It is so exciting to think we are on the cusp of a floral explosion around here. First the hammamelis (witch hazel) ,snowdrops  pussy willows and crocus, followed quickly by siberian squill,  daffodils and quince, next thing you know its early tulips ,hyacinth forsythia, spice bush (lindera)and flowering fruit trees.  Then the list expands rapidly….magnolia, azalea, euphorbias,moss phlox, violas ,iberis……..my goodness..it is all too much to think about because the garden is awake and calling loudly for its mother!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

I have lots and lots to do and have started with the myriad of lists that will grace my desk, the kitchen counter and table, and stuck via post-it-note to the cabinets. The bulkhead needs fixing and painting, we have three new  big projects in the works:

-a covered sitting area with fire pit and fountain in the pool area

-the inside of the shed ( including ,but not limited to, wall building, painting, shelving, and decorating)

-the front of the side yard will be lawn- free and tree- full hopefully by the end of spring

As for the screaming garden itself, I have yet to finish fall clean-up….which I know shocks you , and the bunnies are more than active given the warm weather so I have a lot of little cages to build to protect all that tastly new growth they love so much. There are layered shrubs to divide and replant, roses to transplant, and seeds to start.

As for the clematis, I have several more arriving for spring planting ( more on that later) and must cut back all the hard prune varieties including the sweet atumn (terniflora), tanguiticas, all the vitacellas ( Betty Corning Etoille Violette, Kermesina, Purpurea elegans), Comtesse de Bouchard, Gipsy Queen, Mrs. Robert Brydon, the texensis hybrids… eegads…I should make another list!

While I was speaking over the winter there was an emerging theme of  “Gardeners  who only have August Blooming Clematis” ( not a very catchy theme name but its early in the morning here). If you have clematis that bloom ONLY in August and they are not Sweet Autumn (terniflora or it’s new variety mandshirica) ,or  the groundcover c.joinana, chances are its is because you are pruning them when you shouldn’t be. There are many clematis that bloom early on  old wood, then again  in August or September on new woood. they are typically refered to as group 2.  I think many gardeners just always cut back their clematis routinely no matter what variety they are, and in doing so sacrifice what should be a long season of bloom.

Here in the Burrow, I cut back to about 8-12 inches ( leaving just a few leaf buds) all my Type 3 ( or hard prune) varieties and LEAVE THE REST ALONE! If you are really bothered by their appearance, trim them a little, taking away no more than 1/3 of their growth.  When I said this to  someone at a talk  I was giving, she expressed disbelief that the brown vine with shriveled up leaves she had could possibly turn into a viable plant and was inclined to ignore me. That makes me sad a.) because I hate to be ignored and b.) because that clematis will be beautiful in late May-early June if she just leaves it uncut.

Clematis are woody vines, not perennials. Think of those vines more like a lacecap hydrangea  who, unlike an annabelle hydrangea which can be mowed to the ground in the spring and flower later, will loose all its flower buds if you prune it in the spring.Put the pruners down, and walk away. Then email me to thank me in June when your lovely  Henryi, Elsa Spaeth, Crystal  Fountain, or whatever is putting on quite the show precisely at the time of your graduation party-first cookout-garden tour- or whatever else you have planned in late spring.

It is also Flower Show season, and although I have not been to the Boston one( which started yesterday) yet, I have been to Rhode Island and will be in Boston on Staurday and Sunday.

I am putting in the photos I took in RI, and here is my little mini review too…

I loved that most of the displays used spring flowers that would actually in real life be in bloom at around the same time. I get annoyed when I see displays that have summer blooming plants nestled next to the daffodils. Picky? Yes.

I love love love the window box with the clematis. YES you can plant them in containers and window boxes, there are so many available now in smaller sizes for just that reason. AND they will overwinter just fine if left there.

I got a kick out of the lawn speckled with dandelions. and that display ( even though I forgot to look at who did it) won hands down for me. In the pictures it is the one with the best looking forced  fothergilla I have ever seen ( it is loaded with bottle brushes!), the old lawn mower and the window boxes. It was all very real looking and do-able for any gardener and charming to say the least.

Happy Bloom Day! ( and thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens)

[cincopa AUCAx3K6ayZ6]