Monday, March 30, 2009

A Blast of Cold Air

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That is a cloud hanging low on the frosted field below the hill. It’s on its way across the road up towards my garden. Frost warnings were not posted but I could tell that it was getting colder by the hour, so I checked the forecast and it looked like we were in for freezing temperatures. I have pretty much held back on early planting, with the exception of about a dozen hostas. I couldn’t help myself. Last year’s plants have sprung up and I just wanted to join in. My older peony is about 15” high with buds, so I had to cover it. But the ones I planted last year will have to shiver in the mists without cover. I hope they can take it.

IMG_7233 This empty garbage can did the trick for the big peony, and I’ll bet it won’t be the last time I’ll do it this Spring.

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My Jackmanii clematis is tall enough to attach itself to the strings tied to the trellis and I used anything and everything to protect it.

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I Last year I had to untangle the vine from the trellis so Dave could paint the stairs and while it did bloom nicely, it always looked like a glob that had been undone. This year I planned to train it up neatly and hope for a showy array of blooms. Gardening is all about hope.

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I am afraid I didn’t have enough covers for the new hosta and they definitely got bit. However, I just bought four new ones for $2 each, because I am a hosta nut, so if these don’t make it, I will replace them. One cannot get emotionally attached to plants, she said.

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Speaking of emotionally attached…I am MAKING you look at my sprouting Baptisia. Can you barely tell these are nubbins of green? I got on my sore knees to take this picture. I am so excited!  They look like nothing exciting at this point but I am looking forward to this mass of purple and green in my future. I have found two returning clusters (so far) and it thrills me so much I had to share.

I have gone over the edge.

8 comments:

  1. Hope everything survived the cold. That clematis is such a gorgeous color.

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  2. Anonymous9:19 AM

    Great idea to use a garbage can! The foggy field looks so beautiful. Your home has a wonderful view.

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  3. Those little tykes are going to look like that amazing mass of green and violet? I'm in love.

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  4. A good edge to go over!!!

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  5. Oh yes, the picture you took on your knees shows the plant power, how these little buds are so decided to break through. Like in the photographs of Blossfeldt.

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  6. They remind me of these hilarious chestnut faces
    http://img0.liveinternet.ru/images/attach/b/3/13/389/13389328_blossfeldt_chestnut.jpg

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  7. Glad to hear of another Baptisia lover--my favorite garden flower. It grows so well in my garden (northern Illinois) that I'm tempted to plant it in half the garden--except that its bloom is so short. Great photo of it in glory.

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  8. Anonymous3:12 AM

    Baptisia (False Indigo) will bloom twice a year if you trim the flower heads off after they form "green" seed pods. Cut the plant back to about 1/2 the full height and it will bloom again late in the year.

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