The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

Tag Archives: emerging foliage

Panning out

Posted on by Posted in Bulbs, Spring .

Too often I get caught up in trying to perfect all of my garden photos. Most of these pics are of the close-up variety and I’m very liberal with the cropping tool. While they may be pretty and all, they’re often not a fair representation of what’s really going on.

So today I opted for a different lens. I stood further back. I limited my cropping.

Hopefully this is a more realistic version of how all of our gardens look this time of year; at least in the Northeast U.S.

New growth is still exciting to capture in all its infancy, but even better when taken in conjunction with surrounding plants and even the occasional weed.

 

Daffodils in bloom, while a sight for sore eyes, are still dwarfed by bare earth and yet-to- show-signs-of-life grasses and shrubs.

 

Did I mention weeds are a plenty already?

 

Some times our flowers don’t cooperate and face away from the direction we want them to.

 

I like to pretend that I don’t have a driveway. I like the illusion that it is all gardens, all the time out here in the country.

I lied.

 

A suckering shrub was cute at first. Now I’m terrified.

 

Oh, pretty bloom you got there, John.

 

Well, maybe it does look a bit lonesome.

 

Fine, one close-up.

But I had to demonstrate that every one of my perennials has to battle through ornamental grass clippings each spring. They are everywhere. Next year I should wait for a non-windy day before cutting them all down.

My neighbors would be happier too.

 

One angle shows my attempt to fill in between the Catmint with Hyacinths that bloom in early spring and are then enveloped by the Catmine foliage by late spring.

 

Another angle shows me pretending to have purposely put together this little vignette.

 

If I’m being honest, this happens more often than I would lead you to believe.

Yes, I was laying on my back while trying to take a photo of the aforementioned Hyacinth.

It’s called dedication.

 

Garden tour – 4/25/18

Posted on by Posted in Bulbs, Spring .

It’s raining and overcast today.

The garden never looks better than with those conditions.

We’re still making up for lost time after that really great winter but there’s still plenty of action outdoors if you pay close attention.

 

Rain make pretty

It’s like our Lord and Savior dropped tiny diamonds from the high heavens and quietly muttered “Here John my son, taketh and enjoy my dude.”

 

 

 

 

Still counting my blessings

I was 50/50 on the Sambucus ‘Black Lace’ making a return and well, score one for the good guy. Now to figure out how to provide all it needs to thrive.

 

A last minute add to the garden in October, the Wild Geranium is back and well, “woot, woot.”

 

The Astilbes were fried by the end of the summer last year but that didn’t impact their returning this spring.

 

I know peonies are tough once established but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a quiet moment of gratitude.

 

You can stay … for now

I’ll take the color and the bees flocking to the dandelions at a time when there is little else for them to enjoy.

My OCD self feels differently but he’s properly suppressed for now.

 

 

Every plant tells a story

This is Viburnum plicatum ‘Shoshoni’. It was the first shrub I planted in my garden when we moved to our current home 14 years ago. A few years back I had to move it as it became too large and outgrew its location. I killed it in the process of transplanting it. I was devastated and there was a lot of self-tongue lashing that ensued.

Two years ago while weeding I dug up a small root from my front bed and realized it was the same Viburnum. I replanted it in a new location where it could grow uninterrupted for the rest of eternity.

I’m proud to say she is thriving and a bit of my past has been recovered.

 

Double the fun

This Allium bloomed beautifully last spring and guess what? A second flower has emerged to double my fun this spring. They do multiply, they really do.

 

Soon to flower

This is Trollius chinensis ‘Golden Queen’ showing buds while in a new location in the garden. I had threatened to move them for three years and finally took the plunge last fall. I can’t wait to compare the two locales to show you how this was the right move.

 

Packera aurea (Golden Ragwort) put on quite the flowering show last spring and it should be even better in a week or two.

 

Drenched flowers

Sure is purty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m distracting you

What stumps of cut down grasses? I only see daffodils ready to bloom.

 

I blame the kids

Who placed this large rock right on top of my Geranium ‘Espresso’? I know it wasn’t me. I’m not that careless.

Garden tour – March 28, 2018

Posted on by Posted in Spring .

The first flower of 2018 has arrived.

And it bores me.

Sorry Crocus fans, I’ve never taken to them and have dug most of them up over the years. Yet a few continue to survive. I guess I should appreciate their resourcefulness. And should count any flower as a blessing considering where we are as April is just about here.

 

But enough of the negative. I was thrilled to see that almost all of the Allium have returned yet again this spring.

 

And bulbs planted last fall will be providing a show in the near future. By the way, how great of a job did I do perfectly spacing these bulbs? You know you’re jealous.

More Crocus escaped my wrath. I shall not forget them.

My first “thank you for surviving” shrub of the year. This is Hypericum ‘Blue Velvet’. I planted two last summer, falling in love with the blueish foliage. You’ll see plenty of this one as spring rolls into summer.

Daylilly, yeah (a sarcastic “yeah” if that wasn’t obvious). Every year I’ll continue to be bored by them and every year I’ll continue to leave them be. There is something to be said for a plant that can be left to its own devices, fills space and requires zero care.

All of the Spirea are back. Again, a bit eh, but super useful and tough.

Many of you warned me and did you ever hit the nail on the head. My False Spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) has suckered like mad in year two. I have given them plenty of space to operate but I can already see that invasiveness may be an issue.

Game on.

 

Moss phlox is back. Smile.

My Sedum ‘Red Carpet’ appears to have suffered this winter but there are finally signs of hope.

The annual foliage transition of Arborvitae ‘Rheingold’.

I think gardening season can officially kick off now

Posted on by Posted in Bulbs, Spring .

This has been an odd winter/spring so far.

Yes, beyond the late nigh tweets from Donald.

Bulb foliage emerged in January. December, January and February were way warmer and less precipitation filled than normal.

I banked on getting to spring cleaning tasks sooner than normal.

And then winter was all like “I’m going down with a vicious fight”, and we were slammed with snow and ice a few weeks back.

The remainder of that snow is now slowly disappearing and I am determined to get outside this weekend and play the role of gardener once again. It has been way too long.

I haven’t cut down a thing since the fall so I’ve got nothing but dead perennial foliage and ornamental grasses to contend with.

The only color in these parts, besides my frigid red cheeks, is from the Crocuses (or is it Croci?) that finally arrived this week.

I found time to hunt for new foliage growth and it took some parting of dead leaves and branches to find anything but it still felt great to witness rebirth.

False spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia)

Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Coral Bells (Heuchera)

Stonecrop (Sedum)

The daffodils are making up for lost time with many showing signs of flower buds. The bulbs below have found their way up and through an ornamental grass. I must have moved this grass last year without knowledge of the bulbs that quietly lurked underneath. Here’s hoping they can all happily co-exist.

Yet another faux pas. Moving rocks in winter knowing there is high potential to block a bulb’s growth come spring. Fortunately, this Allium bulb isn’t taking “no” for an answer.

I hope my fellow trapped gardeners can get outdoors as well this weekend.

Cheers.

 

Emerging foliage of spring

Posted on by Posted in Spring .

Spring refuses to fully embrace itself so we continue to move at a snail’s pace out in the garden. But the plants are finally revealing their emerging foliage, almost out of fear.

Like Crataegus viridis (Hawthorn) ‘Winter King’:

And Betula nigra (River Birch):

Some of the deciduous shrubs have finally shown emerging foliage, like this Cornus sericea (Redtwig Dogwood):

And Physocarpus (Ninebark) ‘Diablo’:

A few perennials decided to finally make an appearance. Hello Cimicifuga (Bugbane) ‘Pink Spire’:

Peonies unfurling at their own steady pace:

 

Now there has been some serious progress on other fronts. Viburnum carlesii ‘Aurora’ buds have turned full blown pink and look phenomenal: 

 

 

Speaking of this Viburnum. I count today as its first day of having “interest” and it will continue to do provide such “interest” all the way into early November. If you do the math, that is almost seven months of interest. And that means it is fantastic 7/12 of the year. And that translates to a 58% “interest” rate which I might just calculate for every plant I own and add it to the plant spreadsheet.

Just thought you should know that.

While we are at it, let’s enjoy the emerging foliage of the Astilbes:

And the buds on Fothergilla ‘Mount Airy’

 

 

And finally, the tulips I’ve successfully grown in containers (hand pats back):

Good stuff, right? Well now let’s move over to the not so good or potentially not so good.

My Amelanchier (Serviceberry) ‘Autumn Brilliance’ is blooming:

But from a larger view, eh:

But more importantly, or more annoyingly, we have some serious bare legs:

I understand that this is the nature of this tree, but this extreme? I need to work on this one in some way.

Do I worry about this? Tent caterpillars?

I’m all for letting nature take its course, but not at the expense of my beloved Crabapple tree. More to come.

And finally, I am already regretting not strongly pruning the Salix (Dappled Willow) ‘Hakuro Nishiki’ in early spring. That awesome variegation is missing:

 

Look at the same shrub from only two years ago:

Chalk it up to experience and a new task added to the 2015 ledger.

 

More Unhealthy Spring Excitement

Posted on by Posted in Spring .

This dude, meaning me, seriously needs a hobby. I have spent hours just staring at the crocuses in bloom, in awe that there are actual bees paying them a visit:

I’ve never felt more desperate for the spring gardening season to take hold and I apologize for my desperation.

But it gets better, and more desperate, as I type this sentence.

I had taken a few photos of the branches on my Salix (Willow) ‘Kaga Nishiki’, excited to see that it was leafing out. But now, upon closer inspection, I see that there are f’n catkins on there. Take a look:

That is a first for me and I am way pumped up! Bring it the hell on. I may set up temporary residence right next to this shrub just to watch these catkins fully emerge. Too much?

I am even intensely excited just to see the buds on my Crabapple tree:

 

Riveting ain’t it?

It may seem like nothing to y’all, but I have had enough getting my only landscape thrills from the peeling bark on the River Birch trees:

 

Ain’t gardening grand?

Spring Fever

I am one happy SOB

Posted on by Posted in Uncategorized .
Oh baby! I am getting way friggin psyched!
I love this time of year when it takes just a little bit of investigative work to find signs of spring. To the “normal” person’s eye, it’s the end of February and winter is still in session.
But to the wacky gardener’s eye, spring has fought it’s way through and there is no looking back. 
Here are some recent photos from THIS “wacky gardener”:     
The Summer Snowflake bulbs are peeking through:

And will soon look like this:

The buds on the Viburnum ‘Aurora’ are oh so subtly transforming:

Will soon look this this:

And then BOOM, you get this beauty:

The Iberis ‘Snowflake’ (Candytuft) is just starting to show it’s new red growth:

Which will explode into this in no time:

The Phlox subulata ‘Emerald Blue’ (Creeping phlox) is also now showing its new reddish growth:

Soon to be followed by this:

And ultimately this:

This pile of green mush means little now:

But it foreshadows the beautiful blooms of the Lobelia siphilitica:

And finally, I can spot the buds forming on the Crataegus ‘Winter King’ (Hawthorn):

And cannot wait to see the blooms up close and personal for the first time in a few weeks (I had this tree planted last spring).

Ladies and gentleman, the end is near. Be very excited.

John

A late winter stroll, magnifying glass required

Posted on by Posted in Spring, Winter interest .

I felt like a desperate man today as I toured the gardens looking for some sign that my little beauties made it through the winter. I’d take any sign at all. Some sort of signal saying “Here we come dude, fear not for our safety. We’ll reunite soon enough”. And gosh darn it if those little buggers didn’t put a smile on my winter worn face.   

The Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) bulbs have emerged.

Not that there was ever a concern, but seeing the little “fingernails” of the peonies emerge can be considered “breaking news” this time of year.

The Sedum ‘Matrona’ took a beating last year (deer, drought, clumsy kids) but they are on their way back. Can I get an amen?

Some other observations during my walkabout: 

Maybe I’m insane, but the “evergreen” sedums have taken on a brighter color red the past few days.  

Deep breath … the deer have reappeared and took to one of the arborvitae ‘rheingold’. However, they did just chow down to the new green growth and only disposed of the bronzed foliage. Maybe they were just trying to help?

I’m ready to cut down the ornamental grasses but held off for at least one more day as I still NEED their winter interest.

It may not be earth shattering, but for this time of year, I’ll take it. Baby steps … baby steps.

ONG

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