Winter Buds Full of Hope

This a a deciduous azalea, rhododendron ‘Arneson’s Gem’, blooming in late April. These are undoubtedly my favorite shrubs. Whenever a new one is seen for sale, it is purchased on the spot. New being one not already in the collection. The leaves drop after turning pinky orange in the fall. But during the winter if it is going to flower the next spring, big fat juicy buds dot the stems.

With dear ferngully in the background, rhododendron ‘Admiral Semmes’, one of the confederate series hybrids, is loaded up with spring promise.

One of two yellow deciduous azaleas on either side of the steps leading to the top of the garden. These were planted at the time of the purchase of the house, in back, one at each corner. Against our wishes our darling daughter thought the fenced yard would be a perfect home for a puppy. The puppy thought these shrubs would be the perfect teething sticks. Years later, daughter and puppy living elsewhere, when the addition on the back of the house was begun both of these azaleas had grown back from stubs less than two inches tall and were blooming. Carefully dug up and moved to the sunny hillside, they have prospered. The cultivar name is unknown.

In front is rhododendron ‘Golden Lights’, one of the extra hardy ‘Lights’ series. Evergreen azalea, rhododendron ‘Mrs. G. G. Gebring’, a southern indica hybrid is between and chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Boulevard’ is in back.

Purchased as a one gallon stick, the daphne odora ‘Marginata’ has grown slowly and now is offering multiple flowers to be.

A ragged leaved viburnum davidii has a nice bud surrounded by red stems.

Mahonia volunteer under the pine trees will brighten the winter scene with yellow blooms. These are on some invasive lists, but the three growing in the woods here have not been a problem so far.

Erica darleyensis ‘Ghost Hills’ is almost ready to bloom.

This is an unknown tree peony, from WalMart in a box, showing lots of buds. It has a crinkle petal single white flower. Looks like it will give a good show.

Flowering quince, a gift from neighbors, thanks Mae and Mickey, an unknown cultivar of chaenomeles. This is so close to opening it might get featured in the January Bloom Days post. The color is an eye catching coral. All through the garden are small signs of beauty from leaf and flower to be revealed soon. The days are getting longer in small increments. One year I kept a record of the sunrise and sunset to see how the minutes were tacked on before the spring equinox. A minute here and there was added until March rolled around. Then it was several minutes at the beginning and end of every day. The lesson learned was to be patient, keep busy, and know Mother Nature will put on her show when she sees fit.

Patiently keeping busy,

Frances

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