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 the Witch-hazels I saw at Longwood Gardens, years ago. I know those are leaf retentive sorts. So maybe a volunteer or employee goes out and picks each one. Can't imagine, but they seem to aim at perfection. They also had a grove of red Winterberry unmolested by birds. Mine are almost stripped of berries, now. 


Two other Witch-hazels are blooming. Both over by the little pool. They shade it too much, but, fortunately, a good deal of light comes from the side closer to the house and bench. This orange bloomed one is Hamamelis 'Jelena'. The clear yellow blooming H. 'Wisely Supreme' will be shown ASAP.


Over by the little pool Hamamelis "Jelena", also named 'Copper Beauty' blooms with the lemon yellow 'Wisely Supreme'. Until I had trees felled, to give more sun for solar panels on the roof, these trees recieved a lot of shade. So they might be fuller. As it is, they leaned towards the sun, really shading the little pool. 


On  the other side of the yard, the Witch-hazel named 'Angely' is also in bloom. Terrible leaf retention detracts. Below is another photo of 'Wisely Supreme' and 'Jelena', high against the sky.


And, at the other end of the yard, a favorite, 'Robert' is in bloom. One of the few that blooms with almost no leaf retention. Dark rust colored flowers. 


A closeup of the little spider shaped flowers of 'Angely'. The trees are named, as far as I know, after members of the european family, DeBelder, that releases so many cultivars. Seemingly dominating the market, and good. 

One of my new, solar panel powered trail cameras. Still have to set the date, this being Jan 24/26. Hoping they will soon pay for themselves in battery savings, not having to worry about weak or spent batteries, and the time in replacing those. Not much done out of doors, today. 31 F and a serious storm on the way.  I am pruning down the Knockout Roses to about 18 inches or less, as I do every Winter. Battery powered little chain saws make this easy. 
Generally, sizing up the view, one can see the rusty haze of the Witch-Hazels in bloom and a rusty tinge, at their base, because of the red barked Cornus shrubs.  And I am anticipating Daffodils, dug up from elsewhere, showing up among the wood chips at the near edge of the circular bed with the birdbath. And assorted smaller bulbs, both dug up and purchased. And as the Daffodils fade, the line of Daylillys will show up. 


Beautiful, but pests, Deer must be in the area where we park the vehicles every night. The damage, with them eating wanted plants, and now these footprints, give it away.  No practical remedy, while I do spray repellent. It works until rain washes it away. An expensive remedy.These tracks were left in the tire impressions. Afraid of being snowed in, and with a slight up grade, just before I get on to the road, I cleaned off the truck and twice drove out to the road and back. 



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