I spent last week in the state of North Carolina. A place that I have felt a connection with ever since I first visited in 1997. I just love it. It feels right on every level, especially in the Triangle area where I was. It’s cool enough and warm enough that the available plant palette is vast to say the least. They even surround Jesus with tropicals (I wonder if there will be anything like this in Sacred Spain?)
And you never know where a magnolia is going to show up.
This is the time of year when I am frequently torn by opposing emotions. Concerning the garden, I mean. Let’s not even think about getting into all the other areas. Those 50 degree nights? They make me think about frost. It’s coming. Soon. Four weeks? Six weeks? And it makes me crazy. Everything is looking so nice.
The weather has been absolutely gorgeous of late, lots of 50’s at night and 70’s for daytime highs. It doesn’t get much more perfect than that. I could just about give Mother Nature a big open-mouthed kiss.
image courtesy of neatorama.com
I admit these temps are not ideal for maximum growth on my precious tropicals but for everything else (including me, okay, especially me) it’s fantastic. The Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’ along the mall has never been so happy. Not that they have looked bad other years. It’s just they look extra full this year. Read the rest of this entry »
As a Horticulturist and a plant slut I am always looking for new plants to try. The fact that some, technically, are not hardy is of little concern. The catalogue may say zone 6 but it really means 5 I’m sure. If a plant is listed as a zone 7, well, lots of time we have zone 6 winters so really 7 is just one zone off. Close enough. I’ll take one.
Lycoris chinensis
I am not alone in this desire to push the limits of hardiness. I know a lot of people with Zonal Denial. Virtually all my coworkers and many friends as well are afflicted. I’ve long said that if I was gardening in the tropics I’m sure I would be trying to grow maples and beeches. It must be the I-can’t –have-it-so-I-want-it-even-more syndrome. Before I can even tell you about some successes I must confess some failures (it’s the recovering Catholic in me).
It’s that time of the year when garden writers (those of us living in areas with real winters especially) inevitably mention the first flowering plants of the year. I don’t want to be one of those writers. But I am. I can’t help it. When you see those first buds swelling, then showing color, then actually in full bloom… ooooowee, it thrills you so. Even the first tiny Crocus pushing itself up through the mulch is most welcome. A few warm days and this little feller will be in bloom.
Crocus pushing itself up through the mulch
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