hepatica nobilis
As I walk around my garden I feel an odd conflicted thought. Out of no where everything seems to be breaking dormancy, did spring show up without letting me know? While this winter has been significantly more forgiving then the last, February hit us pretty hard with bad weather. Now in the first week of March it’s as if the plants have already forgotten, the first buds have come and gone and everything is laying out the red carpet for spring. Daffodils, crocus and iris reticulata have been doing their yearly dance, pulmonaria are in bloom and the difference between sunshine and rain need only wait 15 minutes. Even though it was sleeting last week I’m happy to say spring has hit on the west coast. Some might warn that I’m jinxing it a bit, but I feel confident that we’ve made it through the worst of it. Even my textrapanex is letting me know it’s spring, it’s growing tip having survived our winter suddenly threw the switch and began to open. The last couple days has had the most pleasant warm wind blowing, day or night the temperature seems relatively the same (8-10C).
Truth be told the more I become hopelessly entwined with plants, the more aware I am of nature as a whole. The more I identify with this natural world, the less I seem to connect with people that don’t. This is where the website has helped alot, and it’s the strangest medium for connecting with like minded people. Out from the shadowed gardens of the city comes a small collective of plant crazed, excellent people. Furthermore the website has allowed me to meet people from all over the world, share some insight, trade some seeds, and maybe even a plant or two. Somehow sharing my botanical experiences via this blog enhances gardening as a whole. Afterall how much fun would it be to keep all this wonder to myself, I write this blog for you, the plant people. I digress
To successfully have a garden with 12 months of interesting plants, one needs to have at least 5-10 plants for each month of the year. No matter how you look at it, that means for a garden to truly shine you’re going to need at least 120 plants out in the back. I don’t think everyone needs to go as far as I do (I can’t help myself), but if you’re going to do something, do it right. The year is still young and I’ve already been pleasantly surprised by what’s going on outside. Let’s take a look shall we?
My Tetrapanax papyrifer did remarkably well this winter. I think a low of -6C wasn’t enough to fry it’s growing tip, and this bud remained pristine the entirety of the winter. As this is the first year I’ve grown this plant, I find it fascinating that this bud could survive such brutal conditions intact and then open in the spring.
Another gardening on the edge success story is this Dichondra ‘Emerald Falls’. Planted from a 2″ annual pot early last spring, it’s quickly made a complete circle around this large ceramic pot I have outdoors. Dichondra ‘Emerald Falls’ survived -6 w/snow with occasional protection from a sheet on the coldest nights.
My potted Wasabia japonica has overwintered just fine in the deep shade of a bamboo clump. Grown in water or above ground, the trick to this plant is protecting it from the heat of summer. For those of you with year long high temperatures, this plant is probably best admired from afar. As I think back to that faithful day when I ran around the back garden trying to save my poor heat stroked Wasabia. Growing it in water will make it slightly more forgiving, but a hot day will make it faint almost instantaneously. Don’t be scared to put it in deepest shade you have to save it’s life, that was the key to success after almost 2 weeks of watching it slowly die.
It’s elegant heartshaped leaves have an exotic lily pad look, what’s better is they’re deliciously edible and compliment a sandwich just right. “Oh that’s just a bit of organic wasabia leaf on your ham and cheese, no big deal”.
Not only is my Wasabia surviving, it’s thriving, it turns out late February / early May is the time this plant truly shines. The cool wet weather of March provides perfect conditions for the plant to produce flowers. Perhaps we’ll need to collect some seeds later in the season. If you’d like to learn more about Wasabia plants, click here for an interesting article on Dave’s Garden.
I almost lost this Tropaeolum speciosum to a insidious attack of spider mites last season. The plant thrived in the spring but in time became infested and I didn’t realize until too late. Luckily I caught it in time and saved it from almost certain demise, delaying it’s blooms until the next year. I’m still waiting patiently.
A late season score, Lavatera arborea variegata seems to be doing just fine. Growing anywhere between 5-20 feet, this biannual has some of the most amazing variegated leaves. I enjoy growing mallows and this one is certainly living up to my expectations. Classified as a biannual, growers on dave’s garden comment that you can keep the plant alive by removing the seed pods before they mature. This specimen stands at roughly 4 feet tall, with a 1 inch trunk in as little time as a year from seed.
My seed grown Eccremocarpus scaber (Chilean Glory Vine) survived it’s cold sleep under the eve of the house. Recently it started to show signs of life, pushing through the straw protection I gave it for it’s winter sleep. Truly a borderline zone 8, the mild winter was kind to it.
Lamprocapnos spectabilis (syn. Dicentra spectabilis) although common place still seems a worthy addition to the garden. A true harbinger of spring, I have 3 varieties poking up at the moment, this one in particular being one of the first 10 plants I acquired at the start of my plant hoarding career.
Every garden needs a buddha, maybe even two or three. I like knick knacks.
I’m happy to have a Hepatica nobilis in my collection, it is definitely the star of the garden right now. The flowers began to appear a couple weeks ago and are the most intense purple/blue. The buds are formed mid season, and open the following year. After it’s done flowering a cushion of fresh foliage will appear which is equally as pleasing.
Similar to an anemone blanda is looks, Hepatica nobilis flowers last a lot longer and stay open rain or shine. Lovely!
A yearlong delight and personally the nicest hellebore I’ve ever seen, Hellebore ‘Winter Moonbeam’ is at the peak of it’s beauty right now. Sunny two toned evergreen leaves, and more flowers then ever. On it’s second season in the garden, this one is really earning it’s spot.
So nice!
As I have a love hate relationship with Vinca, this Vinca minor was planted by my girlfriend in an inconspicuous spot. So far it’s remained quite behaved, and this year’s flowers look pretty impressive.
A couple slips of Bergenia cordifolia I took home from a gardening gig, rooted up nicely over the winter and have started to flower this spring. Not my most favorite plant, but it is a welcome touch of color this time of year.
I put this container together last spring and time has really been kind to it. An accidental success, I’m pleased with the plant combination.
Primula marginata has just started to bloom.
I love this combination.
Say hello to the reliable blooms of euphorbia wulfenii.
Euphorbias are a must have in any garden I create from here on out. These planted from 5″ pots 3 years ago, are certainly drawing some attention. Amazing!
Euphorbia ‘Glacier’ in mid flower.
Speaking of euphorbias, for those of you not in the know, euphorbia griffithii is completely hardy but dies down to the ground every season. Wouldn’t you know as I saw my most favorite euphorbia dry up and disappear last fall I was nervous it has succumb to my haphazard treatment of it. This spring my worries were for nothing, up came 4 new growing tips, huzzah.
Rather subtle in it’s coloring, this helleborus orientalis holds itself with a dignified elegance.
Spring bulbs emerging into spring.
The weirdest thing in my garden at this time of year, Asarum splendens has beautiful dark leaves with an unusual spotted pattern.
What’s stranger is it’s ground level stepelia-esk flowers. It seems an unlikely place for a bloom, I suppose it’s pollinators are of the bug variety, beatles ants and such.
A closer look shows a menacing bloom indeed.
In other plant related news, my amaryllis red lion bloomed for it’s second season. Sure it’s a commercial grade, everyday plant, but with good reason, the flowers are bigger then my hand. Wow!
Last but not least, my Clivia miniata is blooming. Being a plant collector sure has it’s advantages some days. A touch of the tropics.
Thanks for coming along for the tour, as usual, it’s been a pleasure.
-Nat
As spring comes into season my garden begins to wake from it’s winter nap. I’m happy to be outside without a winter parka again, it’s so much more enjoyable to garden in such attire. There is an amazing amount of action going on in the back and I’ve never been more aware of the seasons then now. March feels early but that’s not what the garden says. Here’s the latest on what’s happening in my garden.
Sophora microphylla. I bought this small tree specimen at Silver Sage Nursery near Shawnigan Lake mid summer last year. It’s leaves were reminiscent of a mimosa tree and sold me instantly. It was a happy little tree for the rest of year and when winter started to peak it’s ugly head I placed it in my cold greenhouse and hoped for the best. I kept the plant relatively dry and as winter dragged on further it lost the majority of it’s leaves, I was worried it had died. Still it’s flower buds which had formed mid summer hung lifeless, giving me an odd sense of hope. As March rolled around the buds started to swell and eventually opened. I was happy to know it had survived the winter as Carrie at Silver Sage Nursery told me that the tree was semi tender and she had lost a couple the year before in a freak cold snap.
There are over 30 species of sophora located in temperate to subtropical regions of both hemispheres. Sophora Microphylla is endemic to New Zealand and is widely distributed throughout the country in lowland forests and along riverbeds. Sophora otherwise known as Kowhai are often regarded as New Zealand’s national flower. If your looking for an interesting bonsai specimen, I highly reccomend you try Sophora microphylla.
Ahem.. Moving on…
The often underappreciated Bellis Daisy is a true perennial often sold as an annual in 6 packs. They thrive in the cool spring months from february-mid April and display stunning vibrant double flowers. Mine have come back 2 years in a row and are a happy addition to the back garden. As the weather gets warmer they stop flowering and go somewhat dormant until fall. Varieties come in red, pink and white.
Anemone blanda. These dainty little spring flowers are a real gem. They appear out of nowhere and pop up everywhere once established. They open and close with the sun and easily coexist with other garden plants. Here this anemone grows out of a patch of lamium with no problem at all.
A couple of heucheras coexist with my cyclamen patch. Here we have Heuchera ‘Black Currant’ with a patch of cyclamen hederifolium. A great example of contrasting leaves.
This Arum italicum grows amongst the cyclamen with ease, another great foliage combo.
The Euphorbia ‘Glacier’ flowers are straightening up and opening . They have a strange boldness to them, they stand proud and strong.
A closeup of the flowers shows a delicate form, I love the macro on this new camera.
A closeup of a raindrop in the center of a Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. Another reason to get a camera with a good macro feature.
My girlfriend gave me a thimble of these sedum a year ago and a half ago and this is what it has turned into. I suspect it to be Sedum hispanicum, otherwise known as blue carpet sedum. Either way it’s an interesting planting that does well in this rocky well drained area.
A couple years ago when I first started this garden there was an ugly cement fence post. I quickly got tired of the utilitarian look of it all and I started to cover it with moss that I found around and about. Now sedums grow amongst the moss and self seeded snap dragons have made themselves a home. The poor elephant lost it’s trunk, but still stands amongst the shrubbery.
The day lilies (hemerocallis spp) have sprung up quickly this spring. These were plundered from the greenhouse compost having sat dry in a box for over a week. They seem happy overcrowded in this wooden box.
Cheater alert, saxifraga neon rose bought from a nursery (obviously with a headstart greenhouse grown) fully in bud ready to amaze.
This lichen grows back on the same boulder every year, thriving in the cool months when moisture is high and temperatures are moderate. If anyone knowns the specific species please don’t hesitate to let me know. A worthy centerpiece to the garden.
A trial hellebore at the nursery, Hellebore “Moonbeam” is a choice specimen hellebore. Pleasent white/pink flowers with amazing dark variegated foliage.
Primula denticulata is truly the primula to mark the start of spring. As the weather warms up the crowns burst into tufts of purple drumsticks.
Another Silver Sage Nursery score, Hepatica nobilis is a stunning spring flower that doesn’t quit. Although the foliage on mine is a bit fried, the flowers just keep coming. Carrie told me it took 18 weeks for the seeds to germinate, and for 8 bucks it seemed like a deal. It’s buds were formed in the summer and it didn’t flower until now. I’m always happy to see more early spring color.
Oddly enough this is one of my very first garden plants. I got this patch of chives from the greenhouse on my first year there. It’s moved a couple times, been cut down numerous times and once again flushes out in spring. Excellent!
Now lastly I hate to admit it but this is what a rotting fox tail lily looks like. I tried mixing in sand but it was obviously too moist in the container for this guy to thrive. It originally popped up with two spring flushes, the first rotted, and now this one. The conditions that it needed just weren’t right and every once in a while even a green thumb fails. Of course it is only through failure that we learn, and you best believe the next fox tail lily I get won’t see the same fate.
This ends this month’s tour of the garden. A little longer then last month but it is spring afterall.
