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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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Bogturtle's Garden- Nov. 15 to end

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                                   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...
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