“Daffodils in Crabapple Grove”
Heatherwood Spring
One more day and all the daffodils are in bloom. From the time that the first daffodils bloomed it only took four days for the whole daffodil drift to bloom. In the same time period several of the crabapples started to leaf out. Shortly they will start to bloom one by one.
“Daffies in Late Afternoon Sun”
Heatherwood Spring
Another day brings out more daffodil blooms. The field is now about 75% in bloom. One day makes a big difference.
Yesterday’s garden walk was in the late afternoon just before the sun dropped behind the western hills. The warm light was gorgeous as it spread across the garden onto the daffodils in the crabapple grove. It was a nice way to wrap-up a beautiful spring day!
“Daffodils and Crabapples”
Heatherwood Crabapple Grove
It’s hard to believe just how much difference only one day makes. Yesterday’s post showed just a few blooms. Today’s post, taken one day later, shows about 50% of the daffodils in bloom. Tomorrow will be even more!
“First Daffodils”
Heatherwood Spring
Yesterday we woke up and looked out our window, and there they were, the first daffodils of the year. There were about a dozen blooms among the field of green leaves. We took a morning stroll to admire them. Looking around we could see little reddish leaves starting to emerge from the spirea shrubs. Leaves were also starting to emerge from the crabapples. Once a few daffodils bloom, the remaining bulbs soon follow. We are just starting a series of blooming/budding color in our crabapple grove. First the daffodils, then the various crabapple trees one species at a time. Each week will have a different surprise.
We love spring!
“Yukimi & Siberian Iris”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden
Today is the first day of spring. Early spring bulbs including the Siberian iris and crocuses are in bloom. Daffodil chutes are poking up through the ground. Their blossoms are still a couple of weeks away. The forsythia is blooming along with the first blossoms of the star magnolias and the Cornelian Cherry dogwood. All of the grasses and perennials have been trimmed. The garden spring weeding has been completed. We will celebrate the first day of spring today by pruning our roses.
“Crocuses Viewed Through Chief Joseph”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden
I got up from my knees where I took the image on my last post, turned around, and saw this vignette. Looking through the bright yellow needles of our Chief Joseph lodgepole pine I caught a glimpse of white and purple crocuses. It was one more opportunity to create the feeling of a warm late winter day. Spring is coming!
There is so much to see and enjoy in our Heatherwood garden. The images in the last three posts are only 3-4 steps apart. All I have to do is open my eyes and wait for something interesting to come to me.
“Japanese Maple Leaf on Phlox”
Heatherwood Winter
I enjoy the little things in the garden. A couple of days ago, I took a short stroll with my macro lens just looking for little things of contrast and interest. I looked down and noticed a single Japanese maple leaf from last year lying across the new growth of the a mound of phlox ground cover. The tips of the maple leaf accentuated the tips of the old and new growth of the phlox.
“Front Yard Color”
Heatherwood Late Winter
Who says a late winter garden is dull? Even after a little spring clean-up, Heatherwood’s gardens present late winter color interest. The above vignette is one of several areas that have filled in with a combination of evergreens, grasses, shrubs, and ground covers. It is our intent to continue to fill in the open garden areas with ground covers as the trees and shrubs grow and mature.
“Last Year’s Grasses”
Heatherwood Meadow
By the time this post is published, this clump of grasses will be gone. They are saying goodbye until next autumn. We have held off cutting the grasses down through the winter. They have provided seeds for the birds and interesting visual textures for us to enjoy. We enjoy watching them flow through the winter winds as well as visualizing the interesting shapes they form when laden with snow.
“Ice Plant in Transition”
Heatherwood Winter
We have been busy with Heatherwood’s spring cleaning. During this time of year, I am always looking out for the little things that have started their spring growth or color change. In the image above, the ice plant is changing from its winter orange/red to its summer lime green.