Today felt just like a beautiful spring day, even though it's December and most of the leaves are gone from the trees. I spent some time today doing what I do a lot of in the winter: cutting back/ ripping out Japanese honeysuckle and various other things, mostly blackberry canes. I swear honeysuckle grows as much during the winter as it does during the summer. May and June wouldn't be the same in NC without it though.
In honor of this beautiful weather -- which won't return tomorrow -- here's some pictures from May of this year.
Rosa palustris scandens, otherwise known as swamp rose.
To the left, in the background, is Indigoifera amblyantha, possibly the longest-blooming plant ever. To the right is a lovely meadow rue that grows wild here, still in bud (when it blooms it has creamy white flowers), and Carolina rose.
Foxglove and Carolina rose
Carolina rose
'Zwanenburg Blue' spiderwort (amongst others), Hubricht's Amsonia, 'Foxi Pavement' and 'Hansa' roses, and swamp rose.
I planted 3 swamp roses in the ditch that runs behind the big perennial bed, and they are starting to size up nicely.
Wild Virginia sweetspire in bloom.
Swamp rose being swallowed by coastal pepperbush. There are worst fates.
Rosa palustris scandens and 'Veilchenblau' in vegetable garden border.
'Veinchenblau'
Swamp roses in front of the paddock. Sometimes Prince chews on these.
Can you spot him?
Swamp rose and 'Bayse's Purple'
Hubricht's/Willowleaf Amsonia by drive
I hope you have enjoyed this trip back in time to spring of this year. The spell of spring will be broken tomorrow -- temps are to fall into the 40's in the morning, with cold rain on Sunday.
Ślicznie dom wygląda wśród tylu kwitnących kwiatów. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteLovely house looks among the many blooming flowers and greenery. Yours.
Oh how I love all of your roses and other blooms, but especially the roses.Those long views with your drive are spectacular. The colors wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your lovely bit of paradise.
FlowerLady
Your roses are gorgeous! It was hardly spring here yesterday--the temperatures keep dipping, and we're supposed to be in single digits by next week. But it's so nice to be reminded of spring through all your photos, Sweetbay. I have so many photos of garden tours and little trips I took this summer that I never posted. I'm thinking that January and February will be the perfect time to sort through them and post some--a good antidote for dreary winter days.
ReplyDeleteThank you for getting this dreary, frigid day off to a good start! We had temps up in the 70s a few days ago and now it is in the 20s. Isn't the indigofera the most wonderful plant? Yours looks so much fuller than mine. I bet it gets more sun than mine. The roses are stunning. I want to find that swamp rose.
ReplyDeletePhillip I got that rose from Antique Roses Emporium. I don't think this particular rose is a species rose, but some sort of hybrid of unknown ancestry. Whatever it is it's a very nice rose, my absolute favorite in the garden.
DeleteI have R. carolina but it has never bloomed for me! Someone told me that it only blooms on old wood, and I may have cut it back every year. However, there are a couple of uncut canes going into next year - I hope I see them bloom. The R. palustris is lovely. I have a young R. setigera that bloomed a bit this past summer, hoping for more next year. I'm very envious of all your lovely space, my garden seems so cramped by comparison!
ReplyDeleteJason it's a once bloomer and does bloom on old wood. Hopefully those uncut canes will bloom for you next year. Be sure to check out the fragrance. It's lovely, a blend of old rose and lemon.
DeleteI bet that Amsonia is gorgeous in fall too. Thanks for this look at warmer days. I love seeing other people's roses, but I don't grow them myself.
ReplyDeleteActually that Amsonia doesn't turn all that much. One of its parents is A. hubrichtii and the other is a willowleaf amsonia that I ordered years ago from Wayside, and it has no fall color whatsoever. So this one turns about halfway. This one is such a great plant both for flowers and foliage effect that I don't mind. The pure Hubricht's Amsonias are great in fall though!
DeleteGorgeous May pictures and so lovely to see Prince between the roses. When I see these wonderful pictures I am longing for spring again.
ReplyDeleteI too enjoyed the beautiful interlude of warm weather, as well as the shots of your May garden. After seeing your Amsonia on an earlier post I have added it to my garden. Now I think I am going to look into swamp roses, if I can find a spot in my wet back yard that gets sufficient sun.
ReplyDeleteThese are incredible beautiful photos from your garden. It is awesome that you have enough land so that the roses can develop their full potential and grow into mature bushes. You rarely get to see them like this. 'Veilchenblau' is just to die for! Wishing you a nice rest of the weekend!
ReplyDeleteChristina
Mercy, your garden is gorgeous! I had to laugh when I spotted Prince ... I was thinking he'd be a dog :-) Hope winter is kind to you and your garden.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I sat down with a cup of hot apple cider and savored every photo. I just took my time and walked down you path. I really needed that today. Thank you for stopping my blog, which led to me finding yours. Warm thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is always beautiful no matter the season. I always admire the cool pinks you have and I am resolved to finally add some shrub roses next spring.
ReplyDeleteP.S. You asked about the Anise-hyssop I have. It is Agastache 'Bolero'. Unfortunately it is only marginally hardy here and I fear it won't make it through winter. It was lovely however mid-summer.
This post was exactly what the doctor ordered for me! Earlier I was freaking out, not able to get my car up the icy roads to my house. I hate cold weather! So looking back at your fabulous May borders was perfect. I am SO ready for spring! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a disparaging name for such a beautiful creature. You're very blessed to have the space for her to reach maximum size.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder of spring. I appreciate it, since we're deep into winter and 8 inches of snow around here.
ReplyDelete