Monthly Archives: March 2023

Here They Come

“Emerging Daffodils”
Heatherwood Crabapple Grove

Here come the daffodils, finally! They are emerging two to three weeks later than last year. The cold snap we had in late February has held back our spring outburst of new growth and color.

We are still searching for the right plants to carpet the floor of Heatherwood’s crabapple grove after the daffodils bloom and their foliage dies back.

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Patch of Spring

“Crocus Patch”
Heatherwood, Early Spring

In the fall of 2020 we planted our first batch (3000) of spring bulbs all around our garden. Now we have several patches of spring color popping up all over. Once they start emerging, I can hardly control myself from wanting to go out the first thing in the morning to see what new is happening in the garden.

We are getting ready to place our order for this fall.

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Spring is Here

“Cornelian Cherry Dogwood”
Heatherwood, Early Spring

Our Cornelian cherry dogwood is Heatherwood’s first tree to start blooming. The buds are just starting to break. Soon the forsythia and star magnolias will start break into their spring glory as well.

The first day of spring was five days ago. Today is the first time that I have been able to take a walk in our garden with my camera to welcome spring.

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Not So “Bright and Shiny”

“Mary’s Bright & Shiny Garden”
Heatherwood, Early Spring

Our Heatherwood garden is the least interesting at this point of winter’s transition to spring. All the grasses and perennials have been trimmed back. New growth is waiting for the warmth of spring to sprout up. Typically, this garden patch between the cherry trees and yellow twig dogwoods is full of color and textures. We will just have to wait for about a month for the new growth and blooms to emerge into Heatherwood’s spring beauty.

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Surprise On the Left

“Trimmed Grass-Lined Path”
Heatherwood, Early Spring

This little s-curve leads a walker from Heatherwood’s central meadow area to an open grass area with a woodland area in the background. When one starts on the path they do not have an idea of what is around the bend. As they move through the corner, the view opens up to a conifer lined path framing the lawn and the woodland. Surprise!

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I don’t know what it is, but it’s sure pretty.

“Ground Cover ?”
Yakima Area Arboretum, WA

Meandering along in the Yakima Arboretum Japanese garden, I looked down and saw this stringy ground cover. It was full of oranges, purples, greens, yellows, and turquoise colors. I don’t have any idea of what kind of ground cover it is, but I really need to get some for our Heatherwood garden.

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More Snow !

“New Blanked of Snow”
Heatherwood Meadow

I woke up this morning to a new blanket of snow. It was beautiful, but … my spring clean-up crew was scheduled to start cutting back the grasses and perennials. I guess I will have to wait for a few more days.

The beauty of the new snow blanketing Heatherwood was worth the delay. I enjoyed a two hour walk around the garden with my camera. Each day is a gift. My challenge/opportunity is to make the best of each day. Yesterday was a great day!

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In Process

“Future Garden Room”
Heatherwood Lower Garden

Throughout our Heatherwood Garden, we have designed several sitting areas that have a nice view of the garden and the surrounding hills. This area is in the southwest corner of the property looking east over an in-process garden room area and toward the background bluff. As we fill in the planting areas around the lawn and behind the chairs, this sitting area will be a secluded peaceful retreat. It will be a special place to watch the morning sunrise or a late afternoon’s amber glow on the garden and bluff.

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