:00Hellebores Galore<p> One of the great pleasures of March is the blooming of the hellebores. I've posted photos of my small collection in previous years, but to see a whole drift of them, nothing beats a visit to VanDusen Botanical Garden here in Vancouver.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisz04BqsO3aMyTHsoprjuBazbZ7SwYJAk5-mqIg02fbZj6FaIdTnH8_q8wZfXy_jWGAK1eCFmlLCDM5zDCOf4c4u_vCjJEmEsPmA1MlkhA4i1TvxwvF0b_KKihkpS9zsFV1S7aebyxd8GI/s2048/helleboredriftVDG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisz04BqsO3aMyTHsoprjuBazbZ7SwYJAk5-mqIg02fbZj6FaIdTnH8_q8wZfXy_jWGAK1eCFmlLCDM5zDCOf4c4u_vCjJEmEsPmA1MlkhA4i1TvxwvF0b_KKihkpS9zsFV1S7aebyxd8GI/w640-h360/helleboredriftVDG.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>A slight drawback with many hellebores, especially the doubles, is that so many hang their heads, making it difficult to see the beauty of the inner petals. James, the gardener for this area, overcomes this by floating a selection of the flowers in wide shallow bowls.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDxyf2yb5ZRxiH_EbrwuzU3uCErJ5UhSVQPEt7EoJUEXz0jQgHzQ9R58d1Dj258C2u2FCz0veomkPs9ZRQ2xlAPGhW6YeiKf99XH4mKKqPbMt4dgkH814tDhLzoARS0IIoxrbzU1RpxgC/s2048/helleboresVanDusen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="2048" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDxyf2yb5ZRxiH_EbrwuzU3uCErJ5UhSVQPEt7EoJUEXz0jQgHzQ9R58d1Dj258C2u2FCz0veomkPs9ZRQ2xlAPGhW6YeiKf99XH4mKKqPbMt4dgkH814tDhLzoARS0IIoxrbzU1RpxgC/w640-h512/helleboresVanDusen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>This year I decided to follow his example, and although I had a limited supply of flowers in my little garden to choose from and had to settle for a smaller container, I'm still happy with my more modest display.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTFq75u9ep2SBzEuFCOyQNSlJ7Vl0pmr5ILVBkMAwm528to1HckiB0Ia5dExo3PTyQ4PCJ-WL7ckqjhnDDOXMQ66EBzFyBI0Uil09BMneHehZUkicV584JcxX4PFAJRvOGJERxNapIAfk/s2048/helleboresinbowl.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1785" data-original-width="2048" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTFq75u9ep2SBzEuFCOyQNSlJ7Vl0pmr5ILVBkMAwm528to1HckiB0Ia5dExo3PTyQ4PCJ-WL7ckqjhnDDOXMQ66EBzFyBI0Uil09BMneHehZUkicV584JcxX4PFAJRvOGJERxNapIAfk/w640-h558/helleboresinbowl.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-26694149224128536022021-02-13T16:47:00.001-08:002023-04-17T11:55:28.817-07:00February Snow<p>In my last post I was celebrating the earliest flowers of the new year. Then yesterday it began to snow. The big goosefeather flakes melted almost as soon as they hit the ground, but this morning we woke to a heavier fall that had smothered most of the smaller plants.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCtPJx126R4ScsJMP5-NJ1Rw11EZHTxrVyHxoaORqOhNeWFTNs2mlhAAMEZ3e9-6gcMzMc7SIyaseEc0pI1YC1sSqSFIQ6Wb2PP6kkUSgxzfEDBwO9qJREsabMk-TT9veZD3934Zbjrvv/s2048/snowbackyd13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCtPJx126R4ScsJMP5-NJ1Rw11EZHTxrVyHxoaORqOhNeWFTNs2mlhAAMEZ3e9-6gcMzMc7SIyaseEc0pI1YC1sSqSFIQ6Wb2PP6kkUSgxzfEDBwO9qJREsabMk-TT9veZD3934Zbjrvv/w640-h481/snowbackyd13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The large box in the upper right corner is covering <i>Euphorbia</i> 'Glacier Blue' in the hope that it will survive these below-zero temperatures. Like most variegated plants it's on the tender side and I've had to replace it a couple of times after weather this cold. I'm afraid too, that Hellebore 'Cherry Blossom' that I featured in my previous post will have collapsed and won't recover - at least not this year, though its roots will probably survive.</p><p>What always amazes me is the hardiness of <i>Narcissus</i> 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation', also featured in my last post. Although flattened by the snow, it has already shoved its way through the white blanket and is carrying on flowering as though nothing has happened.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEUXkarkf8CEavvJmkxQZrehFaNlkJ6WRkky9udwbu-NnJ9MqxBXX1ArNFCW3isIJQmQv-fP8MkzZG09eGuLNEDpYbUaNSWPPVXFYRzdDSeSRpllP6lV5Eba8lPOUlj-mbYZtMKm0HKHJ/s2048/daffbuds13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1735" data-original-width="2048" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEUXkarkf8CEavvJmkxQZrehFaNlkJ6WRkky9udwbu-NnJ9MqxBXX1ArNFCW3isIJQmQv-fP8MkzZG09eGuLNEDpYbUaNSWPPVXFYRzdDSeSRpllP6lV5Eba8lPOUlj-mbYZtMKm0HKHJ/w640-h542/daffbuds13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3gSavJEJmDb3jVaXcftj5avbcZZ9R0SlP6w_1xbbHOWwjJSnFWwKKE_tdoLFmQzFva7XrC9iymD3bxUPdBq-5C-SHz0Pcya7pI55CdbpusnWO-4nhyjkeJGO-qohe7sQ_Qwb3glX3OzN/s2048/daffs%253Asnowdrop13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="2048" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3gSavJEJmDb3jVaXcftj5avbcZZ9R0SlP6w_1xbbHOWwjJSnFWwKKE_tdoLFmQzFva7XrC9iymD3bxUPdBq-5C-SHz0Pcya7pI55CdbpusnWO-4nhyjkeJGO-qohe7sQ_Qwb3glX3OzN/w640-h468/daffs%253Asnowdrop13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the left of this photo a double snowdrop is also emerging. Its triumph is likely to be brief however: if the snowfall continues it will be submerged again pretty quickly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-976837251830634612021-02-13T16:47:00.000-08:002021-02-13T16:47:37.591-08:00February Snow<p>In my last post I was celebrating the earliest flowers of the new year. Then yesterday it began to snow. The big goosefeather flakes melted almost as soon as they hit the ground, but this morning we woke to a heavier fall that had smothered most of the smaller plants.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCtPJx126R4ScsJMP5-NJ1Rw11EZHTxrVyHxoaORqOhNeWFTNs2mlhAAMEZ3e9-6gcMzMc7SIyaseEc0pI1YC1sSqSFIQ6Wb2PP6kkUSgxzfEDBwO9qJREsabMk-TT9veZD3934Zbjrvv/s2048/snowbackyd13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCtPJx126R4ScsJMP5-NJ1Rw11EZHTxrVyHxoaORqOhNeWFTNs2mlhAAMEZ3e9-6gcMzMc7SIyaseEc0pI1YC1sSqSFIQ6Wb2PP6kkUSgxzfEDBwO9qJREsabMk-TT9veZD3934Zbjrvv/w640-h481/snowbackyd13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The large box in the upper right corner is covering <i>Euphorbia</i> 'Glacier Blue' in the hope that it will survive these below-zero temperatures. Like most variegated plants it's on the tender side and I've had to replace it a couple of times after weather this cold. I'm afraid too, that Hellebore 'Cherry Blossom' that I featured in my previous post will have collapsed and won't recover - at least not this year, though its roots will probably survive.</p><p>What always amazes me is the hardiness of <i>Narcissus</i> 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation', also featured in my last post. Although flattened by the snow, it has already shoved its way through the white blanket and is carrying on flowering as though nothing has happened.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEUXkarkf8CEavvJmkxQZrehFaNlkJ6WRkky9udwbu-NnJ9MqxBXX1ArNFCW3isIJQmQv-fP8MkzZG09eGuLNEDpYbUaNSWPPVXFYRzdDSeSRpllP6lV5Eba8lPOUlj-mbYZtMKm0HKHJ/s2048/daffbuds13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1735" data-original-width="2048" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEUXkarkf8CEavvJmkxQZrehFaNlkJ6WRkky9udwbu-NnJ9MqxBXX1ArNFCW3isIJQmQv-fP8MkzZG09eGuLNEDpYbUaNSWPPVXFYRzdDSeSRpllP6lV5Eba8lPOUlj-mbYZtMKm0HKHJ/w640-h542/daffbuds13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3gSavJEJmDb3jVaXcftj5avbcZZ9R0SlP6w_1xbbHOWwjJSnFWwKKE_tdoLFmQzFva7XrC9iymD3bxUPdBq-5C-SHz0Pcya7pI55CdbpusnWO-4nhyjkeJGO-qohe7sQ_Qwb3glX3OzN/s2048/daffs%253Asnowdrop13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="2048" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3gSavJEJmDb3jVaXcftj5avbcZZ9R0SlP6w_1xbbHOWwjJSnFWwKKE_tdoLFmQzFva7XrC9iymD3bxUPdBq-5C-SHz0Pcya7pI55CdbpusnWO-4nhyjkeJGO-qohe7sQ_Qwb3glX3OzN/w640-h468/daffs%253Asnowdrop13%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the left of this photo a double snowdrop is also emerging. Its triumph is likely to be brief however: if the snowfall continues it will be submerged again pretty quickly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-74828438481858281352021-02-10T16:34:00.004-08:002023-04-17T11:55:29.208-07:00February Flowers<p>Perhaps it's the restricted life we are all experiencing in these days of pandemic, but the garden seems to be waking up more slowly this year. Maybe it's only that we've had more overcast skies than normal and, according to January statistics, more rain.</p><p>Still, now that we're a week into February a few reliably early bulbs are already creating some small patches of colour. First to open as usual are the winter aconites, which aren't aconites at all, but a member of the buttercup family called <i>Eranthis hyemalis</i>. Once you know the connection, the resemblance is obvious.</p><p>The earliest ones shoulder their way through the soil in spite of pouring rain and marauding slugs,</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OsSsy7R8kb6pWeyWNsdOHykRYOjrmsu2oqVInHfQZ2u36odIh2_zh8FoaPT-G2NnrSld642bfKl4vdPOWRa6A6b0BqXS0h3s5Xhbt7hgfCgqqAhVJvViZjU1tJaDnwz4Z_LtuPmLfGOI/s2048/Eranthisc%253Au.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="2048" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OsSsy7R8kb6pWeyWNsdOHykRYOjrmsu2oqVInHfQZ2u36odIh2_zh8FoaPT-G2NnrSld642bfKl4vdPOWRa6A6b0BqXS0h3s5Xhbt7hgfCgqqAhVJvViZjU1tJaDnwz4Z_LtuPmLfGOI/w640-h475/Eranthisc%253Au.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p>... and are quickly joined by the rest.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTW24RPSnFQjSxybtulSTEcGVDvrUicuEXy48AR7P-FqBHsOUlAK_qIPAx1-jgIaM6_Idxr27qQesOuaYZGn7T92-goMJhMVoYwbkeeLyFKo4rkvy3E8V1NcjkRQrL_yvm0Ipe6JzgjFD/s2048/Eranthisclump.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1847" data-original-width="2048" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTW24RPSnFQjSxybtulSTEcGVDvrUicuEXy48AR7P-FqBHsOUlAK_qIPAx1-jgIaM6_Idxr27qQesOuaYZGn7T92-goMJhMVoYwbkeeLyFKo4rkvy3E8V1NcjkRQrL_yvm0Ipe6JzgjFD/w400-h361/Eranthisclump.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Given time, they make a cheerful carpet, like these at VanDusen Botanical Garden. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwTjBpN7D8ae6p1QeHTMBBVtB4sZYU2vZ_siiHT2dXa6uQ8vMUclDO4jn5_D9Hl9G6RwZEuKUcvvp-4rbT_37C8A0LvyTr47JyFr6mJtB9sBVvbjV1DAxIBIuWpjKTfGlyGNuwbt4tbSJ/s2048/Eranthis+VDG2021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2048" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwTjBpN7D8ae6p1QeHTMBBVtB4sZYU2vZ_siiHT2dXa6uQ8vMUclDO4jn5_D9Hl9G6RwZEuKUcvvp-4rbT_37C8A0LvyTr47JyFr6mJtB9sBVvbjV1DAxIBIuWpjKTfGlyGNuwbt4tbSJ/w640-h390/Eranthis+VDG2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snowdrops follow soon afterwards. They are the best known of the early bulbs and collectors can choose from around 20 different species and well over 2,000 cultivated varieties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mine are nearly all the very common <i>Galanthus nivalis</i>, but I do have one with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> distinctive green stripes on the outside petals. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFrnfIvVKV73YJYQkwU3Xfc42T-gnZSb01f728PYVknF3eJvghHBC5DbqN6DvyaBXGdlZSzdWCjitvSK-w_Uj8VxLVPceLtc3HY9BWjVqnCwxLEQbMvOAqJa7YYAPxNL7A3p6-dz0PMIv/s2048/Galanthus+RosemaryB.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFrnfIvVKV73YJYQkwU3Xfc42T-gnZSb01f728PYVknF3eJvghHBC5DbqN6DvyaBXGdlZSzdWCjitvSK-w_Uj8VxLVPceLtc3HY9BWjVqnCwxLEQbMvOAqJa7YYAPxNL7A3p6-dz0PMIv/w640-h488/Galanthus+RosemaryB.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's called 'Rosemary Burnham' and the reason I grow it is because it was discovered in the garden of a well-known Vancouver gardener whose name it bears.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even before the snowdrops,<i> Narcissus</i> 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' opened its first flowers in January. Apparently it has sometimes been sold under the name 'January' and it certainly lived up to that this year. I like the way that the backs of the petals keep some green shadings from when they were just buds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-DCScAU-quLOfo7Pe62s3K32pOKqvUJMiUaJgqjmlRlz0tIdOIXlkn7GWrwf1Wq8B18u1XLLhGIKXoUEmqzFioadUbHGcbdNBZgxFLgHhkZgrJyFQJ8APviWtS-6_5cxqQpJlPpIuUpI/s1158/Narcissus+RES.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1158" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-DCScAU-quLOfo7Pe62s3K32pOKqvUJMiUaJgqjmlRlz0tIdOIXlkn7GWrwf1Wq8B18u1XLLhGIKXoUEmqzFioadUbHGcbdNBZgxFLgHhkZgrJyFQJ8APviWtS-6_5cxqQpJlPpIuUpI/w640-h420/Narcissus+RES.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not many of the hellebores are in bloom yet, but 'Cherry Blossom' is ahead of the rest. One of the strongest, it reliably produces a generous cluster of striking and colourful flowers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PUAos4e7AGcaMJvj1g0syOtgGzyxOUWa-wuxAQRaFCQ1Digw4cbDBPfQc4r8BPkEdRSeQCEP6p0zUUBbU4z2ij2RC6RV6AHWVZEJzMGsfa3HHrWDpELFv8R1lbxBuw1YXsBmU4Oejal6/s2048/HellCherryB.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PUAos4e7AGcaMJvj1g0syOtgGzyxOUWa-wuxAQRaFCQ1Digw4cbDBPfQc4r8BPkEdRSeQCEP6p0zUUBbU4z2ij2RC6RV6AHWVZEJzMGsfa3HHrWDpELFv8R1lbxBuw1YXsBmU4Oejal6/w640-h448/HellCherryB.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the flowers open, they straighten their shoulders and look up, a desirable characteristic that is lacking in some of its family members, especially the double forms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last but by no means least come the snow crocus, earlier and, to my mind, much more elegant than the later, larger Dutch crocus. They come in various colours and I've planted several different kinds. Even on cloudy days when they refuse to open, their small bright spears are a welcome sight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKocnzEnMBEn6vpHIukUAfZjDxcHxLXmysegReD4Lt3hk5fRrkmJfEBOQa3Y5D_ODWsPCKSWdpPG-sQzIJ0LpMUnbrqntJxGD0xzStZONLaxYUdAfRg3vUdZsxMnbYdpwk_1o-BoUlutYe/s2048/snowcrocusFEb5%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKocnzEnMBEn6vpHIukUAfZjDxcHxLXmysegReD4Lt3hk5fRrkmJfEBOQa3Y5D_ODWsPCKSWdpPG-sQzIJ0LpMUnbrqntJxGD0xzStZONLaxYUdAfRg3vUdZsxMnbYdpwk_1o-BoUlutYe/w640-h480/snowcrocusFEb5%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-59355991774583458732021-02-10T16:34:00.003-08:002021-02-13T17:00:09.610-08:00February Flowers<p>Perhaps it's the restricted life we are all experiencing in these days of pandemic, but the garden seems to be waking up more slowly this year. Maybe it's only that we've had more overcast skies than normal and, according to January statistics, more rain.</p><p>Still, now that we're a week into February a few reliably early bulbs are already creating some small patches of colour. First to open as usual are the winter aconites, which aren't aconites at all, but a member of the buttercup family called <i>Eranthis hyemalis</i>. Once you know the connection, the resemblance is obvious.</p><p>The earliest ones shoulder their way through the soil in spite of pouring rain and marauding slugs,</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OsSsy7R8kb6pWeyWNsdOHykRYOjrmsu2oqVInHfQZ2u36odIh2_zh8FoaPT-G2NnrSld642bfKl4vdPOWRa6A6b0BqXS0h3s5Xhbt7hgfCgqqAhVJvViZjU1tJaDnwz4Z_LtuPmLfGOI/s2048/Eranthisc%253Au.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="2048" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OsSsy7R8kb6pWeyWNsdOHykRYOjrmsu2oqVInHfQZ2u36odIh2_zh8FoaPT-G2NnrSld642bfKl4vdPOWRa6A6b0BqXS0h3s5Xhbt7hgfCgqqAhVJvViZjU1tJaDnwz4Z_LtuPmLfGOI/w640-h475/Eranthisc%253Au.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p>... and are quickly joined by the rest.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTW24RPSnFQjSxybtulSTEcGVDvrUicuEXy48AR7P-FqBHsOUlAK_qIPAx1-jgIaM6_Idxr27qQesOuaYZGn7T92-goMJhMVoYwbkeeLyFKo4rkvy3E8V1NcjkRQrL_yvm0Ipe6JzgjFD/s2048/Eranthisclump.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1847" data-original-width="2048" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTW24RPSnFQjSxybtulSTEcGVDvrUicuEXy48AR7P-FqBHsOUlAK_qIPAx1-jgIaM6_Idxr27qQesOuaYZGn7T92-goMJhMVoYwbkeeLyFKo4rkvy3E8V1NcjkRQrL_yvm0Ipe6JzgjFD/w400-h361/Eranthisclump.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Given time, they make a cheerful carpet, like these at VanDusen Botanical Garden. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwTjBpN7D8ae6p1QeHTMBBVtB4sZYU2vZ_siiHT2dXa6uQ8vMUclDO4jn5_D9Hl9G6RwZEuKUcvvp-4rbT_37C8A0LvyTr47JyFr6mJtB9sBVvbjV1DAxIBIuWpjKTfGlyGNuwbt4tbSJ/s2048/Eranthis+VDG2021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2048" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwTjBpN7D8ae6p1QeHTMBBVtB4sZYU2vZ_siiHT2dXa6uQ8vMUclDO4jn5_D9Hl9G6RwZEuKUcvvp-4rbT_37C8A0LvyTr47JyFr6mJtB9sBVvbjV1DAxIBIuWpjKTfGlyGNuwbt4tbSJ/w640-h390/Eranthis+VDG2021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snowdrops follow soon afterwards. They are the best known of the early bulbs and collectors can choose from around 20 different species and well over 2,000 cultivated varieties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mine are nearly all the very common <i>Galanthus nivalis</i>, but I do have one with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> distinctive green stripes on the outside petals. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFrnfIvVKV73YJYQkwU3Xfc42T-gnZSb01f728PYVknF3eJvghHBC5DbqN6DvyaBXGdlZSzdWCjitvSK-w_Uj8VxLVPceLtc3HY9BWjVqnCwxLEQbMvOAqJa7YYAPxNL7A3p6-dz0PMIv/s2048/Galanthus+RosemaryB.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFrnfIvVKV73YJYQkwU3Xfc42T-gnZSb01f728PYVknF3eJvghHBC5DbqN6DvyaBXGdlZSzdWCjitvSK-w_Uj8VxLVPceLtc3HY9BWjVqnCwxLEQbMvOAqJa7YYAPxNL7A3p6-dz0PMIv/w640-h488/Galanthus+RosemaryB.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's called 'Rosemary Burnham' and the reason I grow it is because it was discovered in the garden of a well-known Vancouver gardener whose name it bears.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even before the snowdrops,<i> Narcissus</i> 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' opened its first flowers in January. Apparently it has sometimes been sold under the name 'January' and it certainly lived up to that this year. I like the way that the backs of the petals keep some green shadings from when they were just buds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-DCScAU-quLOfo7Pe62s3K32pOKqvUJMiUaJgqjmlRlz0tIdOIXlkn7GWrwf1Wq8B18u1XLLhGIKXoUEmqzFioadUbHGcbdNBZgxFLgHhkZgrJyFQJ8APviWtS-6_5cxqQpJlPpIuUpI/s1158/Narcissus+RES.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1158" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-DCScAU-quLOfo7Pe62s3K32pOKqvUJMiUaJgqjmlRlz0tIdOIXlkn7GWrwf1Wq8B18u1XLLhGIKXoUEmqzFioadUbHGcbdNBZgxFLgHhkZgrJyFQJ8APviWtS-6_5cxqQpJlPpIuUpI/w640-h420/Narcissus+RES.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not many of the hellebores are in bloom yet, but 'Cherry Blossom' is ahead of the rest. One of the strongest, it reliably produces a generous cluster of striking and colourful flowers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PUAos4e7AGcaMJvj1g0syOtgGzyxOUWa-wuxAQRaFCQ1Digw4cbDBPfQc4r8BPkEdRSeQCEP6p0zUUBbU4z2ij2RC6RV6AHWVZEJzMGsfa3HHrWDpELFv8R1lbxBuw1YXsBmU4Oejal6/s2048/HellCherryB.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PUAos4e7AGcaMJvj1g0syOtgGzyxOUWa-wuxAQRaFCQ1Digw4cbDBPfQc4r8BPkEdRSeQCEP6p0zUUBbU4z2ij2RC6RV6AHWVZEJzMGsfa3HHrWDpELFv8R1lbxBuw1YXsBmU4Oejal6/w640-h448/HellCherryB.5%253A2%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the flowers open, they straighten their shoulders and look up, a desirable characteristic that is lacking in some of its family members, especially the double forms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last but by no means least come the snow crocus, earlier and, to my mind, much more elegant than the later, larger Dutch crocus. They come in various colours and I've planted several different kinds. Even on cloudy days when they refuse to open, their small bright spears are a welcome sight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKocnzEnMBEn6vpHIukUAfZjDxcHxLXmysegReD4Lt3hk5fRrkmJfEBOQa3Y5D_ODWsPCKSWdpPG-sQzIJ0LpMUnbrqntJxGD0xzStZONLaxYUdAfRg3vUdZsxMnbYdpwk_1o-BoUlutYe/s2048/snowcrocusFEb5%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKocnzEnMBEn6vpHIukUAfZjDxcHxLXmysegReD4Lt3hk5fRrkmJfEBOQa3Y5D_ODWsPCKSWdpPG-sQzIJ0LpMUnbrqntJxGD0xzStZONLaxYUdAfRg3vUdZsxMnbYdpwk_1o-BoUlutYe/w640-h480/snowcrocusFEb5%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393660032423596646.post-80087561986208683552021-01-19T17:07:00.005-08:002023-04-17T11:55:29.596-07:00Ringing In The New Year<p> The lowest point in the year is also the lowest moment in my garden. Yet to my eyes it's still beautiful, never more so than when an overnight frost dusts the ground and the few remaining plants with white.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0t2UYBY-MepKvZ96xQIXUkcVsBMtlDGKkl2KWvA2GvOwmx8hBpSMiV_ugKCp5IMBWMGeaj8mKCKC7Y3zFHwRI9253WIh4fTAGyr1338xKgPGjyP4psBusBOwrEDBv-Qe386V28Ljed-_/s2048/backyardDec25%253A12%253A20.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0t2UYBY-MepKvZ96xQIXUkcVsBMtlDGKkl2KWvA2GvOwmx8hBpSMiV_ugKCp5IMBWMGeaj8mKCKC7Y3zFHwRI9253WIh4fTAGyr1338xKgPGjyP4psBusBOwrEDBv-Qe386V28Ljed-_/w640-h480/backyardDec25%253A12%253A20.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Colour comes only from <i>Mahonia </i>'Winter Sun' just outside the back fence. One of the few evergreens I grow, its size (large) and colour (bright gold) would make it a dominant feature at this time of year even if it had more competition.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJU86ivpirxUXrI_5b-qdcaYh7RpktESARRe-Bt2uou4aqRdz32VnhHHE45DMaKHene51m7Kk2booeMD-SQJx1oih6t0ReEu5Kmp9OPkoXn2klvMIPEAkBbd6bF-wl3xuPeRhbv-vswNX/s2048/MahoniaWS+11%253A19.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1579" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJU86ivpirxUXrI_5b-qdcaYh7RpktESARRe-Bt2uou4aqRdz32VnhHHE45DMaKHene51m7Kk2booeMD-SQJx1oih6t0ReEu5Kmp9OPkoXn2klvMIPEAkBbd6bF-wl3xuPeRhbv-vswNX/w494-h640/MahoniaWS+11%253A19.jpeg" width="494" /></a></div><br /><div>While I enjoy these winter treats, I wait eagerly for the first signs of new life, and usually by mid-month I get my reward. This year a rare sunny day on January 16 brought the first winter aconites and snow crocus into bloom. The aconites are always a surprise as their stems almost unnoticeably shoulder their way through the soil, and lever themselves upright before suddenly revealing the tiny buttercup-like flowers with their frill of green.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljDAXEkK_0feLIIfC0rWTpZeCAH-VTsfQm1Nf7B2-2kgFpT3s1efMUAGF0VHY1byvOJIRk4TOkfZ517uONe7ZWLXdZyzTH7G9GPYha6ujCT00FxGrC53onHXalm0tZdmxUAToKeXVjEml/s2048/eranthus+hyemalis19%253A1%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="2048" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljDAXEkK_0feLIIfC0rWTpZeCAH-VTsfQm1Nf7B2-2kgFpT3s1efMUAGF0VHY1byvOJIRk4TOkfZ517uONe7ZWLXdZyzTH7G9GPYha6ujCT00FxGrC53onHXalm0tZdmxUAToKeXVjEml/w640-h475/eranthus+hyemalis19%253A1%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>By contrast, the crocus leaves have been visible for some time, and it's just a question of waiting impatiently for the flowers to accompany them. First to open was a lone yellow one by the back steps where the sun is strongest.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSNoEaFNGACaGkYfAfQtRIMjvPjASsMFTeJH93koSRm0r_0nLliZIWvurLrWbMZmNy0Px-hEr8q2JjdS55KQau4BODAaAEHjC5rMEgLStiebk3X6CAFPEWu5KGfYwf3YDNA-i9h0BO30k/s2048/Crocuschrysanthus19%253A1%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1819" data-original-width="2048" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSNoEaFNGACaGkYfAfQtRIMjvPjASsMFTeJH93koSRm0r_0nLliZIWvurLrWbMZmNy0Px-hEr8q2JjdS55KQau4BODAaAEHjC5rMEgLStiebk3X6CAFPEWu5KGfYwf3YDNA-i9h0BO30k/w400-h355/Crocuschrysanthus19%253A1%253A21.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Once I saw it, I went looking for others and found several 'Firefly' also in bloom, but still in too much shade to open.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKXq1r7Rd772yHo4SHU5fBhemcwKhqO1GdxfWELaWY2mjNCdwnAF5S2L__bhyeZggpKbBCZQynk8m4vCspvEpKMThwOLdUUkExYvwcJdMxx56dAgJjnWsXOpr5IIUE6WrMZ83CDfTPoDy/s2048/crocusFirefly191%253A21.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="2048" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKXq1r7Rd772yHo4SHU5fBhemcwKhqO1GdxfWELaWY2mjNCdwnAF5S2L__bhyeZggpKbBCZQynk8m4vCspvEpKMThwOLdUUkExYvwcJdMxx56dAgJjnWsXOpr5IIUE6WrMZ83CDfTPoDy/w640-h460/crocusFirefly191%253A21.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>If we can just expect a few more sunny days, more of these little harbingers of spring will be popping up all over the garden.</div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Christine Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936969588964122542noreply@blogger.com0