The Garden of Bogturtle

   My daughter moved most of the Christmas and Thanksgiving Cacti, and one African Violet, to this dining table, and are really thriving. Surprised that the Violet is budding again. Edgeworthia chrysantha will bloom with fragrant flowers in Spring, and will hold these silvery buds. Makes the plant attractive all Winter.  The green stems of the Kerria are very different in the gray Winter.  Easy to find lots of colorful decorations for the little landing. In the long window box, on the landing, are twigs of the silvery blue Arizona Cypress 'Blue Ice', some Holly and twigs of the red Colored Bark Dogwood.  More interesting than attractive, the Siberian Cypress, Microbiota discussata turns rust colored for Winter. An evergreen, supposedy, but so is the southern Swamp Cypress and the Tamarack tree from the North. They both turn yellow or amber for Winter, I believe.  I may post, here, a photo of the magnificent display Longwood Gardens somehow manages, of this ...

                                   The Deer found nothing of interest in the leftovers and table scraps I throw out to the wildlife but I seldom get such an excellent close up, although they are around all the time.  Quite brilliant. The Nandina domestica 'Harbor dwarf' really is a dwarf form of the plant. It has never flowered or fruited here. The common name is 'Heavenly Bamboo'. Several tries at getting this form of Nandina established. Cannot say why. Finally it looks like it will grow. At the base of the Red Cedar tree where we park the vehicles. And, perhaps, more dark will disappear as the last of the chlorophyll leaves.  The amazing form I think is called 'Firepower'.  This bright yellow plant is a deciduous Rhododendron named R. mucronulatum 'Alba'. Could have planted the much commoner purple-pink or orchid colored form. Dislike the color. So I planted this, which will bloom...

The Silverbell Tree that oversees where we leave the parking area is a clear yellow. Quite a spectacular tree, in Spring, found naturally near rivers in our Southern mountains.  This one Fothergilla always takes on this spectacular red. I always wonder that this shrub is so seldom used in landscaping, as its unusual Spring flowers, slow growth rate and this Fall color should make it more popular. Another native of our Southeastern mountains, I think. And normal and dwarf sorts have become more commonly available, over the years.   Another southern native, the Oakleaved Hydrangea is shown here in one of the most popular and vigorous sorts. From Princeton University, I think. H. quercifolia 'Snow Queen'. Blowing away the leaves from the drive is a pleasant chore, every 3 or 4 days. And a layer of them has been added to all I put over some Daffodil bulbs I dug up. An experiment and possible alternative to planting them. Several inches of woodchips, grass clippings and leaves...