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Bogturtle's Garden March 2026

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This may be just a deep violet example of C. thomasianna. I certainly did not put a bulb at the base of the trio of WitchHazel trees where this showed up.  The 'Tommy' Crocuses are all over the place. I think the ants spread the seeds, as those have a sweet coating the ants like. At any rate. Crocus thomasanianna, if that's the spelling, seems the only sort that dependably comes a back. And more than that, it multiplies. And then the Honeybees are all over it. Where the hive may be is a mystery. The first of many Eranthus haemalis, the Winter Aconite. This clump has not increased, strangely enough. But some, planted in the chips in the bed in the center of the lawn are coming on nicely.  Came home with it snowing. And the Edgeworthia chrysantha is almost opening all its silvery white buds.   The twinned flowers of the Honeysuckle, Lonicera fragrantissima, are opening, and snow is on them also. Usually with several honeybees visiting, so I expect that on the next plea...
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Bog Turtle's Garden- February 2026

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A Leucothoe or Doghobble now showing little red buds. Perhiaps L. fontenasiana. Always problematical to me, as saying the species is difficult. Ordered a lifetime ago from a southern nursery that, probably, should have denied my the flat of them, me just being a home gardener with no commercial tax number. It was cut to the ground a number of years ago, and has come back beautifully. Nandina 'firepower' shows stress from this severe Winter, but is still looking almost fluorescent.  The evergreen, furthest in the picture, is simply called the Japanese Temple Juniper, but it surely has a proper Scientific name. The plant with the large silvery buds will soon be in bloom. Edgeworthia chrysantha. There are now several distinct named clones.  And nearest, well budded for Spring, is Pieris 'Caventine'. This Mahonia, developed in Ireland, is showing quite a bit of Winter damage, and never did bloom as it has in milder Winters. M. 'Winter Sun'. Among one or two especial...
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Bogturtle's Garden- Jan. 2026

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 In the circle, as we drive out from parking, a Mahonia bealii is blooming, seemingly unharmed by our past really cold weather. A flower cluster in every branch of the lanky shrub, and in quite a bit of evergreen shade.  I check the trail cameras almost every day. Only twice, before, have I seen Raccoons, here, out in the day. The other two times, they were out of their minds and rabid. This one just ignored the kitchen leftovers and scraps, that attract so many animals, each night. Very fat, or puffed up,  maybe to fend off the cold. Procyon lotor. Apparently the proper, Scientific name means 'The masked bandit'. I would swear blogger is misbehaving. Nothing new, except for more emerging flowers on Cyclamen coem 'Silver Leaved'. Amazingly early, it being Jan. 12. Hamamelis 'Rochester' must be in full bloom, here on Jan 12th. I detect no odor, although it is supposed to be scented. The unfortunate leaf retention, so common among these hybrids, is clear. None on ...
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Bogturtle's Garden- December 2025

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   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 ...
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