The sky is grey and the landscape is mostly brown, plus a few faded greens and muted blue-grey. By mid-afternoon it will be dark. So I dug out photos of the garden from last summer to remind myself of color and light. Above is 'Pretty Lady Emily' Japanese anemone.
Here are blossoms from a dwarf mockorange shrub, 'Miniature Snowflake' Philadelphus. Yes, they really do smell like orange blossoms. Though the two shrubs I planted were small, I caught whiffs of the fragrance each time I walked past. Completely yummy.
These double lavender flowers are from a 'Farmington' Michaelmas daisy. The bees were entranced.
Here is a maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) unfurling in the spring. I grow several ferns and this is my favorite.
'Caradonna' sage (Salvia) glows with a warm plum center. I also grow 'May Night' and love them both in the garden and in vases.
'Rolling Cloud' Siberian Iris has been a strong performer for me for several years, despite growing in partial shade instead of full sun. The bloom time isn't long, but the spiky leaves add nice texture to the garden after the flowers are gone.
And finally, here are some leaves from Rodgersia. This one is marginally hardy, so I'm crossing my fingers that it survives the winter to grow again next year. The large leaves are very attractive, especially when backlit. Surely the sun will show up again eventually.
Hi VW,
ReplyDeleteLovely to see a post from you.
Do not worry, there will be sun, there will be more beautiful blooms and I look forward to more photos of your glorious garden.
Maiden hair fern - definitely going to get some for my garden when I move. It's expensive, but well worth it!
I'm looking forward to spring blooms as well! I enjoyed the photos of your pretty colored flowers. It's nice to see some blooms in the dead of winter. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteYou've captured exactly how I am feeling. I went to look something up yesterday and found a photo of my garden taken last summer. I swear I stared at it for a good 5 minutes trying to understand how the light and colors could possibly really be that wonderful. They will come back someday, right?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who does this! Winter is so blue and white. I have to get my color fix from the archives every so often, too!
ReplyDeleteTypically, my spring fever is worst in January and early February. I started doing a "Snowflake Party" last year just to give me something to look forward to. We will probably do a repeat toward the end of this month. Wish we were neighbors! I'd invite you and your kiddos over. :)
Feeling pretty much the same as you at the moment VW - I just keep telling myself it won't be too long!
ReplyDeleteThose images really cheered me up.
Interesting to read that those Siberian Iris grow in partial shade - one for my list I think ;)