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 Foliage Combination. Note the flowering Pears lining the drive. Design & Photos by Maria von Brincken 2013. I think a lot about leaves. Even if I wasn’t a landscape designer, I would still think a lot about leaves. Guess that makes me a leaf lover! I enjoyed the progressing tapestry of new leaves in the woodland just outside my window.
I really love the early spring foliage of the New England native red maple (acer rubrum). Perhaps its called that because in the spring its new foliage adds a delicate cast of vermilion to the tree line and gorgeous crimson in the fall. I remember my first spring in New England –just transplanted from northern California—I marveled at the spring foliage colors and the subtle way it echoed the fall coloration.
So I watched the emerging leaves and the changing color palette of the woodland and I pondered a question I’ve had last few springs. When do the brown pin oak leaves drop? You may think why in the world would she wonder about that? It’s because the pin oak is one of the last of the oak trees in this area to lose the dead brown leaves. There’s one outside my back deck just beyond my main viewing window and it’s covered in brown leaves all winter. As it’s matured, it’s created “peek through” or ‘windows “in its branching revealing the gray birch in high contrast tucked behind it. I loved the shimmery light green leaves of the light grey barked birch now revealed behind the pin oak.
 Early Woodland.
photo by Maria von Brincken 2013 This year I noticed (and I should have been scientific and written the date on my calendar—but that’s not my nature) when the peepers —our local frog chorus—began its serenade, that when the leaves started dropping off. And that’s about the same time that the night temps hover above freezing. I figure that the warmer temps encourage the new leaf buds to emerge pushing off the old dead leaves. Now I’m not a scientist so maybe my observation is incorrect but that’s what it looks like.
Every year I’m captivated by the patterns of the new leaves emerging on the different trees. The progression fascinates me. The popular was one of the first trees to bud. It seemed that the minute the temperatures changed, the poplar pushed out big fat buds, then the catkins, then they dried up and fell off. Then the ornamental Thundercloud Plum, burst into pink (now magnificent burgundy red leaves) followed immediately by the white blooming pear non- fruiting ornamental.
- Flowering Pear lines drive. Design & Photo by Maria von Brincken 2013
It’s a tree found ablaze in white flowers all over the streets of New England. Even with its branching problems, it’s the street tree of choice lining new housing development roads, news mall planting beds, commuter roads, super market and shopping malls. Because of that I’m reluctant to use them, but they were the best choice for a project I designed and installed in 2004. I went to see them and they were in full bloom looking wonderful as I had planted them in an allee lining the drive. They were magnificent framing all the entry gardens.
Loving the play of leaf on leaf you wouldn’t be surprised to know that as a designer I love to use foliage combinations to enhance a design. Here’s a couple of examples from landscapes designed and recently visited. There’s much to write about here but I’m typing one handed as I broke my arm last week. It’s a really busy time of year for me. I’m hoping I can install the vocal software soon!
 Foliage Combination. Design & Photo by Maria von Brincken 2013. But I digress, today as I’m finally have time to write about this marvel of nature, I see the forest trees all leafed out and pretty much wearing the same lovely shade of new green. I hope you’re enjoying the palette and the amazing progression as well.
Foliage. Design & Photo by Maria von Brincken 2013
All week I’ve been heartsick. The April 15th Boston Marathon Bombings and the subsequent Lock-down of Metropolitan Boston yesterday have been a distraction to say the least. Last Monday felt like a truly spring day –night temps were above freezing and days without the need for a heavy coat, hat and scarf. Trees and shrubs budding, spring bulbs flowering in the warmer southern exposures, winter’s siege seemed to finally lifting. It was a great day for the marathon—not too hot or cold. Indeed celebration was in the air, until–until our peace was ruptured. And, I was experiencing how it feels like to live in war torn countries. (As an aside, there’s a great song that always make me thoughtful—Loudon Wainwright III ‘s –‘Pretty Good Day’. http://www.metrolyrics.com/pretty-good-day-lyrics-loudon-wainwright-iii.html ) See lyrics at end of this blog.
Photo by Suarez.
- Photo by Suarez.
We humans use flowers to show sympathy—impromptu roadside tributes feature layers of them. Indeed there’s a mounding memorial to the dead and wounded in Boston at the closed street intersection. Something about their beauty gives us some solace—not lightness but some solace. I found myself buying a second bouquet this week of brightly hued blooms. Outside I looked for and treasured the emerging early spring flowering bulbs and perennials I enjoy yearly.
Here’s a couple of the flowering plants I photographed but not all that I savored. It’s pouring rain outside, so I can’t take better photos today. Hopefully you’ll get the beauty of the moment from these images of the early spring flowering tree Star Magnolia and the blue spring bulb Scilla.
 Scilla in Flower –Photo by Maria von Brincken c 2013 Following are the lyrics from Loudon Wainwright III – Pretty Good Day
I slept through the night, I got through to the dawn
I flipped a switch and the light went on
I got out of bed and I put some clothes on
Oh, it’s a pretty good day so far
I turned the tap, there was cold, there was hot
I put on my coat to go to the shop
I stepped outside and I didn’t get shot
Oh, it’s a pretty good day so far
I didn’t hear any sirens or explosions
No murders coming in from those heavy guns
No UN tanks and I didn’t see one
It’s a pretty good day so far
 Star Magnolial–Photo by Maria von Brincken c 2013 No snipers in windows taking a peak
No people panic, running scared through the streets
I didn’t see any bodies without arms, legs or feet
It’s a pretty good day
There was plasma bandages and electricity
Food, wood and water and the air was smoke free
No camera crews from my TV
It was all such a strange sight to be home
Nobody was frightened, wounded, hungry or cold
And the children seemed normal, they didn’t look old
It’s a pretty good day so far
I walked through a park, you would not believe it
There in the park, there were a few trees left
And on some branches, there were a few leaves
I slept through the night, I got through to the dawn
I flipped the switch and the light went on
I wrote down my dream, I made it this song
Oh, it’s a pretty good day so far
 Photo by Maria von Brincken copyright 2013 It’s here. I noticed it yesterday. After weeks of an extended dreary winter, yesterday I knew that spring had finally arrived in New England. For one thing–its been warmer. 50 something yesterday–I scuttled from car to appointments without a coat.
And yesterday morning, I was appalled at the windows–they need washing–that’s because the sun’s angle is higher. Looking out those same windows, the birds drew my gaze to the poplar tree and ding! I realized more birds and the poplar has big fat leaf buds.
More signs of spring: I tugged on the winter greens and branches in my outdoor containers and yesterday they came out! Finally they weren’t frozen stuck anymore. I eagerly removed them and stuck in the silk forsythia branches I use til it’s warm enough (night temps) to plant pansies.
I saw the snow drop blooming. (Don’t know what happened to the dozens I planted years ago–I’m so elated to see one!). And the witch hazel still blooms.
 Witch Hazel Two Weeks Ago Photo by Maria von Brincken copyright 2013
 Witch Hazel This Morning!
Photo by Maria von Brincken copyright 2013 Supermarket daffodils and tulips I arranged in a vase. It’s my daily healing ritual–to smell and enjoy the flowers. During the summer, I pick from my garden. The rest of the year, supermarket lilies, roses, mums, and now spring bulbs gladden my day. These are perfect for Easter.
 Design & Photo by Maria von Brincken copyright 2013 Last night I thought about opening windows to listen for the peepers-spring frogs that serenade us here in New England. But realized the night temps are still too cool. They’re in the thirties. So now I’ll be listening with my ears and measuring emerging bulb foliage with my eyes so I don’t miss a thing. Guess you could say I’m ready and eager to savor Spring!
 Photo & Design: Maria von Brincken copyright 2013 Here in the Northeast we were visited by another snow storm bringing our total since early February around 100 inches! Ninety something inches more than last year. But who’s counting? The news reports individuals who are angry with the Groundhog. Remember, this year the Groundhog predicted an early spring. Who can you trust?
This morning ‘s icy wonderland makes my cat unhappy. I didn’t shovel the deck yesterday–first time all winter–as its officially the first day of spring today–the Vernal Equinox and I’m hoping for a fast meltdown!
Meanwhile, the Witch Hazel ‘Arnold Promise’ continues to cheer me up every time I’m use my front door! It’s been blooming since the end of February when I spotted some blooms peaking out above the 4′ snow drift. I watched with wonder as the snow melted to reveal the entire multi-stemmed shrub ablaze with lacy yellow blossoms. The photo above doesn’t do it justice (notice the tipped over bench from the snowplow). When the early morning sun glazes it I’ve been stopped in my frozen tracks just to admire it!
This plant is just a juvenile as it will grow to about 10′ tall and wide’. I’m counting on it to act like a small multi-stemmed tree to block out views of my neighbors house while treating the entire neighborhood to it warm yellow enticement!
Last week I visited the Boston Flower & Garden Show. I enjoyed the forced bulbs and flowering shrubs. Here’s a few highlights that I noted.
 Photo by Maria von Brincken I liked this miniature island sans the ring-a-around pea stone. I could picture this an design element along a path or near a sitting area so one could really look at it. Though I’ve found the moss bit tricky to maintain unless the environment is just right. Sometimes it works better to create this kind of special place in an area where moss already grows.
 Photo by Maria von Brincken I also liked this “tall” water feature with still water versus making this a fountain. At a couple of feet tall, birds would enjoy it and for parties one could float the occasional blossom or candle for effect.
 Garden Design School USA photo by Maria von Brincken APLD New England Chapter, of which I currently serve as President, awarded the Garden Design School our Landscape Award. The judging was blind so we didn’t know whose landscape we choose. Great work!
 APLD NE AWARD
 Photo: Maria von Brincken copyright 2013 Darkness accompanied me as I trod downstairs to make my daily latte. A bit later, I climbed the day-lit stairs, and I was awestruck by the view created by last night’s snowfall. I marveled at myself because I thought I was tired of looking at snow. Yet there I was– captured by the beauty outside my windows. Enchanted, I savored the subtle coloring of the sky and the snow flocked forest.
Writing now, it’s all gone. The ‘warm’ mid 30′s day has melted it. So fleeting. Yet I realize it’s all fleeting. Moment to moment, day to day, our landscape changes, not always as dramatically, but still changing never-the-less. That’s why it’s so important to look.
 Photo: Maria von Brincken copyright 2013
Yesterday, February 2nd, was Groundhog Day. On this day, according to quaint custom, we watch to see if the groundhog sees its shadow or doesn’t. The shadow or lack of, forecasts an early spring or a much longer winter.
I celebrate this mid winter day by watching the movie of the same name. For years friends organized a party just to do that–I continue the tradition. The movie made in 1993 stars Bill Murray playing the “jerk” Phil Connors. Wikipedia describes him as “an arrogant and egocentric Pittsburgh TV weatherman who, during a hated assignment covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, finds himself in a time loop, repeating the same day again and again. After indulging in hedonism and numerous suicide attempts, he begins to re-examine his life and priorities.”
The moral reminder being that we can change our habits if we notice them–Phil Connors was forced to from the shear boredom of repeating the exact same day–Groundhog Day– over and over. He finally noticed and the transformation began. He choose to learn to play the piano, help others, and in the process won the girl and made it to February 3rd!
I love this movie. It reminds me in the bleakness of a New England winter we can choose what to do with our everyday life that seems set in schedules. Makes me asks the questions each year as to what I would do differently in my life if I had the time that the film character does. And, of course, the point is not lost on me that I do have the time and what do I really want to do in my life. How do I choose to live it.
Photo above: Infamous groundhog doing its thing in spring.
The title and the day make me think of a choice gardeners have–whether to wage war on the animals. Groundhogs or hedgehogs, rabbits, deer, voles, turkeys, and more don’t realize that they invade “our gardens”. They seem to think they have the right to trespass and eat whatever they want. So their lack of understanding usually means a death warrant because we don’t see our gardens as part of the animals’ homes, indeed as part of the earth web of life we all are a part of.
I’m lucky in that with fencing the deer don’t stop by for breakfast. The groundhogs used to devour all my asters and pansies in the back garden. Rather than engaging in war with them I simply stopped planting anything they like to eat. I plant those in the front gardens that the groundhog doesn’t get to til August and then I might spray the asters with nasty tasting stuff to discourage them. I’ve stopped filling my bird feeders regularly so thwart the raccoons who can empty them in a flash–much too expensive to feed the raccoon and her family.
But I’m sympathetic with people who have huge problems with foraging animals and still want gardens. It’s really hard to tell someone as a designer what they really can’t have–though usually I can solve the design issue using a variety of beautiful plantings –just often not the homeowners wish list of English Garden Borders. Although I’ve had some success with deer fencing.It’s the life choice of choosing not to hate the animals who are just trying survive in areas that we have built our homes in. It’s a choice not to step into that loop.
Or the loop of finding each winter day looking the same–dull green. I find that by February I have to work to look for the changes in the landscape. Snow –dirty or fresh–is obvious. And so is the way the light changes as the sun rises higher on our horizon each day. Really beautiful when I make myself pause to enjoy it. But still, the cold makes all the conifers and broadleaf evergreens a really dull green. That’s why I retreat to my created indoor green oasis (s). That’s why cut flowers are so important to me. I started doing that because of something wellness expert Dr. Andrew Weil stressed as an important health habit. In the summer, a vase fills with something(s) from my garden. But winter the supermarket florists lure me in with bright colors and scents when I’m on my way to buy milk.
 Photo: Maria von Brincken copyright 2013 Amazing what a movie named for a quaint local animal tradition can provoke so many avenues of thought. By the way, this year’s forecast is for an early spring!
About the author:
Maria creates beautiful designs that transform your home landscape and adds to your life. You will enjoy it every day all the while the improvements increases the value of your home. Maria von Brincken APLD, an award winning and certified designer, offers complete landscape services: master plans, distinctive and original garden designs, consultation and construction. She creates beautiful spaces that include hard surface landscaping solutions such as walkways, driveways, walls, and color waves of great planting combinations, lighting, and more. Please call or email for an appointment to start the design process. 978 443 4540 or maria@mariavonbrincken.com. www.mariavonbrincken.com
 Photo: Maria von Brincken copyright 2012 New England midwinter and I find myself contemplating the snow patterns on the roof. Wondering how I can use the patterns I see in my current design work. No brain storm to date. But understanding the fascination drove me to my local garden center seeking some intense new color for my winter weary soul.
 Photo: Maria von Brincken copyright 2013 Voila! These cyclamen did the trick! Unfortunately the tag doesn’t tell me the variety but the intense pinky red drew me to them. Ah…now perhaps I can finish that planting plan knowing that color in the garden will return. If you need the same relief they’re usually available in a medium and light pink and red. Cyclamen provide just the antidote to the winter weary eyes!
About the author:
Maria creates beautiful designs that transform your home landscape and adds to your life. You will enjoy it every day all the while the improvements increases the value of your home. Maria von Brincken APLD, an award winning and certified designer, offers complete landscape services: master plans, distinctive and original garden designs, consultation and construction. She creates beautiful spaces that include hard surface landscaping solutions such as walkways, driveways, walls, and color waves of great planting combinations, lighting, and more. Please call or email for an appointment to start the design process. 978 443 4540 or maria@mariavonbrincken.com. www.mariavonbrincken.com
Photo: Maria von Brincken copyright 2013 So much depends on the crystal vase filled with pink roses on the black counter mid winter. That’s my paraphase of William Carlos Williams poem about white chickens. I’m constantly amazed to discover what an inexpensive grocery store flower bunch does to counter the frozen winter landscape. It brightens the scene and adds a splash of color and life.
Shortly after I took this photo I was listening to Writers Almanac writersalmanac.publicradio.org and heard this poem. Perfect for my experience with the roses. Enjoy.
Flowers
by Linda Pastan
The deep strangeness
of flowers in winter—
the orange of clivia,
or this creamy white rose
in its stoneware
vase, while outside
another white
like petals drifting down.
Is it real?
a visitor asks,
meaning the odd magenta
orchid on our sill
unnatural
as makeup on a child.
It’s freezing all around us—
salt cold on the lips,
the flinty blacks and grays
of January in any northern city,
and flowers
everywhere:
in the supermarket
by cans of juice,
filling the heated stalls
near the river—
secular lilies engorged
with scent,
notched tulips, crimson
and pink, ablaze
in the icy
corridors of winter.
“Flowers” by Linda Pastan, from Traveling Light. © Norton, 2010. Reprinted with permission.
About the author:
Maria creates beautiful designs that transform your home landscape and adds to your life. You will enjoy it every day all the while the improvements increases the value of your home. Maria von Brincken APLD, an award winning and certified designer, offers complete landscape services: master plans, distinctive and original garden designs, consultation and construction. She creates beautiful spaces that include hard surface landscaping solutions such as walkways, driveways, walls, and color waves of great planting combinations, lighting, and more. Please call or email for an appointment to start the design process. 978 443 4540 or maria@mariavonbrincken.com.
There we were– just two days ago, Christmas Eve, about noon. Staring at the ugliest tree I’d ever seen. My daughter called it a “Charlie Brown tree”. Didn’t I know what that was? Vague memories surfaced from some brain chasm. I reminded her that she watched the cartoon specials many more times than me. But I caught her meaning. We would buy this tree and make it beautiful.
In the movie or sit com of my life, this year I had decorated the house –lighted special swags on the mantle, the stairway, special arrangements adorned the dining room, holiday out door planters, and more. But no “ tree”. The “tree” requires two people to bring it into the house and one to hold it while the other angles the bottom trunk into the water stand. This year, scheduling seemed to prevent that occurrence.
I was content without one. We’d sit before the fire with the lighted decorated mantle to open our plunder. No needle trail to vacuum or need to crawl on my hands and knees to water it daily. But my daughter thought otherwise.
This was why I had the ugliest tree ever. Surprisingly, it’s appearance improved with my daughter’s patient turning it–this way and that–shown below.
 Before: “Charlie Brown Tree” Later, after dark, I watched adult “kids” as we call them, transform the misshaped, leaning, scraggly evergreen into a beautiful Christmas tree.
While I wouldn’t call it a Christmas miracle, I was impressed with the magic created with lights, ornaments, some ribbon, and a tree skirt. Additionally, the knowledge that this tree I can take out myself without having to beg a neighbor for a favor or a busy adult kid to help me. Lots to be said for this “Charlie Brown Tree”.
 After: Transformed “Charlie Brown Tree”
Inside: Orchids in blush, white, and deep mauve, white Paper-white narcissus, red amaryllis, cream hellebore, ribbons, bows, bright reflective baubles, fragrant white and pink lilies adorn different rooms. And outside: pictured below a container filled with needled conifer with Daphne, rhododendron & winter-berries I see everytime I enter the sun room.
 Design and Photo: Maria von Brincken copyright 2012 All these things color my world on this Winter Solstice. Throughout my home, inside and out, I gather beautiful textures and colors of the living and flowering world. I guess I need to create “garden rooms” whether inside or out.
It’s an “earth marking”, the Winter Solstice marks the day where we get to enjoy more daylight each afternoon. Each day sunset will be a little later–darkness at 4pm really reminds us of seasonal change and something bigger than us–but sometimes it’s a little bleak.
Today, for me this year, it’s a day to bake, do a little office work, sit in front of the fire listening to music and hide out from the pouring rain. It’s a day to write a bit here before plunging into more Christmas preparations. Always, it’s a quieter day and one full of gratitude for the beauty I feel lucky to gather, make and enjoy. It’s a day to hope we can each in our own way find a way to connect to a larger harmony and find and become the peace we want to see.
Happy Solstice.
 Design & Photo: Maria von Brincken 2012
 - Design & Photo: Maria von Brincken copyright 2012
 Design & Photo: Maria von Brincken copyright 2012
 Design & Photo: Maria von Brincken copyright 2012
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