Frost Burned My Magnolia

It was beautiful at midday yesterday.  The Magnolia flowers were gorgeous.  The underneath side of the flowers show lovely pink shading.

The inside of the flowers is white with perhaps a slight tinge of pink showing through.  I was delighted to find a flower low enough that I could take this shot.

Blue sky and white clouds are my favorite background for a Magnolia photo.  Amy taught me that when we visited the Botanic Gardens together in the city.  We planted this Magnolia 10 years ago for Amy.  It has had good years and bad.  With so many beautiful flowers this has to be considered a good year!

But the weather forecast and the sky were ominous. There was a definite chill in the air  I'm glad I got this year's Magnolia flowers  pictures when I did.  We were told to expect a hard frost.

It was hard, cold and cruel.  The ground was covered with white.  I am well aware that the usual frost free date here is June first.  The truth is last night's frost burned my cork and my Magnolias.  I will get over the disappointment quickly but the Magnolia flowers will have wait until next year!

Darned Deer Defense

Amy's Magnolia still has most of its leaves, but next year's buds are already formed.  They will wait patiently through the ice and snow of winter to open in the Spring.  There are many buds this year but the persistent ever present deer that consider our garden to be home have already left their mark.

I admit I have a very soft spot in my heart for those doe-eyed creatures, but when they nip those brand new fuzzy Magnolia buds off it makes me lose it.  Something had to be done!  Ed worked on out defense against those darned deer this afternoon.

The first line of defense is a wire fence. Today snow fence was added to that.  It is my hope that it will be a bit more intimidating.  Some extra wire cages were added around the outside of that.  I don't know if the deer will be impressed, but when I check out the window on the West end of the house I feel better.  Maybe I can keep Magnolia buds off the menu.  I will be watching!

Magnolias And Lilies For Easter

Amy's Magnolia is covered with buds this spring.  For the first time Ed's big wire cage was large enough to keep the deer from eating the buds.  This will be the first year that we will have an impressive set of flowers.  The cage can be seen in the background but I purposely took the picture through one of the wire squares to get an unobstructed view of the flower.  After the winter weather we have had it is delightful to see  this lovely pink flower.  When the flowers are past, the fence will be removed so that the lawn can be mowed.

One flower growing on a low branch gave me a chance to take a bird's-eye view of a Magnolia blossom.  When more buds are open I will get a chance to see if all of the flowers are pink under the petals and white on the inside.

It is a family tradition to view Magnolias from ground level with blue sky as a background.  I managed to lie down on the grass and take this picture and get back up again without anyone seeing me.  We have both reached the age where  passers-by seeing us on the ground  get concerned thinking we have fallen and can't get up.

All of the lilies in the garden are coming up fast now that the April showers have finally started.  Only some of Ed's Day lilies are  shown here.  These have been with us for the longest time and many should be divided.  Since new garden space does not yet exist these beauties will simply have to wait for at least another year.  The scattered stones carry varietal names as we continue to sort out just who is who.  The four foot high wire fence sections are tied in place preventing deer from eating these soon to appear tasty buds.  At last count we found names for thirty-five different Day lilies so it goes without saying that this is just the first bed that is now ready for summer flowers.

Happy Spring Flowers, Photos By Amy

Most of the Pink Trout Lilies had passed their prime, but that didn't keep Amy from getting a great photo of this lovely Spring flower.

The Magnolia we planted has it tough here in zone 4.   I had some doubts that we would get any flowers at all from this  plant with our erratic spring weather, but I was tickled pink that the first flower opened today.   Planted especially for Amy, it flowered on cue when she was here to see it!

How about a close-up of those perfect pink petals?  It looks perfect!

Trailing arbutus flowers are a big spring happening for us.  We love those pictures that include gorgeous plants and interesting stones!

This is my favorite photo this time.  It's never easy to choose, but the sunlight through the leaves and the fascinating shape of the soon-to-open Virginia Bluebells make this one a work of art!

We planted these Guinea-Hen Fritillaries  in the spring of 2010.  It is wonderful to see them again.  Those snakeskin patterned flowers would catch anyone's eye.

When Sara gave me this plant she called it Trout Plant.  It is a Lungwort and has flowers that open pink and then turn blue.  This weekend was a whirlwind visit.  I'm so happy that Amy got some Spring Flower Photos to share!

Oh Deer! When Will It Be My Thyme In The Garden?

The thick layer of snow in the garden is finally beginning to recede.  It's moving a little like a glacier, but faster thank goodness.  We never got a cage on my tree peony last fall.  When the snow uncovered it, the deer gave it a hard trim. It  happened before in 2008.  I have never been sure if or how to cut it back.  This year that decision has been made for me.  Either way what's done is done!

These two deer  have spent their time close to the house and garden since last summer when they were beautiful spotted fawns.  Apparently their Mom is smarter than average and knows a safe spot when she finds one. We see the three of them often.  I spotted these two nibbling on the magnolia bush.  I said, " Please leave the magnolia alone, we won't have any flowers.  Come over and trim the thyme instead."  Yes, I talk to the deer, but imagine my surprise when they did exactly what I suggested.

There she is looking at me with that doe-eyed look and my red creeping thyme dangling from her mouth.  Mother Nature has been hard on us and them this year. The deer are so hungry that they are eating plants that they usually ignore!  I guess I can wait for my thyme in the garden.  We have a temporary truce as long as they leave the magnolia alone and stay out of my shade garden.  I will be watching, ready to speak sharply to them when necessary. I save Ed for back-up!

Winter's Lingering Impacts

Few of us that experienced it have forgotten the severity of last winter.  A not so gentle reminder came in the mail in the form of the gas supplier's terms for budget and price protection plans covering the coming heating season.  A much more pleasant result of the past cold was this freshly opened tulip tree flower.  Its seasonally correct blossoms were few in number this year.  We do not know if this plant is likely to re-bloom but that is exactly what is happening here now.  It would seem somehow right if these new flowers are a positive response to the past bitter cold.

Dwarf phlox more commonly set a second flush of flowers.  Still, the coincidence of these flowers appearing the same day as the tulip tree flowers must be a day brightening experience.  Many more buds are about to open so a picture taken in a couple of days would be more impressive but why wait?

Our Summer Sweet really took a beating last winter.  We know that it is two zones out of its comfort area but try to include it here anyhow.  Our original plant was placed directly in the path of frost rolling downhill.  All of its top stems were winter killed but now it is covered with new growth.  No flower buds can be found on that bush but at least it is still alive.  This plant is sited just over a gentle knoll.  Our frost river does not flow here.  Further protection from the stone loading ramp made possible this generous set of buds.  We are just days away from what may be the sweetest scent of summer.  We will have to kneel on the ground to really enjoy the fragrance but the effort will be worth it.

Fortunately for everyone there is no picture of the next event.  Scented daylilies are planted near the stone wall next to the road.  If one wants to inhale their scent, a walk across the planting bed is necessary.  We try to limit foot traffic across our beds so another solution was found.  It is possible to bring one's nose close to the flowers if a kneeling position is assumed atop the wall.  Finding hand holds among the lower wall stones has so far prevented a tumble into the plants as the flowers are lower than the top of the wall.  With knees and hands firmly anchored one's head can be lowered toward the plant.  That movement sends the backside skyward.  That was my position when a neighbor rode by from the rear on his bicycle.  His greeting consisted of a friendly wave accompanied by a huge smile or more likely an actual laugh.

A Fond Flower Farewell

We have enjoyed the beautiful magnolia flowers on our tiny bush.   After so much anticipation  we were not disappointed. However, such beauty does not last forever!

Starting with the first flowers to open, the petals are falling to the ground.  This flower still clings to its last remaining petal.  The fascinating flower center is completely revealed.

We still have a few more flowers to enjoy.  In this case a long goodbye is a very pleasant thing.  Already  leaves are beginning to open.  For us and the tiny magnolia this has been a special year!