Continuous Bloom: Mellow Yellow, Mandarin Orange April 28, 2014

Welcome to my Monday post.   Today I am linking with the following-

Monday Mellow Yellows hosted by Gemma Wiseman

Macro Monday 2 hosted by Gemma Wiseman

I Heart Macro hosted by Laura

Mandarin Orange Monday hosted by Lorik

Blue Monday Hosted by Smiling Sally

Catching the Light hosted by NatureFootstep memes

New flowers continue to open, the Geums are blooming now and Columbines beginning, among others.   For a small yellow bloom, here is the native Geum macrophyllum that grows wild in my yard, and can become invasive with a little encouragement.   It is about 3' / 1m, tall, small flowers around 1.5cm.

Since I admire its tenacity I have bought some developed varieties from nurseries- Cooky-

Totally Tangerine-

And my favorite- fancy layered and textured Mango Lassi, with fantastic shading as well-

The special varieties have a lower rounded clump, rounded leaves, and shorter bloom stalks.   They are better garden plants but not as long-blooming as the taller seed-grown varieties I have grown, which also have bigger flowers, not yet blooming- Mrs. Bradshaw, Blazing Sunset, and Lady Stratheden,  see more Geums here.

The Columbines have started to bloom, a color that goes well with the yellows and oranges is magenta purple, a preview of what is to come is here-

And for a blue, regular Forget-Me-Not and a tiny one that is wild in my yard,

Last weekend was one of the highlights of my gardening year, the local Home and Garden Fair.  It features many booths of plants from local growers, the large exhibition hall with home remodeling and idea booths, and landscaping exhibits.  This one by Sunrise, the Last Stop Depot, is especially appealing to children-

I hope your spring is living up to your expectations,  Hannah

                                                                    or cameras are macro

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Wildflower Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Welcome to my Wildflower Wednesday post, to see wildflowers blooming elsewhere, go to Clay and Limestone, hosted by Gail.

Wildflowers are just getting going in my yard, I have 2 acres that were once wooded, then logged and much turned into grass, but I have little pockets of native plants and a small corner of woods.  The first noticeable wildflower is Trillium ovatum, at 3-4", seen in a former post in a clump and aged to magenta, here-

The Cascade Oregon Holly Grapes are blooming-

The Indian Plum, Oemleria cerasiformis, has bloomed recently-

A tree that has wonderful pink blooms in spring is the Red-Flowering Currant, Ribes sanguineum-

The Stinging Nettle is blooming, it makes a healthful tea or a green drink when juiced, and is used for hair preparations as well.   Here it is growing with a native ground cover, Phacelia hastata, Pacific Waterleaf-

Some colorful Phacelias are grown elsewhere, but the native has a greenish flower-

The Claytonias are just beginning to bloom, Miner's Lettuce (perfoliata)-

and Spring Beauty, C. sibirica, which were not open because it is raining-

And now that it is sunny, I am updating with a patch of blooming Spring Beauty-

A macro of the tiny flower, looking like candy-

Continuous Bloom: Think Pink April 21, 2014

Welcome to my Monday post, today I am linking with-

Blue Monday hosted by Smiling Sally

I Heart Macro hosted by Laura

Macro Monday 2 hosted by Gemma Wiseman

Mandarin Orange Monday hosted by Lorik

Nature's Footsteps/Catching Light meme hosted by Nature's Footsteps Inspiring Photography

First a peek at what my camera could manage of the total eclipse of April 15, 2014, first of a tetrad of total eclipses coming up this year and next, a prophetically significant event.   I couldn't see the second half of the eclipse when the light was returning because of clouds-

Some flower colors that go beautifully with pink, the true blue of Gentiana angustifolia from the Hortlandia sale, see the post on blue flowers in my garden as well-

The bright orange of Geum 'Totally Tangerine'-

In my quest for Continuous Bloom, I have found pink to be an ubiquitous flower color shade, most involving various degrees of magenta, which pigment in flowers is derived from anthocyanin, a flavonoid that actually has antioxidant health benefits as a color pigment in purple fruits.  Carotenoids can add  yellow or orange shading.  Some yellow roses, as well some white flowers such as Anemone nemorosa, build up magenta as they fade, to see the white stage and some wild pink flowers, go here-

My native white Trillium ovatum also turns magenta pink to purple, I love the clumps, which are like big bouquets, originally April 7-

And now-

The small ground cover Bellis perennis, usually white, sometimes with magenta as well on the 1/2" 1.5cm daisy-like flowers, on creeping plants that multiply slowly-

The delicate blooms of the wonderful ground cover Geranium macrorrhizum are blooming now, this evergreen conifer-scented plant spreads incredibly in dry shade-

Daphne 'Lawrence Crocker' also blooms pink, it remains a small rounded shrub after 12 years, with deep green glossy leaves that look good year round, here with my late Anemone nemorosa 'Vestal'-

The next big bloom machine is my yard are the Columbines, coming soon, which spread by self-sowing and can be double or single, tall or dwarf.   Here is a bud, typical Columbine spurs at the top-

And here is a pink double that is opening now-

I hope those of you in the Northeast US will soon recover from the grip of unseasonable cold weather and be able to enjoy your long-awaited spring.     Hannah

                                                                     or cameras are macro

©Weeding on the Wild Side, all rights reserved.

Favorite Plant Pick of the Week April 18,2014

My Favorite Plant Pick of the Week is Daphne tangutica, one of my 3 surviving Daphnes along with 'Lawrence Crocker' and 'Summer Ice'.  To see other blogger's favorites, join Loree of Danger Garden and check the comments section.  She is featuring Magnolia laevifolia, which is strongly scented with a lemon fragrance and sounds wonderful.

Daphne tangutica blooms in the spring, and wafts a delightful fragrance.   Over the 12 years I have grown it, it has become a 3-4' rounded shrub, carefree and evergreen.   You can see it blooms very heavily-

The tubular flowers grow in clusters and have magenta-purple bases and reverses.

The deep green glossy leaves are evergreen and attractive when the Daphne in not in bloom as well.  It is a Great Plant Pick and hardy in zones 7-10.

Hannah

©Weeding on the Wild Side, all rights reserved.

Foliage Follow-up, April 16, 2014

Today I'm joining hostess Pam at Digging to celebrate some spring foliage, to see other posts, join her there.

I was anxiously hoping for the return of my Trillium luteum I planted last year, and finally Eureka!-some gorgeous leaves, it may be too much to expect a flower this year-

Pulmonaria seedling leaves with gorgeous silvering-

It's raining!  The plant who jewels up the best, Lady's Mantle-

Oxalis adenophylla and Saxifrage 'London's Pride'-

Vinca 'Wojo's Gem'-

So much pretty foliage in the spring!   

Hannah

©Weeding on the Wild Side, all rights reserved.

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day April 15, 2014

Welcome to my GBBD post, to see what is blooming for other gardeners visit May Dreams Gardens, hosted by Carol- thanks Carol!

The plum trees already bloomed, so the pears are blooming now-

 and the apples are beginning with the early William's Pride-

   The snow last winter should cause a lot of plums this summer, and unusual blooming on my Magnolia soulangeana 'Rustica Rubra', which usually only has 2-3 flowers-

To see some blue flowers blooming now- Pulmonaria, Myosotis, Brunnera, and Symphytum,
 click here.

My large Camellia japonica is covered with flowers as usual, I wish the Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide' could get inspired from it, it has yet to bloom.

Osmanthus delavayi is covered with fragrant tiny white tubular flowers that waft delightfully, and has stuck it out well with my sometimes severe cold snaps in winter.

Also blooming, big patches of Anemone nemorosa-

and now the later blooming variety 'Vestal' with double pom-pom centers-

The phantasmagorical Mouse Plant, supposed to the hind quarters of a mouse who has buried its head in the ground (to me it looks more like sightless bird heads with very long beaks), Arisarum proboscideum which has surprised me as one whimsical impulse purchase that actually paid off-

The Daphnes that have survived for me are blooming, 'Summer Ice", Lawrence Crocker, small with small glossy leaves and purple flowers-

And the large 3-4 ft. rounded shrub Daphne tangutica, covered with fragrant flowers that perfume the air all around-

Also blooming are the last of the Daffodils and Hellebores, and Muscari, species Tulips, Hyacinths, Primulas, Violets, Geranium macrorrhizum, many Pulmonaria, Euphorbia cyparissias, Vinca, Bellis lawn daisies, Lamium, Veronica, and the beginning of the Ajugas, Alpine strawberries, Geums, Solomon's Seal, Epimedium, and New Brunswick blueberries, some of which I will show later in my Monday posts.  

Thanks for joining me, Hannah

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