Roxanne's Camellias are blooming, and our Redbuds still have some buds on the stems.  I thought they would make a nice Ikebana arrangement. 

 

Ikebana is a style of flower arranging that has a long history.  In Japan, ikebana simply means arranging flowers.  But in recent history, it has come to be more symbolic of heaven, man, and earth.  That's how I learned about it.  

 

See my three elements?  Redbud, white Camellias, and green leaves.  Try it, it's simply beautiful.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!! 

 

Have you noticed the entrance to Cherokee Mountain Estates?  It is covered with these low-growing yellow flowers.  Seek told me that it is Cypress spurge.  I thought it was kinda pretty, so I took its picture.

 

When we got home, I looked it up in my wildflower books, checked Wikipedia, and made sure it really is Cypress spurge.  Yep.  All my sources look the same.

 

Here's what we need to know about this plant.  Its botanical name is Euphorbia cyparissias, same genus as Poinsettia.  You know that milky juice that oozes from broken poinsettia stems;  well this plant oozes that stuff too, and the book says it can cause dermatitis in many people.  SO DON'T TOUCH IT!!!  As the flowers mature, they develop tiny spines that can get under your skin and cause rashes and blisters that irritate for years!!!  NO REALLY, DON'T TOUCH IT!!!  YIKES!!!

 

For something so pretty, it sounds lethal.  So when you see it growing on the side of the road, just admire it from a distance.  Wave and keep going.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Lilium longiflorum, or Easter lily bulbs can be planted outside after they finish blooming for Easter.  They will come back year after year, and bloom in early summer.  They don't naturally bloom at Easter;  they are forced.  The growers bring them out of dormancy in time to bloom around Easter.  You can do this with lots of bulbs:  Amaryllis is one that comes to mind, Paperwhite Narcissus too.  If you start watering the dormant bulbs at Thanksgiving, you'll have blooms mid-winter.  I'm guessing that lily bulbs take about the same amount of time to force.  Or just wait until they bloom naturally.

 

Easter lilies are in a group of lilies that bloom early and have fragrant, megaphone shaped flowers.  Plant them about 8-10 inches deep.  The plants get tall and heavy, so they need to be planted deeply, so they don't fall over.  They love their leaves and flowers in bright sunshine, but want their roots in cool soil.  You can also add lower growing perennials to shade the roots.  

 

When they start to leaf out in spring, the deer LOVE them.  So you need to put cages around them;  but it is so worth it when they bloom.  

 

Just check out Jim and Roxanne's lilies when they bloom.  Don't worry, I'll let you know when that is.  

 

HAPPY EASTER!!!

 

I saw this the other day, and copied it to share.  I think it's great advise, and the picture makes me smile too.  

 

This is my wish for you:  to be close to people who feel like sunshine.  

 

 

HAPPY DAYS AHEAD!!!

 

Be sure to check the bluebird nest box in Yorktown.  The eggs should be hatching in the next few days.  There are five eggs!!!  And the momma bird has been brooding them for the last 12 days.  It's almost time for them to hatch.  

 

 

AND!!!   The other momma bluebird has almost finished her nest.  Be sure to look there too.  https://wbu-yorktown.click2stream.com/   So exciting!!!

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

This is the south lawn at The University of Virginia, and we would all like our yards to look like this.  Just kidding!!!

 

But, it is that time of year when all homeowners start thinking about lawn maintenance.  Do it yourself?  Or hire the job out?

 

For the last few years we've all hired Fidel and his crew (for all kinds of jobs.)  But I guess you know by now that Fidel has left the area.  Not sure about his lawn maintenance crew.  

 

If you know somebody who does that kind of work, please let us know.  We would love to get in touch, and send them clients.  Not everybody is into DIY!!!

 

Thanks!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Hey LOOK!!!  Bluets come in white too!!!  They are so tiny, you probably don't notice them, but I do.  Maybe because I'm closer to the ground than you, or maybe I'm just always looking for tiny wildflowers.  

 

They make me smile!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!! 

 

We drove through the church parking lot the other day, just to see what's in bloom.  They have the most fabulous landscaper:  there is always something interesting to see there.

 

The weeping cherries are already leafing out, the Phlox is lovely, and the Redbuds are totally spectacular.  But what really grabbed me was this Rosemary in bloom.  My Rosemary has 4 flowers on it, so I figured this one would be blooming too.  Just look at it!!!  There are blossoms on nearly every stem.

 

Of course you know that you can eat Rosemary;  it's a fabulous herb.  Did you know that the flowers taste just like Rosemary?  Salad stuff, right there.  Pretty and tasty.  If you want to grow Rosemary in your garden, plant it in full sun.  The deer don't bother it, and you can utilize the leaves and flowers in your kitchen.  

 

One thing I have learned about Rosemary is not to add it to flower arrangements.  Most other flowers don't get along well with the volatile oil that we love.  So if you want Rosemary in a vase, use it by itself.  Or...there're always pretty silk flowers that won't mind being with Rosemary.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

I am SO glad our Five Forks neighbors planted this tree in their yard.  Such a beautiful early spring bloomer.  You can see it on Five Forks Drive on the left as you start through the SSS curves.  

 

It is Saucer Magnolia, Magnolia soulangeana.  Same family as the giant Southern Magnolia, but these trees are deciduous.  They bloom before they leaf out in Spring, really setting off their gorgeous blooms.  They grow 20-25 feet, and produce 5-10 inch tulip shaped blossoms, ranging in color from white to dark rose purple.  They are beautiful to look at, and are also frangrant when in bloom.  

 

There are several deciduous Magnolias, and they are available in our local garden centers.  Now is the time to choose one, because you can see what color it will be when it blooms.  Kinda like buying azaleas; definitely get them when they are in bloom; that way you know what color you're getting.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!! 

 

 

 

Our beautiful Redbuds are in bloom.  I love these trees.  We planted two of them 15 years ago, and about 10 years ago one of them died.  So we just had this one big one.  Well, one year there was a profusion of seeds, and one flew across the driveway and planted itself in the most perfect spot.  So now we have two again, both beautiful and healthy.  I love that kind of self-seeding:  strategic!!!

 

Cercis canadensis, or Eastern Redbud is native to eastern North America.  The medium-sized trees (25-35 feet) grow along the edge of the woods, often reaching out for the sunlight.  This time of year, you can see them all along the highways, showing their gorgeous fuchsia-colored flowers.  In the next couple weeks they will start to leaf out with heart shaped leaves, and kinda lose their showiness.  So look for them now.  

 

Redbud is also available for purchase at all the garden centers, and not that expensive.  Get one and plant it in your yard.  Then you can enjoy it every spring.

 

Earlier this week, we made butternut squash soup, and sprinkled some redbud flowers on top.  It was beautiful.  The flowers are edible, and have a slightly lemon taste.  Not big taste, but you can eat them.  We add them to soups and all kinds of salads for the two weeks they are in bloom.  After that we just have to wait til next year.  

 

I hope you see some Redbuds in your travels.  Remember the rules of foraging if you decide to collect some flowers to eat:

 

#1. POSITIVELY identify what you are picking before you touch it, and especially before you eat it.

#2. Don't trespass on private property.  No plant or flower is worth litigation.

#3. Avoid plants that are growing near busy highways or farmland, they probably contain pollutants that you don't want to ingest.  

#4. If there is only a small amount, leave it.  If there is a lot, take only what you will use.

 

#5. If you really want to try a little bit of redbud flowers for your salad, just come over to our house, I'm always happy to share.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!