a garden maker's notes

Sometime ago I encountered an enchanting description of a small Japanese village’s winter festival that celebrated the way plants catch snow.  The novel’s author called the snow that was captured in nooks and crannies, branches and seedheads, branches and buds, ‘Snow Flowers’.  Ever since I look at fresh snow differently.

 
This maple wears snow beautifully, don’t you agree? The image gives us the opportunity to see form differently and find a plant without leaves gorgeous.  In an earlier post (Mid-November Tapestry) I showed it in late fall–the plant’s leafless branching structure revealing the spotted leaf lungwort still in leaf beneath it.  In summer,the Acer p. ‘viridis’s dissected foliage and [...]

It’s snowing today and quite beautiful. I’m enjoying the woodland view from the comfort of my home and grateful for it. Within my view the indoor garden features the stunning blooms of  ’Dancing Queen’ Amaryllis that I showcased in this blog last January. Two other varieties are promising flowers and some ‘Paperwhite’ narcissus just might bloom and [...]

It’s cold out there–in the teens.  Yet as I dart to my car I can’t help but notice the morning light illuminating the hydrangea’s winter form.  One lone blossom that I didn’t cut for my vase indoor before the hard frost. (I’m still enjoying those blossoms by the way).  The snow’s blue in shadow and [...]

If you tire of the beautiful winter wonderland, look closely at your friend’s or your own indoor plants.
P.S. Wondering what this plant is?  Echeveria gibbiflora.  My friend Marylyn–a horticultural diva– grew this succulent. It’s in the same family as the jade plant. ”Echeveria gibbiflora ‘Carunculata’ is quite distinctive. This cultivar has very blue colored leaves with very [...]