Tag Archives: caryopteris

Fresh Snow

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It snowed last night and I was greeted this morning by the reassuring rumble of a snow plow clearing out my drive way.  We didn’t get enough to snow anyone in, at least here in Grand Rapids.  The lake shore may have gotten more.  But everything is dressed in caps of snow.  I emptied another bag of cracked corn and set it out in the rose medallion.  The cat and I enjoy watching the large flock of sparrows and juncos who seem to find the corn moments after I set it out.  I suspect the cat’s bird watching motivation is somewhat different than mine.

Snow capped stadle

The wind is picking up and the forecast says we will get gusts up to 22 miles per hour.  So, I bundled up and ventured out to take a few pictures before the wind blew all the snow caps away.

 

 

Limelight hydrangea dressed in snow

Entrance to the secret garden

Blue light special

Nobody home

Caryopteris

Enter Caryopteris!

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At last the Caryopteris is blooming!  It seems late this year, but perhaps it is just my impatience.  I have Blue Beard and Blue Knight, and unless I consult the garden book, which is upstairs, I don’t know which one I’m looking at.  Blue Knight has a slightly darker flower, I think.  I had Caryopteris in my Portland garden, but it never did as well.  It loves the gravely soil here at 337.  In fact, the plan was to underplant it in front of the White Dome Hydrangeas.  But it gets taller than the White Domes as much as 12 inches.

Caryopteris

Also blooming are the Anemones.  A friend did a little guerrilla gardening one summer day a few years ago.  And I’m so glad he did. I now have both pink and white Anemones.

Anemone and Honey Bee

The honey bees are happy that the Anemones are in the garden.

And though the dramatic blooming time is over, the garden continues to work its charm. But I’ll be so glad when the Dutchman’s Pipe fully conceals the supports and creates a solid west wall for the Secret Garden.  What’s the use of having a Secret Garden if it’s not a secret?