Hellebores are by far the most important perennial in all the garden. These are the widely grown Helleborus orientalis . They form a carpet among the camellias and under the hydrangeas. Stunning when they bloom, they exhibit handsome foliage all year-long and are tolerant of the shade the hydrangeas provide during the summer when many are hidden under their foliage. [...]
Archive for the ‘winter garden’ Category
HELLEBORES
Posted in Cutting flowers, Groundcovers, winter garden, tagged Double Hellebores, handsome foliage, Hellebores, Helleborus orientalis, Heronswood's Party Dress Strai, Landscape value on February 15, 2012 | 4 Comments »
MIXED EMOTIONS
Posted in Camellias, Shade Gardening, winter garden, tagged Camellia, chill hours, frost-kissed, micro climate, peonies on January 4, 2012 | 5 Comments »
Well, it really turned cold …. for middle Georgia. The temperatures were in the teens last night, according to my thermometer. The predicted 20 degrees was 18 here in my micro-climate. While I dread the camellias that are open, turning to brown mush, above. I am thrilled that the peonies will have the required chill [...]
WINTER GARDEN WALK 2
Posted in Garden Design, Viburnums, winter garden, tagged garden design, storm damage, viburnum awabuki 'chindo', wind storm, winter garden on December 30, 2011 | 8 Comments »
This time we had to see if there was any damage in the garden. We had already heard the loud thump as a huge limb fell in the drive. Our guests thought it might have hit their car, which it did not…. but not by much! This is the other side of the coin… gardening under [...]
WINTER GARDEN WALK
Posted in Camellias, Flowering Trees, Garden Design, Shade Gardening, winter garden, tagged balanced composition, Camellia, Camellia Herme, camellia magnoliaeflora, camellia Rutledge Minix, Daphne odora, Prunus mume, winter garden on December 26, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Although it has been a bit dreary and raining I couldn’t resist taking a walk in the garden today. I could see the Japanese Flowering Apricot (Prunus mume) from the kitchen window but to experience the fragrance I needed to venture outdoors. Plenty of eye candy wherever one looks. Here at Hamilton House, the scale [...]
A GARDEN VISIT
Posted in best friends, Camellias, Cats, Focal Point, Garden Design, Outdoor Living Spaces, Shade Gardening, Small trees, winter garden, tagged Camellia 'Daikagura, Camellia Ava Maria, Camellia Cotton Candy, Camellia Martha's Dream, camellia Yultide, Focal Point, Ginkgo biloba, Margaret Moseley, Prunus 'Kwanzan', Prunus mume, Seating area on December 15, 2011 | 5 Comments »
Yesterday I visited with Margaret Moseley. As usual I came home with a list of ’must have’ plants. Margaret has been an inspiration for many gardeners. Every season her garden is filled beauty wherever one looks. Above, a welcoming entrance… the large tree to the right is a Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), straight ahead is a Japanese Flowering Apricot (Prunus [...]
BERRIES!!
Posted in Shrubs, Viburnums, winter garden, tagged berries, heavenly bamboo, hollies, Ilex Bufordii, Ilex Emily Bruner, viburnum, winter berries, Yellow berries on December 9, 2011 | 3 Comments »
Some great plants for both the landscape and holiday decorations. Hollies… you cannot beat them for their beauty this time of year. Above, Ilex x ‘Emily Bruner’ with berries that encircle the stem… The Buford Holly (Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’) exhibits a heavy fruit set in clusters, except when a late frost kills the [...]
WAIT A MINUTE
Posted in Shrubs, winter garden, tagged Cimonanthus praecox, fragrant shrubs, Fragrant Wintersweet, winter flowering shrubs on December 5, 2011 | 6 Comments »
If you don’t like the weather “Wait a minute” I was told when I first moved to Georgia; so it’s no big surprise that while last week was cold & rainy and even frosty some mornings, this week we are in the high 60′s. I have no idea when the Fragrant Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) started to [...]
NATURE’S MASTERPIECES
Posted in Camellias, Garden Rooms, mixed border, Outdoor Living Spaces, Shade Gardening, winter garden, tagged Camellia Betty Sheffield, camellia magnoliaeflora, camellia Rev John Drayton, camellia Rose Dawn, camellia taylors perfection, camellia White Empress on March 7, 2011 | 2 Comments »
These are some of nature’s masterpieces. Every bit as beautiful as roses… don’t you think? REV. JOHN DRAYTON MAGNOLIAEFLORA TAYLOR’S PERFECTION WHITE EMPRESS ROSE DAWN BETTY SHEFFIELD The above Camellias all reside in the ‘Circle of Friends.’ Just a thought… there needs to be a larger more interesting focal point there.
CAMELLIA MADNESS
Posted in Bulbs, Camellias, Companion Planting, Groundcovers, Shade Gardening, Uncategorized, winter garden, tagged camellias, companion planting, helleborus, Meadow, narcissus on March 3, 2011 | 3 Comments »
The Camellia Walk is in full flower. The Helleborus are also at their peak, I love them together, makes for a lush planting…the only kind. Just about here, I turn around to see……… The daffodils in The Meadow. Up close & personal……… © All photos & text 2011
A HOST OF GOLDEN DAFFODILS
Posted in Bulbs, Garden Design, winter garden, tagged bulbs, daffodils, Landscape design, landscape inspiration on February 25, 2011 | 7 Comments »
“…A host, of golden daffodils…” “…beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” “They stretched in never-ending line………..” “And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.” My meadow… a landscape inspired by a poem. To hear Jeremy Irons recite Wordsworth’s poem… http://www.facebook.com/#!/BluestoneGarden © All photos 2011
FABULOUS FRAGRANCE!
Posted in Shade Gardening, Shrubs, winter garden, tagged Daphne odora, shade plant, small shrub, winter garden on February 23, 2011 | 7 Comments »
The moment I walked out the door I knew it was blooming. Winter Daphne (Daphne odora aureomareginata) the most powerful fragrance imaginable. To quote a delivery person “That is LOUD!” She is not hard to look at either. Fragrance reminiscent of Lilac…but more… and hauntingly beautiful. © All photos & text 2011
FRECKLE FACE!
Posted in Groundcovers, Perennials, Shade Gardening, winter garden, tagged helleborus, perennial, shade garden, winter garden on February 18, 2011 | 5 Comments »
All of the Helleborus in my garden are seedlings. Each one has different colouration …. all stunning, all with freckles. Only one named variety from the Heronswood ‘Party Dress’ Strain. It is a double, and not open yet. Perhaps because there are so few blooms at this time of year they are all the [...]
MEANWHILE, IN THE GARDEN..
Posted in Camellias, Companion Planting, Flowering Trees, Garden Design, Groundcovers, Perennials, Shade Gardening, Shrubs, winter garden, tagged acorus gramineus 'ogon', Camellia, evergreen shrubs, garden design, helleborus, Prunus mume, winter garden on February 12, 2011 | 1 Comment »
On a tour of the garden today, signs of spring … The Meadow is coming alive.. Soon I’ll post the results of 13 years of rescuing daffs and trying to achieve the ‘English Thing’. Meanwhile the Winter garden is doing what it is supposed to and is at its peak….The “peak” lasts a [...]
SIGNS OF SPRING
Posted in Bulbs, Small trees, winter garden, tagged Flowering Apricot, narcissus, Prunus mume, winter garden on January 31, 2011 | 7 Comments »
Last day in January and there are signs of spring everywhere. The daffodils (Narcissus) are coming up in the meadow… and the Prunus mume (Japanese Apricot ) is blooming! I didn’t have my glasses, but you get the idea. Too bad one can’t photograph the fragrance. I know there will be more ‘cold [...]
ANOTHER ESSENTIAL PERENNIAL
Posted in Companion Planting, Cutting flowers, Groundcovers, Shade Gardening, winter garden, tagged companion planting, groundcover, shade plant, winter garden on January 27, 2011 | 5 Comments »
Arum italicum ‘Pictum’ is, in my mind, essential in any garden where it is hardy. This perennial sends out its foliage in the late fall and remains green all winter. The handsome leaves resemble arrowheads with strong creamy veining. They make a sensational groundcover. Since one NEVER cuts the leaves off daffodils (Narcissus), the Arum makes a [...]
