 |
| The many petals of a delicate peony contrast with the fresh spring blue of Picea pungens 'Montgomery' |
As we continue to anticipate the coming season in the gardens here at Oak Lawn Cheese Factory, we find it difficult to think past the beginning weeks of June. Despite the fact that the days of summer hold thousands of charms in the gardens, we find ourselves partial to the days of spring. It is in this time that the weight of anticipation and excitement lie most heavily on the air. In spring we find ourselves renewed with amazement on a daily basis as our maturing plant collection displays itself in ways that seem totally new to us. Yes, we have witnessed these wonders many times in the past, and yet it's as if each plant that unfolds its blooms before us had never previously displayed its glory in such a way as this... we welcome all the changes from the past year and the new members of our ever growing plant community... we sense real joy and thanksgiving as well, as we truly believe we are among the luckiest people on earth to be able to witness all that is happening around us...
 |
| One bloom of 'Bartzella' is like a shaft of sunshine breaking through a day of the darkest clouds... an entire plant in bloom is like a vacation in the Caribbean |
 |
Having even a single beech tree in ones garden, creates a connection with centuries of gardening and gardeners as well... this is Fagus sylvatica 'Tricolor', the very presence of which gives a
sense permanence to this place |
 |
| The glitz of New York City in a country garden... such is the bearing of Papaver orientale 'Manhattan' |
 |
| Siberian Irises... as beloved for their foliage as for their bloom |
 |
We can forgive Allium nectaroscordum 'Siculum' var bulgaricum its name, once we are reminded of the fountain-like beauty of its bloom that so reminds me of the lily lamp clusters of Tiffany Studio design
|
 |
| 'Daybreak' again... I can't seem to share it enough... if only for my own viewing |
 |
| Blooming at exactly the same time, 'Elizabeth' lights up the days of spring... it was fortuitous that I planted 'Elizabeth' and 'Daybreak' side by side, totally unaware at the time that they were meant for each other |
 |
Saponaria officinalis or soapwort for its nature of creating foam when swished about in water
|
 |
The premier tulip in our gardens... delicate, tall and stately...
'Blushing Beauty' lives up to its name completely |
 |
| Created by a local legend, Peony 'Tinka Philips' amazes with its lovely shade of pink, edging to an almost picotee in silvery white... rare and tall, in a good year standing to chest height |
 |
A bearded iris, name unknown as it was not the plant originally purchased... yet there are no complaints as this one is spectacular in bloom
As I read the posts of those of you who have started on the path to spring, I am happen for the beauty you are beginning to experience and glad that I can share in the photos of your garden "families".... and yet I am not envious as we look out upon many inches of snow and high drifts... Robert Frost put it this way "I have miles to go before I sleep".... in my case "I have winter projects I need to complete". I am involved in doing a kitchen restoration, the original work from almost 25 years ago when I found and purchased 5000 feet of wormy oak piled in a field at some distance from here. I have designed an original 24" diameter glass shade that I'm calling "Les Papillons" and hope to finish before garden work begins... the list goes on...
The later spring comes here, the more likely that the gardens will avoid severe frosts, and that is a very good thing.
Until next time... Larry
|
14 comments:
Hi Larry...it's wonderful that you have so many projects to keep you busy in winter. I need to find some winter projects instead of just dreaming about spring! All of your flowers are beautiful and the leaves of the Beech tree are simply breathtaking! Thanks for a great post!
Larry, wonderful photos! I love peonies, but the photo of poppy 'Manhattan'is awesome!
Nadezda
http://northern-garden.blogspot.com/
I am humbled by your comment that surely you are amongst the most blessed people on earth. You truly exemplify "attitude of gratitude." You and Sarah are inspiring! Papaver 'Manhattan' is really beautiful, Larry, as are your magnolias. Hope this is a fantastic magnolia year for you. Have a great week!
Blessings, Beth
Your photos take my breath away-so stunning. I like you describing them too. 'Elizabeth' and 'Daybreak' sure do go together nicely. Good luck with the winter projects. Somehow I suspect you'll get them done.
Too cute on the John Deere wording. I so wish I had a brother in law with a Deere! I hope you'll post a pic of your field of daffodils. It will be incredible!
Beautiful photographs. They look like they are in a magazine. I love the tree, Fagus sylvatica 'Tricolor' and use it often in design. What a beauty itself.
Daybreak and Elizabeth do look gorgeous together---I may have to try that. I could use a few more weeks of rest.
Hi Larry! I have one Papaver Manhatten in my garden, and it is my favorite. Love your photographs!
Larry, your paeonies are gorgeous, I am so jealous! I always wanted a dark red paeony, but couldn’t find room for one in my own garden so I planted one in my neighbour’s garden when I did it up two years ago – the philosophy being that at least I could watch it over the fence! Sadly it hasn’t flowered yet, but it had lots of healthy leaves last year.
I can’t apply the same to Magnolias, no one has a big enough garden, and I might not live long enough to see them flower! But there are magnolias down the park so I can see them every time I drive by on my way to the hospital, no flowers yet though. I have heard about small, one stemmed magnolias though, that can happily live in a large tub and that will flower second or third year, have you got any experience with them? Any name to recommend? I have room on my patio for one!
Thank you all for your nice comments... I'm having a great time sifting through my photography for this series. Today I got a 4th generation ipad with retina display... what a difference in the photos... it makes this process even more fun while I await spring! Larry
Helene... the peonies are wonderful but I find it hard to spend so much on an herbaceous perennial... silly I know as they will be around 100 years from now! Regarding your question on the magnolia... I'm not familiar with any that are particularly dwarf although there are a number of fastiiate varieties. There are also
plenty that have single trunks, but they generally spread quite a bit. Perhaps the plant to which you refer isn't hardy here so I might not be awareof it. Have you considered a Magnolia sieboldii that the Japanese sometimes use by tea houses? There are new improved cultivars coming out all the time and I think size could be controlled with pruning... mine are quite slow growing... this is not a recommendation... only a suggestion for a posiible plant to research....
I'm in the process of choosing several very new cultivars for spring planting this season... once those five large Siberian elms are gone, I should have room for several more magnolias!
You're never to old to plant a tree... or ten!!! Larry
What a nice post! I am, at the moment, reveling in the "normalcy" of this recent series of snowfalls. :-)
Not only do you work magic with glass, you have green fingers and very good shutter-release fingers. Your photography is great. You are indeed talented.
Larry, what a joy it is to visit your blog! Your photos are magnificent but it is the words that accompany them that allow me to see how much you truly love what you do. I look forward to many more visits :)
such pretty flowers=)
Post a Comment