A Bloom in a Blizzard

Well, it is indoors on my windowsill...

but what a delight on a snowy, blowy day.

A primrose bloom!

CT Horticultural Society Symposium last Saturday

An exciting day of Ideas and Inspiration indeed--

especially the dry gardening of Jenny Rose Carey who plants everything in gravel at her garden, Northview, in Pennsylvania! Her favorites are some of mine:  yarrow, sea thrift, butterfly weed, poppy, Blanket flower, iris, lavendar, salvia, Lamb's ear and sedum.  Her plants are in sunny borders though. My gravel mulch is in shade...

New fact learned:  spurge is toxic! Use gloves to divide and transplant. Don't touch eyes!

Kevin Wilcox of Silver Spring Nursery in Bloomfield, CT spoke on native trees and shrubs.  He touched on many shrubs that will grow well in CT and sustain the native wildlife.  Winterberry Holly may be a good choice for planting when they take our birch tree out between the two houses here on South Hollow.  HIs favorite mountain laurel is one that I also have:  Keepsake.

New fact learned:  A shrub is a tree that is less than 21 feet tall at maturity.

Cole Burrell  showed photos of his garden, Bird Hill, in Virginia and many other gardens that are sustainable: Stumpery in Washington, Innisfree in New York, Fairfax Garden in Washington, Les Quatre Vents, Quebec.

New fact learned:  Sustainable Sites Initiative has national guidelines for sustainable garden projects.

Fairy Garden Upkeep

I just added some new plants to the fairy garden terrarium to brighten the house during February.  One is tagged Matty's Silver Tree Pilea spruceana (not showing in this photo). The leaves are outlined in deep bronze and streaked with silver in the middle.  Another new plant was Di's Artillery Plant Pilea microphylla (upright on the right).  It has fern-like, lime green leaves.  The new plant with white borders on the right front was not identified with a plant tag. It looks like it may be a spreader.

A little trimming back of the old plants, some fertilizer, and a newly repaired fairy (who lost her wings)--and the environment has been rejuvenated!  Wish I could say the same for the great outdoors!

Please note:  the fairy hiding in the Peperomia

 is not showing her boobs, but holding her knees to her chest!