White coat of many colors
December 14th, 2007 by Kristin GreenSnow snow snow! And a Garden Blogger’s Bloomday (hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens) a day early. I practically wore out the shutter of my little camera taking pics yesterday and today (I think I could smell it smoking…) so here are an end of the week bunch. As always, hover over the pictures for a title and click for a larger view.
If I hadn’t overheard Dan say the cherry was blooming I probably would have missed it! Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ blooms a bit in the fall – it’s subtle!- and again in the spring. It seems like our recent cold temps should have nipped it in the bud (so to speak) but even a fairly major snowfall didn’t stop a few from opening. Follow my tracks through the Rose Garden to find this tree.
The Harlequin glory bower (Clerodendrum trichotomum) berries are a bluer blue than my camera captured – you’ll have to come see it for yourself! 
The Leucothoe fontanesiana shows up multicolored in the snow.
The pond and Rock Garden are sepia toned.
The Burning bush (Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’) looks like a nest. And the snow has revealed a nest within the nest.
I didn’t want to tread on the Bosquet’s hem – it’s dressed in its finest winter robe. Sometimes I wish I could hover over the surface and not mess it up with burly boot prints. Other times I want to flop around and make a dozen angels. What do you do with the first snow? 
The greenhouse inhabitants are in full winter finery too – this selection in honor of Bloom Day includes stock plants – Cuphea micropetala and Salvia vanhoutii ‘Paul’, a Farfugium japonicum ‘Aureomaculatum’ – not blooming but I love its sunspots!, a Camellia chandlerei that just opened, and two views of a Plectranthus hilliardiae ‘Candelabra’ on the low-light houseplants bench. There are many more bloomers – come by for a coat of color! (The greenhouse door is open weekdays and most weekends between 10 and 4 .)
December 15th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Hey there, Kris. Sorry to hear about your camerellis smokinelli problems. It must have been difficult to avoid capturing all your footprints in the snow as you moved about the grounds, and to keep the lens up wind of the steam coming out of the battery compartment. Good job on both ends!
Pink’s new name will be Aleida Guevara…Aleida for short. She is enjoying her reunion with Pops. Thanks again!
December 15th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Kris, I’ve been looking at bloom posts for awhile and you are the only one I know of with a flowering cherry! Most of us where the snow is are showing primarily indoor plants. But you’ve shown us how good a garden can look in the winter and snow, too.
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
December 15th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
What a beautiful grouping of pictures, Kris! I love the cherry that blooms in both spring and fall–if I had room for an ornamental here, I would seriously consider that one.
How do you keep that leucothoe happy? I had one that I finally shovel-pruned in disgust after trying it in every corner of the garden (or at least, it felt like I did) and having it look just as ratty no matter where it was moved.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Thanks Brendan! The name you gave your new baby graptopetalum has started a train of thought chugging in my head – perhaps I’ll do a post later on the naming of things…
Carol, I think our cherry timed itself perfectly for bloom day – it should have been earlier!
Kim, Our leucothoes are perfectly situated in the shade of the Bosquet under the maples in a rich humus-y soil. And they do have tattered edges and thicket like underskirts but I think because they are very large they manage to look lush overall. I have spent time on one or two of the smaller ones in the spring though taking the dead out and trying to make them look less twiggy…
December 17th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I figured you have photos from the greenhouse, but a Cherry blossom in the snow? Awesome!
December 18th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Thanks, Mr. McG’s D! – I have my co-worker Dan to thank for noticing the cherry blooms – I never would have gotten a picture of it otherwise.
December 18th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
That picture of the snow in the trees with the sun in the background is great! It would make a good calendar photo.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Thanks, Dave – and thanks for visiting!
December 21st, 2007 at 1:11 am
Sigh. I wish I lived closer. Note to self. Get a damn passport, and get travelling next summer.
Thanks for a much-needed shot of bright colour, Kris.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:55 am
Jodi, I hope to see you here soon! There’s a lot to write about – maybe you could make it a business trip!