Hostas

An array of Hostas in my shade garden

'There is no spot of ground, however arid, bare or ugly, 

that cannot be tamed into such a state as to give an impression

of beauty and delight.'

                                                                -Gertrude Jekyll



     We all have that space in our garden where nothing seems to grow.  Under a tree where the sun never seems to get in or where the soil is dry, sandy or clay like. Spots where we have tried just about everything and nothing seems to survive.

Chartreuse colored Hostas and Mouse ear Hosta 

  I don't know about you but I am always going for the maximum impact, I want the flowers, the color, the scent.

Welcome to the Hosta.

Potted Hosta

Praying hands Hosta (tall) and Lemon lime Hosta

     This to me is a plant that is not given enough credit. I mean the Hosta really has it all. It comes in hundreds of different varieties and I don't know how many shades of green. It flowers, some have scent and it grows almost anywhere.

Flowering Hosta

      I can actually say that I have not found a spot in my garden where Hostas won't grow.  It can be used in containers, boarders or as an accent plant. It can be grown in shade or sun and just about any soil condition.

Elongated leaf Hosta

     Even though I love a garden full of flowers you still need texture and greenery to add interest to your garden, what better plant than the Hosta. One of the great things about the Hosta is that it adds both texture and color not to mention they are almost maintenance free. Besides having to cut the dead flowers after they bloom they will maintain their shape and color all season needing little attention otherwise.

Cup leaved Hosta

  Then there is the size, they come in so many different sizes and shapes that you can tuck them in almost anywhere. They are quite drought tolerant thus surviving in poor soil conditions. Their leaves can be the size of a dinner plate or as small as a silver dollar. There are elongated leaved Hostas and curly, ruffled leaved ones leaving you with unlimited options. 

Large leaved Hosta

  Before you start, think about sun or shade, size and color.  Different shades of green will enhance different plants,  so choose what works for you and fill in the little areas of your garden. Just remember the larger versions take up a lot of space but can easily be divided to maintain the size you want.

   Also think of using them in containers, they can be used alone or in combination with other plants again depending on the size of Hosta you choose. Also, depending on the container, it can overwinter which makes for one less task come springtime.

 So before you right off an area of your garden as unable to grow anything you might want to give the Hosta a try. With a little research you will find which Hostas work for you. Plant, then sit back and watch your garden grow.

Happy Gardening!!

Flowering Hosta

                                                    



  Everything has it's beauty,   
               But not everyone sees it.  
                                             
                               -The Wisdom of Confucius
                                                                                                

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue

   "And Spring arose on the garden fair,
             Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
     And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast,
             Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."

                                    -Percy Bysshe Shelly

Violets at the base of my Clematis

    Even though spring seemed to take forever to show itself when it finally did I was happy to see that most of my flowers survived the long hard winter.

    Among those flowers I count the lovely Violets that grow wild in many gardens. I know most people consider them weeds, they seem to pop up everywhere in places we don't want them and weave themselves through our lawns. They also seem to multiple at great speeds and are difficult to control and even more difficult to get rid of.

  So, my solution is to embrace them. They are after all a really pretty flower and its bright violet color pops against it's green foliage. They are perfect as ground covers and for plants like the Clematis with its delicate roots, they provide shade and keep things cool when planted at their base. And they are one of the first flowers to greet us in the spring, brightening our day.

Violets

   The flowers are edible. They can be sugared and look beautiful crowned on top of cakes and pastries. You can toss them in salads or scatter them on top of fruit or ice cream. And... you can also make Violet Jelly. If you have children this is a fun thing to do with them, just make sure that the flowers you choose have not been sprayed and give them a gentle wash before using.

    Pick about two to three cups of flowers, no stems.  After washing them place them in a large mason jar and cover with 2 1/2 cups of boiling water. Now this is where the fun starts, almost immediately after you pour the water over the flowers their color starts to drain, producing a deep dark purple/blue. I was amazed at how quickly this happens and the intensity of the color.

Violets in hot water

Violet water

  


 Put the lid on your jar and leave it for 24 hours. Then drain the liquid into another clear jar. You can drain it into a pot, ready for cooking but using a jar you get to see it once again change color. Squeeze the juice of one large lemon and add it to the violet water. This color change happens in seconds so if you are doing this with children make sure they are watching. And there you have it, pink water.

After adding the lemon juice

  Pour your liquid into a pot and add your pectin (one pouch) boil for 1 minute and then add 3 1/2 cups of sugar. I used a little less so it just depends on how sweet you want it. Then boil for 1 more minute and ladle into your sterilized jars. Process and there you have it, Violet Jelly. 

  I love how pretty this jelly is. It is great on bagels, toast, crumpets etc. You could use it in between chocolate cake layers and top the cake with violets as decoration. It would also be nice with cream cheese or with very old white cheddar.

  I used the recipe from http://thenerdyfarmwife.com and I also have a great book 'Cooking with Flowers' by Miche Bacher, that has a good jelly recipe. If you are interested in learning more about edible flowers and having fun in the kitchen check this book out. It is visually beautiful and has great recipes.

The 'Oh so pretty' Violet Jelly

Jelly and English muffin. Yum!!

  So the next time you come across violets instead of thinking 'weed' think of all the possibilities for your next culinary experiments. And don't forget the beauty they are adding to your spring garden.

  Have fun and Happy Gardening!!

First we Dream.

                                     "Winter, 
                            a lingering season, 
           is a time to gather golden moments,
          embark upon a sentimental journey, 
                     and enjoy every idle hour."

  As we sit in the middle of a deep freeze it is hard to remember warm summer days. If you are anything like me, you will have had enough of winter and long for warm summer days, cicadas piercing the night air with their summer song and the fragrance of flowers softly floating on a gentle breeze and the renewal of all of nature.















  I for one have been thinking a lot about flowers and what I would like to add to my garden this year. I have been scanning magazine's making plans for the different areas of my garden.
  I have also been searching the internet for garden furniture for my new patio and looking at simple water features that I might add.

 "Nothing happens 
       unless first we
          DREAM"
                            -C.Sandburg

  Remember, it is never to early to start planning and it really does help to make these chilly, dreary days go by a little faster.
  We have twenty, yes that is twenty days until spring arrives. Hard to believe I know but never the less it will soon be upon us and if we do a little planning we will be ready for when the cold gives way to warmer days and we can get our hands into the dirt.

   So, I thought I would share with you some pictures taken of my garden over the past few years. I hope it will help inspire you, make you dream of sunny days to come, make you feel the warmth of spring and smell summers fragrant air.

Happy Planning, Happy Gardening!!

Dream in Flowers

Flame of the Woods-Ixora

'Time stands still in the presence of

nature's beauty.'

Bougainvilla

 I recently had the pleasure and privilege of traveling to St.Lucia.
   So today, as I look out my window to a cold, blowing snowy day I thought I would brighten yours by sharing some of the islands beauty.

Bougainvilla

Bougainvilla and Chalice Flower

  
I consider this a perfect day to look through gardening magazines and books or maybe to scan the internet for plants and ideas for the garden. Not only will it cheer you up but you will be prepared when spring decides to show up and you can get out into the garden.

Lollypop 

      













   Some of these plants such as the Bougainvilla and Lollypop plant can be grown as annuals so, if you don't live in a tropical climate, don't forget to check out the tropical section of your garden centre when looking for something unique for the garden.

Heliconia

Heliconia- Crab claw

  

Heliconia

 

    So don't get discouraged when you look outside, consider it a snow day for doing nothing but dream of sunny days to come.

    It is only 42 days until spring and if you think how fast the days fly by that is not that far away. 

    

     Happy Dreaming and Happy Gardening!!

Croton

Blue Jade Vine

Ginger Lily

Ginger Lily

Winter's Beauty

Ice covered branches

 "Of winter's lifeless world
 each tree now seems a perfect part;
       Yet each one holds summer's secret
             deep down within it's
                       heart."
                                   -Charles G. Stater

Snow covered Clematis and Birdbath

  January, it's that time of year when the excitement of the holidays has passed and we are left with days that are cold and bleak.  As the cold days set in and we long for summer days it is hard to appreciate winter's beauty. But, every morning as I take my dog outside I look around and winter casts her spell. It's like looking at your garden through a different lens, one that takes the dead and throws a blanket of white over it and gives it new life.
  Now I'm not saying I like the cold that winter has thrust upon us  but I do enjoy the magic it creates with its icy, snowy days.



   Going for a walk after a fresh snow fall has covered the trees and ground can make that winter day so much more enjoyable. The world gets transformed from a bleak grey to a beautiful wonderland of crystals sparkling in the sunlight.
    It's a great time to take your camera and capture some of the trees and plants that catch your interest, getting ideas for your own garden. One of the things to always keep in mind when adding larger plants such as shrubs and trees to your garden is how they will look in winter, think of what interest they will add to your winter garden.

Sumac covered in ice and snow.

  It's also a great time as January draws to a close to get out your wish book and write down all the plants you want to try this year. Draw out your plans for new flower beds or color schemes you want to try.

Weeping Japanese Cherry

Ornamental Grass

  Some people like to go with just one colour which can have a great impact, just make sure you have different variations of that one colour and a good assortment of plants and textures.
  If you want an all white garden, besides the snow covered one that is, think of adding different shades of green to it as well, the green shines, tucked among the white. Ground covers such as Sweet Woodruff with it's tiny white bloom adds great texture and it's leaves stay green long after the bloom has gone. Hostas are always a good choice when trying to impart green to a garden.
  An all blue or lavender garden brings a calm and relaxation to your garden. Red is bright and bold adding a certain kind of energy to it surroundings, the same goes for an orange themed garden. Yellow is like sunshine, bright and cheery.

Gingko Biloba Tree

    We only have 57 days until the first day of spring so use those days to dream of summer days ahead.  Curl up in a cozy chair with a cup of tea or a hot toddy and if you're lucky by a warm fire, pull out your gardening magazines and books and start planning for a new garden season. But don't forget to get outside once in a while and enjoy the winter garden and get inspired.


Happy Gardening! Happy Dreaming!

A Long Winter's Nap

Perhaps
      what moves us in winter
 is some reminiscence of
      a far off summer.
                                   -Henry David Thoreau

  










 Now that our garden's have all been tucked in and put to bed for the winter it is time to relax a little and enjoy the stark beauty of a winter's landscape.

     I for one love the look of winter. The trees exposed in all their glory, showing us their true shape. Each one bare, you get to see each twist and turn of the branches and the trees true character.
 I also love that all the birds nests which are usually tucked away from sight, hidden among the leaves, are now exposed for all to see. I am always amazed at the size of some of them, so tiny and intricate.  
  And then there are the squirrels nests, mounds of leaves formed to provide warmth on cold winter days and a place to put their winter stash. They aren't to afraid of the cold and it is only on very cold days that they tuck themselves away. I am always amused by the way they scurry up and down the trees jumping from one to the next. It's like a jungle gym for squirrels.

  
  Hopefully, you had the chance to cut back your perennial's, cover-up any delicate plants and plant your spring bulb's. I for one did not get around to planting any spring bulbs. I had good intentions but delayed it to long. I will just have to plant extra next year. I always try to put at least a couple of dozen in each year so that I always have a lovely spring display. Bulbs get old or get replanted by some meaningful squirrels ( or so I like to think)  So, if you add some every year,  you will always have something blooming for you in the spring.














       I did manage to cut back all of my plants and put cones around my roses and more delicate plants. I know some people like to leave their clean-up until spring but for me I like to do it in the fall. One of the reasons is that I find, especially in the past few years, the plants are coming up early and if you have left clean up for spring they tend to get lost among the old garden waste. Also, there is always a lot to do in the garden in spring so why add to it. Having taken care of it in the fall you can get right to things without having to clean up first. I'm all about the easy, plus I don't really like old wet soggy leaves.














      So now that you have all that work out of the way you can use these cold winter months to sit back and start planning your garden for next year. It's a great time to flip through gardening magazines and books and think of the things that did or did not work for you last year. Keep a note book and that way you won't forget what you would like to add or change. I like to keep a garden journal, I actually have a couple, with pictures and notes.  It makes life easier and helps you remember what everything looked like thus making it easier to know what needs to be changed. If you find pictures in magazines of a garden, garden accessory or plant you like, cut it out and put it in your journal. Write down names of plants, seeds etc of things you want to have a look at, try or find out more about.

  











  I have been looking at a few food blogs and have decided I would like to try and add a few more vegetables to my garden. This will take a bit of juggling of plants but I have time now to figure out what I have to do to make it work. One of the blogs I was looking at is called 'dishing the dirt' and another is 'white on rice' both great blogs and worth checking out.
     So use your free time from the garden to plan ahead. Enjoy the winter landscape, take a walk and see what plants other people have that are adding winter interest to their yards. Take time to relax and enjoy the break and dream of summer days to come.

Happy Gardening!