The Green World

The garden is at its most demanding, lots of rains and some warm sunny days and the growth is staggering. So is the winter kill, it's been a rough winter on the shrubs. The peonies grew a foot in 2 days and so has the wicked weed, [Bishop's weed] where I have been waging battle for what feels like weeks. So on my hands and knees, trying to loosen the soil and not break the roots, my view of the world has changed. The tiny becomes large and the large doesn't exist, other wise the task is too daunting. It's times like this when I think the garden might be too large. And then I watch the ferns unfold.

Watching the fern unfold, 2014

these ferns uncurl their fonds from a tight little ball [center of the photo] amid a sea of violets, 2014

love the pattern of these leaves unfurling, 2014

detail, tightly bound leaves about to unfold, 2014

Almost Over

It's almost over, this time of magnificence of the land. There will be a frost soon; the latest I have known, and the land will tilt towards winter. But for now there are still gems to be found and today my eyes saw these dried ferns and milkweed pod blown open, having done their job and scattered their seeds to the wind.

Ferns

Fern

Milkweed leaves...I think

Fiddleheads

First, small fuzzy knobs appear on the floor of the shady areas of the garden. The next time you look, they have legs, very hairy legs. And the next time you look the cocoon is splitting and green is emerging, folded into itself, pleated in a curve. I love watching these tiny, miraculous, impersonal bursting[s] into spring.

Watching Things Grow

I spent the whole day in the garden, my idea of heaven, pruning roses, weeding, trimming. I hate having to miss a day there as growth happens so quickly . The daffs are almost finished, the scilla making their seed heads, the cotoneaster needs a trim, so does the dogwood. The path around the pond needs to be widened, and the ferns are unfolding for the second time. [Link to the frost and ferns]

Budding

While the past few days have been miserable; cold and very wet, with snow on the mountains last night, the growth in the garden continues at an amazing pace. A few days ago the scilla were at their peak and when I went out this morning the rain had flattened them. I find I can't bear to miss a day in the garden, things happens so quickly. The budding on the trees and shrubs is creating auras and all the bones are soft and hazy. Views are being hidden as plants swell and burst forth. Last year my 2 older rhododendrons finally flowered. I hate it when you bring home something from the nursery and plant it and watch it sit there for the next 10 years, so with the rhodo's we have had many conversations over the years and it's gratifying to see that they have come about to my point of view.

Horse chestnut, tree peony, rhododendron, ferns