Tag Archives: Heatherwood

Give Me One More Day

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Star Magnolia Bloom
Heatherwood Spring

I can hear the magnolia blossoms speak, “I am almost there. Give me one more day and I will be in my full spring glory.” One day makes a huge difference when the star magnolias start to bloom. One day there are only buds waiting to burst open. A day later more buds are enlarging and a few start to emerge into blossom. The next day blossoms are unfolding all over. Then they are all in full bloom. The wind starts to blow and the edges begin to look a bit tattered. Then the tips start to turn brown. Soon the blossoms cover the ground like a blanket of snow. I try not to miss a day walking by and enjoying the spring glory of our star magnolias.

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Spring is Here!

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Cornelian Cherry Dogwood
Heatherwood Spring

Spring started with sunshine and warm days here at Heatherwood. The Cornelian cherry dogwoods, star magnolias, forsythias, and early flowering cherries are in full bloom. The daffodils are right behind.

Spring brings new growth and re-emergence. It is a catalyst for fresh new thoughts and experiences. Enjoying new things in the garden helps me focus on what is right about this world. Positive thoughts are essential with all the crazy things that are currently going on.

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Our Spring Project Is Starting

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Grasses and Dogwoods
Heatherwood, South Bed

Yesterday we started our spring cleanup. Our first task will be to cut back the grasses and dogwood shrubs. It is a big chore over the 4 acres of Heatherwood.

Our major spring project will be to connect our southeast and southwest conifer corner beds. This will entail removing the grasses and dogwood shrubs shown in the image above. We are looking for new homes in our garden and around the neighborhood for these plants. Once the area is cleared we will develop a path through the area that will connect our two conifer corner beds. After it is laid out, we will select specimen conifers and Japanese maples to fill in the planting area.

Our garden will never be complete. Areas become overgrown, new ideas emerge, interests change. Every day as we enjoy our existing garden, future dreams form.

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Early Signs of Spring

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Mary’s Crocuses
Heatherwood Late Winter

Little spots of color have just emerged from the ground. They are scattered through Heatherwood’s Japanese garden area. They are a signal that spring is just around the corner. I enjoy their beauty as I dream about how the garden will soon transform into its spring glory.

As I observe how they are scattered about, I smile. I reflect on how they got there in the first place. They were Mary’s first effort in adding to Heatherwood’s design. Several years ago, I handed Mary several bags of crocus bulbs and told her to plant them anywhere she wanted. She went about the garden and planted a few here and a few there. The next spring a few flowers popped up around the garden. We had to search for them. Each year a few more flowers emerged. Now they provide a sprinkle of late winter highlights through the upper garden. This fall, I plan to give her bags of snow drops to scatter around the garden landscape. I look forward to new surprises next winter.

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Winter Color #2

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Wintersonne & Big Tuna Mugo Pines and Winter Heath
Heatherwood Winter

Yesterday was a cloudy and warm winter day (mid 40’s). I grabbed my camera and strolled around the garden for about three hours. I focused on creating an overall picture of the color, textures, and forms of Heatherwood’s winter display. The garden’s beauty was astounding. I could have spent several more hours just wandering around, but other chores brought me in.

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Who Says Winter is Boring?

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Winter Colors
Heatherwood Winter

Heatherwood provides a little winter oasis to the drab Eastern Washington landscape in early February. Even in the middle of winter, color and interest abounds in our garden. Our unseasonable warm weather entices me to get out and stroll through the winter garden. At the same time the East coast is encountering extreme cold temperatures and heavy snow. How lucky we are!

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Mid December Color

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December Color
Heatherwood Rock Garden

Color persists as Heatherwood moves into winter. The Wintersonne mugo pine is turning into its brilliant yellow winter color. The bright red berries of the evergreen cotoneaster highlight the hillside and provide treats for the wintering birds. The ice plants are turning from their summer green into their winter orange. The green of the Valley Cushion mugo pine and the gray-green of the thyme provide additional contrast. The color will last throughout the coming winter providing interest through the season.

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Good Morning !!!

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Sunrise
Heatherwood, Late Fall

Late fall and winter sunrises at Heatherwood are frequently spectacular. Many times I arise early in the morning when it is pitch dark. After a bit, a slight hint of light rises in the east. I see a trace of orange on the horizon. Soon the light spreads across the sky in pastel shades orange and pink. The hills and valley below are still pitch dark. Gradually, I can see dark shadows of hillsides and trees emerge. Then the sky bursts out in glorious brilliance of yellows, oranges, pinks, and purples. Mother Nature shouts out GOOD MORNING!!! Quickly the light spreads over the valley and the brilliant sky colors start to fade. It is a wonderful way to start the day!

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Looking Into the Woodland

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Woodland Edge
Heatherwood Fall

As our neighbors walk along the neighborhood road, they come across this view into our woodland garden. Fall color is everywhere. As I write this, the red leaves of the background maples are rapidly falling. Soon the neighborhood walkers will be able to see the bluff rising above the garden. Even after the leaves have all fallen, there will be plenty of color with the green conifers, red/purple barberry, white birches, and red and yellow dogwood shrub branches. In addition, the interesting textures and tones of the grasses and perennials will continue to provide winter interest.

As we developed our Heatherwood garden, one of our design criteria was to provide interesting views and vignettes from the road into the garden. Sharing nature’s beauty is an important gift that we can give. Visitors can enjoy Heatherwood’s beauty looking in as we enjoy its beauty looking out.

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Looking Out My Office Window

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Fall Colors
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I begin each day in my office writing in my journal. The sun was not up when I started writing today. When I was finished I turned around and saw the early morning light on the garden outside my office window. My mind quickly shifted from scattered daily thoughts to just enjoying the beauty of nature in front of me. What a great way to begin the day ahead!

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