Edgeworthia chrysantha

So many warm days, in the 70's, this February.

I am afraid my early blueberry 'O'Neal' is opening it's flowers.

Certain to be shriveled  before our last frost date of APRIL 10th, seven weeks away!

One plant that blooms this time of year is the Chinese paper bush.

Mine is from cuttings I took from Ellie's huge plant situated beside her dryer vent.

I always wondered if that warm air had anything to do with it's magnificence.

Anyway, mine, after several years, is about 3 ft tall & wide.

It is at the back in front of the potting shed & gets mostly shade. It has significant competition  for moisture & nutrients from the surrounding trees. This may be why a cutting planted at the same time in friend Lynne's garden, which has pride of place next to her porch, is 5ft tall & wide! 

Take note of this gardening lesson.

The most delightful aspect of this plant is it's fragrance to draw you out into the garden even if it's not warm & sunny in February

After leaf drop in the fall older plants get exfoliating bark. 

I was lucky to get this photo of a honey bee enjoying the flowers yesterday.

https://carolynsshadegardens.com/2012/12/10/a-shrub-for-all-seasons-edgeworthia/

This blog has lots of lovely photos & information on Edgeworthia

The writer appears to garden north of the Delaware Valley

Camellia Catastrophe

Last week when we returned

The 'Thanksgiving Camellias' were in their glory.

Camellia sasanqua 'mine-no-yuki'

(More about this on my November 2014 blog, 

inevitably these shrubs get lovelier each year, so I always want to share them)

I cut a few to preserve them for a few more days

After two consecutive nights of 25 degrees of cold.

They are now brown blooms, boo-hoo!

Fantastic Fungi

Several years ago we had a couple of sweet gum trees that over-hung the house taken down.

Now these bunches of fungi have risen up around the stumps.

At first I thought they were mole runs.

Then these mysterious mushrooms popped up. 

They almost look like eggs in a nest when surrounded by pine needles.

Confederate Rose

This fantastic fall weather, warm sunny days after Hurricane Matthew has brought forth some beautiful blossoms.

The Hibiscus mutabilis is blooming like it never has before.

At the Pitt County Arboretum we have been thinking about propagation of our plants in advance of next year's plant sale. (May 20th)

Here is some advice for a very simple method.

http://www.walterreeves.com/gardening-q-and-a/confederate-rose-rooting/

Sungold Tomato Keeps on Giving

Tomatoes for Hallowene

The fruit has reached the other side of the arch

I planted this tomato plant at the outside of the trellis in May. Throughout a very wet growing year & a searing couple of months this summer it sulked & I almost pulled it out with the rest of the laggards. Hardly any fruit & frazzled foliage. Sungold  has always been a good provider for me even though I have root knot nematode in this area. I have tried marigolds & asparagus here both of which are supposed to discourage said nematodes. Maybe they are starting to have an effect.

This arch of cattle panel is about 6 ft high in the center

Deer have trimmed the foliage that hangs outside the fence but they don't seem to taste the fruit.

Rain Garden

After Hurricane Matthew, bright sunny days make the rain garden sparkle.

Even if rather left leaning!

 Swamp Sunflower & Beautyberry

Helianthus angustifolia & Calicarpa americana

What a way to start your day

coming out of the garage to hundreds of flowers enjoying the sunshine

Muhly Grass on a Misty Morning

Looking like something suitable for Halloween 

the Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) at the curb is weighed down with the morning mist

The Gaura mimics it's neighbor.

Gaura lindheimeri is unusually short & much more controlled this year.

The cars don't have to swing around it's trailing tentacles thanks to the dear deer!