Super (Bowl) Sunday

As I took the dogs out this morning for their walk, I thought what a super day this was....a bit warmer than my cami and little sweater called for, but so lovely.  First thing I saw was my first open daffodil, will have to dig through my notes from last year to see if I can find the name.   As you can see, I haven't trimmed back my grasses yet.   What a great sunny bloom to see!

I have been planting the last week, cooler weather (compared to spring or summer) and hopefully a bit more rain, has made it a great time to plant.  Earlier in the week I planted two Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata', think I found two good places for this semi-picky plant....I love it!!  Can't you just smell that gorgeous bloom?

In addition to the Daphne, I found some azaleas that I planted in our front wooded area.  We have been cleaning this area out, a little bit each winter.  There are dead trees, vines (honeysuckle, smilax, and grape to name a few), and too many Sweetgum trees to be able to grow to a healthy size. 
Two of the azaleas I planted are native hybrids....one is one of the Confederate Series, 'Admiral Semmes'---   you can see the shed in the background.  These native azaleas are deciduous and promise to be fragrant when in bloom. 











Along the edge of the driveway rocks I have some daffodils that are starting to peek up out of the ground.  To keep the dogs from walking on them and to remember where they are (so I don't step on them as well) I use a stick.  Do you see the little leaves sticking up out of the ground?  The stick diverts the dogs to one side or the other, missing newly emerging foliage.

I still need to mulch with pine straw along part of the driveway.  That will dress up the edges a little better.

The other azalea I planted was an Encore 'Autumn Twist'.  It has nice dark green foliage and will put on a show both spring and fall.   This bloom is white with stripes of a purple red...almost looks tie-dyed in the picture on the tag. 

It is in the same vicinity as my Oakleaf Hydrangea.  Knowing this hydrangea will get large, I gave each plenty of room to grow.

Right now the hydrangea is a stick about three feet tall.

This is the other native hybrid azalea I bought and planted.  The name on the tag is 'Tallulah Sunrise'  and it says this plant will get to be 3 x 3 when mature.  If it is double that it is ok as there is plenty of room on this side for it to be as large as it wants to be.  I couldn't find any information online about this one, so if you have any info, please share!

Walking around the rest of the yard, Viburnum tinus 'Spring Bouquet' is full of tiny buds ready to open.

 Hyacinths are coming up....

Fragrance is filling the air from the Edgeworthia chrysantha....yummmm

 Finally the Hellebores are blooming-- what a great addition to the shady garden, something I didn't have in Virginia.

I have an umbrella trellis that has Carolina Jasmine, Gelsemium sempervirens, growing all over it...also getting ready to open.

The Distylium myricoides is full of buds, some open, some just about to open......

For those looking for something to fix for tonight's Super Bowl game....Corned beef roll ups.  Corned beef, cream cheese, and dill pickles.  Really tasty!! 

Have a wonderful Sunday!!




©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

An Older Fun Guy, Diane, Holly, Hazel, and a Few of Their Friends

Yesterday was Learning Garden day. I took advantage of what snow is left on the ground to see what photo opportunities were waiting for me.
This is the Rhododendron area with a blanket of snow...very calming.

A couple weeks ago we had a major planting session. The county had done some building and as it abuts the Learning Garden and some Wetlands, a Buffer zone planting was needed. We were able to choose the plant material which was very nice. The Master Gardeners, along with the extension agent, planted a large tree, three Chionanthus virginicus, a couple Cercis canadensis, Osmanthus fragrans, a couple Amelanchier, and various shrubs. One of the shrubs is Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane'. Isn't she a beauty? We were thrilled to see her full of buds ready to pop open.



After taking tons of photos of Diane I ventured into the wooded area to see a couple of Hollies.

Ilex opaca American Holly and Ilex aquafolia variegata.

On my way from one holly to another I passed by Hazel --her fragrance on the breeze...heavenly.

Hamamelis vernalis

Some of the Camellias are blooming but unfortunately their blooms have suffered from the cold. Camellia japonica 'Mathotiana Rubra'


I like the gentle movement of the Chasmanthus.


A tour of the garden isn't complete without checking in on our fungi, Mr. Bearded Hedgehog. He is getting a little darker in color as he ages.

To see his younger portrait see my posting here.



words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.