Yellow Witch Hazel

The Witch Hazel in the Sunset Flowerbed is in full bloom this weekend. I am afraid I hadn't noticed it, until I started weeding the bed. Then the yellow caught my eye. We did discover that this plant has sent up quite a few suckers over the years, growth from its root stock These branches were covered in small, red blooms. I took some clippers and cut off at ground level all of those branches. Hopefully that will direct the plant's energy to the yellow blooming cultivar.

Yellow Witchhazel

The rain finally let up this late afternoon and I spent a little time outside with the cats. While I had high hope of getting some more gardening done this weekend, the only thing I checked off my mental to-do list was "cleaning up" the witch-hazel in the sunset flowerbed. While I really enjoy witch-hazels, especially in the Fall and Winter, I don't appreciate their habit of hanging on to their old leaves. It seems each year that only around half of the leaves fall off the plant and the rest just hand on to the plant, brown and soggy. So this afternoon I gently pinched off all of last year's leaves. Now we have a very pretty plant covered in sunny, yellow blooms. Such a welcome bit of color on these grey, rainy days.

Witch Hazels

Well, it's just a few days after Christmas but both of our witch hazel plants are in full bloom.

I have to blame this on the very warm and mild temperatures that we have enjoyed this past November and  December. November had 20 days where the high exceeded 50 degrees and so far we have had 17 days over 50 degrees this month. In comparison, last year I wrote a post about the witch hazel blooms on January 18th, almost 3 weeks later than this year.

No matter the date, we need to enjoy their beauty when it appears.

I don't think that the red witch hazel in the front flowerbed has ever been covered with so many blooms.

We need to move this plant to a better location where it will have more room to grow. Reading online it looks like the ideal time for transplanting will be after the flowering is done, but before the leaves appear.

Until then we can just enjoy the display.

November Color

Since the rains finally returned in late October, we are starting to see some decent Fall color here and there. The Big Leaf Maples have a bit of color now, after getting fairly stressed last month. They aren't too pretty up close, but from afar the browns and oranges are nice.

Our little Ginko bush has put on a nice display. That's what faithful hand watering will do for you!

I always forget what pretty Fall color the Witch Hazel plants have. This is the red Witch Hazel by the front steps. After the first frost we need to move it to a better location where it will have more room to grow.

Each leaf has all of the colors of Fall.

The three Sweet Gum trees are also doing well.

It is interesting that the leaves on the far right tree are turning a strong purple/red color while the leaves on the other two trees are turning red/orange.

It is so nice to finally see some lovely colors in the leaves. It wouldn't be Fall without colorful leaves, mild days, and cool nights.

I also discover a few other bits of color walking around the property. Scarlet certainly jumps out against the muted brown tones of Fall. Pictured above, one last wild blackberry hanging on the vine. Below, a spray of wild rose hips in the hedgerow.

Joyful Color in the Gloom

In this time of grey skies and dreary days, our red Witch hazel in the front flowerbed always stands out. Each year it is the first plant to "bloom" adding a wonderful pop of red to the otherwise brown and green world.

Color in February

While the Febuary landscape is still mostly a plate of browns and soft greens, there is some color to be found. Our hellbores have started to bloom.The first two plants in the front flower bed have begun to open in the last few days. One is a double in soft pink and the other a single in dark purple. We will enjoy their blooms for the next few weeks and the pollinators will have a great source of food.

We also have a new witch hazel that has begun to open. Its first long yellow "petals' have just begun to unfurl out of the small brown buds.