Spring's Tease

We who live in the Pacific Northwest are in the blissful throes of spring's tease. I was too preoccupied with gardening to check the thermometer but I'm guessing it made it up to the mid 60s. Now, as I write this, I can hear the tree frogs serenading each other--definitely a sign of spring. 

The honeybees were out in force today, searching for those bits of nectar.  

Early Crocus with two honeybees

Now he's moving to another flower.

Snowdrop... I need to clean the leaf litter here!

Oooh the Sarcococca. It smells heavenly.

Here is the bigger of my two plants. Plenty of stems for cutting and bringing indoors.

Helleborus foetidus blossom with a bee's butt.

Nom, nom, nom...um good!

I took more photos than I needed to.

So much bee food this year.

On another subject, I got my two long, rectangular vintage livestock troughs set up and planted with 'Tri Star' everbearing strawberries. I took these photos yesterday, before the second trough was planted.

Strawberries!

These troughs are placed on the south side of my house. It's a full-sun, heat magnet area. Last year we had our strawberries in plastic pots and with a regular watering regimen, they performed beautifully until October. So we upped our game this year. Bigger containers, more plants. They're going to be so tasty!  

Are you able to get any gardening done?

Signs of Hope

FIRST OF ALL, MY condolences to all of you patient gardening friends who see a carpet of white outside your windows. I hope my post will inspire hope in you. Although it's still only January there are signs that spring is not far off. 

As you know, I've been lamenting the constant fog but last Thursday, the skies opened up and we've had glorious sunshine since. Cold mornings, but sunny days in the low 50s. 

Coral Bark Maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku') 

The plants (as well as the people) have responded favorably to the sunshine. My Wintersweet blossoms are not all that exciting to look at but catching a whiff of scent stops me in my tracks.

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) blossoms

Sweet Box (Sarcococca ruscifolia) is also in full bloom and smells delicious.

These early-blooming daffodils are so reliable. Every January I see those plump buds! They're planted beside an Escallonia shrub that lost all its foliage after the December freeze. 

Early Daffs

 And more:

Snow drops (Galanthus ssp.)

And my favorite Daff, Narcissus 'Geranium' is the last to bloom in early April. 

 There are other signs of activity:

Stupid moles! Another reason to do away with the lawn. 

Clematis foliage is alive and sprouting

The flower buds on 'Sunshine Blue' Blueberry are starting to plump up.

My Hebe 'Pink Elephant' is blushing a little.

Hebe 'Pink Elephant'

Little leaves all lined up like soldiers.

I am surprised by the vigor of this golden Feverfew plant. Somehow it survived the single-digit temps of December and looks no worse for the wear. How'd that happen? Probably because it is a volunteer growing in the pathway. Tenacious little thing. 

Golden Feverfew

One of my coworkers brought "Denver" his new golden retriever puppy to work. His fur is downy soft. Isn't he adorable?

And on the subject of pets, I captured a keeper of Taz yesterday. He's such a lover!

Stay warm my friends. Spring is coming! 

First Garden Tour of 2013--Part 1

THIS MORNING I had the pleasure of meeting with several of my fellow garden gals for a formal tea and tour of the Deepwood Estate in Salem, Oregon. First we enjoyed tea and scones in the formal parlour. Afterwards, we took a tour of the house and then outside to the gardens. 

The Hellebores were amazing.

Deepwood is located in the heart of Salem, as evidenced by the hubbub of traffic surrounding it.

The house, a Queen Ann Victoria, was built circa 1898. 

Isn't it sweet? 

Just off the porch is a to-die-for conservatory. 

I love the spindle work of the veranda and the view, even in winter is fabulous. 

The only photo I took of the interior of the house itself was this fabulous stained glass window
in the master bath. It's actually a lot more PINK than it looks here.

The formal borders, near the house, were lush with broadleaf evergreens.
The Skimmia japonica were about to burst into bloom. 

The Daphne odora was in full, luscious bloom. 

Hellebores dangled profusely behind a  neatly trimmed Boxwood hedge. 

Camellias were also few weeks away from a colossal floral display.
I loved the structure of the tree rising up behind the Camellias. 

Winter Aconites in full bloom, were dotting the lawn...
(I've been alerted by Ricki of Spig to Twig that this is not Winter Aconite 
but Lesser Celendine and highly invasive. She's right and I stand corrected.) 

While in other areas, big bunches of them bloomed in profusion. 

Croakies were abloom in an obscure corner.

Love, love, love!!

The estate is spread out over 5 acres. Farther from the house are lots of interesting "rooms."

An Ivy-lined allee borders one of the open lawn areas. 

I can imagine how wonderful this area looks in high summer.

Annie, on the left and Cate were enjoying the nooks and crannies in one of the formal parterre. 

A happy grouping of  Snowdrops just begged for a photograph! 

Isn't this a lovely lattice fence and gate...

and brickwork walkway? 

Blooming pink Bergenia looked sweet next to yellow Winter Aconites. 

This is one of the woodland pathways...

...juxtaposed with a more formal walkway.

Tree roots were causing a little upheaval here. 

Beautiful now. Can you imagine it in a few months? 

Love this!

And this...

And this...

And this... 

So sweet. 

Sooo sweet! 

 Part 2 next time, I am planning on showing you what I found inside this...

The greenhouse!