Tag Archives: Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ (Winter daphne)

In A Vase On Monday—Wintertide Pair

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In A Vase On Monday - Wintertide Pair

In A Vase On Monday – Wintertide Pair

Monday brings the chance to share cut flowers from the garden by joining in Cathy’s weekly challenge In A Vase On Monday. Especially in the winter season even a few blossoms brighten up the indoors.

In A Vase On Monday - Wintertide Pair

In A Vase On Monday – Wintertide Pair

Yesterday morning on our way to brunch with friends we encountered snow flurries mixed with rain. The snow melted immediately but it breathed excitement into the short commute.

Upon returning home the weather had cleared but it was cold. I foraged though the garden for today’s vase materials, quickly settling on three white Anemone coronaria. They appeared unfazed by the elements.

Anemone coronaria ‘Bride’

Anemone coronaria ‘Bride’

Again this week fragrant Daphne odora is used as filler. Three red cyclamen flowers from a house plant add a boost of color.

Cyclamen, Daphne, Anemone coronaria ‘Bride’

Cyclamen, Daphne, Anemone coronaria ‘Bride’

It was a difficult task finding a container for this odd mix, and I finally settled on a pair of small glass vases, painted black with a gold Asian floral motif. I believe these belonged to my grandmother.

In A Vase On Monday - Wintertide Pair

In A Vase On Monday – Wintertide Pair

The shape of the gold flowers is repeated in the anemones and in the end the vases seem perfectly suited for the garden’s spare offerings.

Photographing these flowers was fun. I reversed the order of the vases and experimented with perspective and point-of-view, finding pleasure in these simple winter flowers. I hope you enjoy them too.

In A Vase On Monday - Wintertide Pair

In A Vase On Monday – Wintertide Pair

Materials
Anemone coronaria ‘Bride’
Cyclamen
Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

In A Vase On Monday - Wintertide Pair

In A Vase On Monday – Wintertide Pair

Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly flower addiction. It is always interesting and insightful to visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday and feel free to join in.

In A Vase On Monday - Wintertide Pair

In A Vase On Monday – Wintertide Pair

In A Vase On Monday - Wintertide Pair

In A Vase On Monday – Wintertide Pair

Mid-January Garden

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Today, Saturday, was a beauty of a day here in Chapel Hill with sunny skies and pleasant temperature of 61°F (16°C). In contrast, forecasts call for rain and maybe even a snow flurry Sunday morning and unseasonably cold on Monday with highs only in mid 30s and low 18°F.

Just after the grass was cut yesterday another heavy rain started falling. The ground was completely saturated again this morning.

Freshly Mown Grass Beside Meditation CIrcle

Freshly Mown Grass Beside Meditation CIrcle

I stitched together a panorama capturing most of the garden as it appeared around 8:45 a.m. looking westward from the top of the screen porch stairs. Sunlight was just reaching into the tops of the trees; the garden was still shaded.

Garden Panorama 2016-01-16

Garden Panorama 2016-01-16

About an hour later I had a chance to inspect the borders more closely. With leaves caked in mud this poor hyacinth, alternately enticed by days of warm sunlight and bashed by rain and cold, is the only one of its group to open. Others are up, but remain in tight bud.

Hyacinth orientalis ‘Woodstock’

Hyacinth orientalis ‘Woodstock’

By this time of year it is not unusual to have Hellebores in bloom; however, despite the many warm days this winter they do not seem to be opening very quickly. There are lots of buds.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear) is spreading far and wide. Fortunately it is easy to pull out when it oversteps its welcome.

Stachys byzantina (Lamb's Ear)

Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear)

I planted Euphorbia ‘Shorty’ (Shorty Spurge) last spring and am happy with its color and form. Still covered in raindrops it seemed to be dancing in the morning light.

Euphorbia 'Shorty' (Shorty Spurge)

Euphorbia ‘Shorty’ (Shorty Spurge)

Last winter was unusually cold and long and a late February 2°F cold snap ruined the leaves and buds of Daphne odora (Winter daphne) before it could flower. It eventually recovered its foliage. This winter it has already been blooming for several weeks. There are 3 bushes clustered together. This one in front is Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata.’

Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ (Winter daphne)

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Daphne odora (Winter daphne)

Pansies are blooming throughout the meditation circle, but the plants themselves have not grown much. In spring they should fill out more.

A female Northern Cardinal was one of many birds happy to find the feeder has been restocked.

Female Northern Cardinal

Female Northern Cardinal

In A Vase On Monday—Winter Greens

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In A Vase On Monday

In A Vase On Monday-Winter Greens

Monday brings the chance to share cut flowers from the garden by joining in Cathy’s weekly challenge In A Vase On Monday.

There was sunshine yesterday when I gathered a few flowers for today’s vase, but underfoot everything was squishy from many days of rain. Not many blooms were available, even Hellebores have been slow to open.

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

While lamenting the limited number of hellebores I noticed nearby some Arum italicum looking very healthy. Its strongly patterned, glossy green foliage, along with a stalk of Euphorbia ‘Shorty’ and several stems of Spiraea, became the emphasis for this week’s arrangement.

In A Vase On Monday--Winter Green

In A Vase On Monday–Winter Greens

I supplemented the foliage with two white anemones that had survived the cold, wet weather, plus a single purplish-blue ‘Mr. Fokker’ in bud.

Anemone coronaria ‘Bride’

Anemone coronaria ‘Bride’

Several branches of Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ contribute flowers, foliage and fragrance. Completing the arrangement are the last two Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ of the season.

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide' and Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata'

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’ and Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’

 

Materials

Flowers
Achillea filipendulina (Fern-leaf Yarrow)
Anemone coronaria ‘Bride’
Anemone coronaria ‘Mr. Fokker’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)

Foliage
Arum italicum
Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ (Winter daphne)
Euphorbia ‘Shorty’ (Shorty Spurge)
Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)

Mechanics
Ikebana holder
Ceramic vase

In A Vase On Monday

Thanks to Cathy for hosting this weekly flower addiction. It is always interesting and insightful to visit her at Rambling In The Garden to discover what she and others are placing In A Vase On Monday and feel free to join in.

In A Vase On Monday--Winter Green

In A Vase On Monday–Winter Green

Garden Bloggers Foliage Day – June 2015

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A second post today—time again for Garden Bloggers Foliage Day (GBFD), hosted by Christina at Garden of the Hesperides.

Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata' (Winter daphne)

Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ (Winter daphne)

The foliage of three Daphne odora shrubs in the mixed hedge along the front porch has made a significant recovery. After the harsh cold winter their leaves were very brown and I worried they would not survive. Now it looks quite healthy.

The river birch (not pictured) has been losing leaves for a month because of the dry weather and high temperatures. The front lawn is littered with them, making it look more like autumn is coming.In front a low compact hedge of Carissa Holly surrounds a crape myrtle on either side of the walkway. This area has not received any supplemental water, meaning it is holding up pretty well. The fescue lawn should recover but not until fall.

Ilex cornuta 'Carissa' (Carissa Holly) and Lagerstroemia (Crape Myrtle)

Ilex cornuta ‘Carissa’ (Carissa Holly) and Lagerstroemia (Crape Myrtle)

In back of the house where I have been watering, the garden is a mixed story. A new planter featuring Colocasia Royal Hawaiian ‘Black Coral’ (Black Coral Elephant Ear) looks very sad. All the plants were designated for full sun, but Euphorbia Diamond Delight is the only one living up to its name.

Colocasia Royal Hawaiian ‘Black Coral’ (Black Coral Elephant Ear)

Colocasia Royal Hawaiian ‘Black Coral’ (Black Coral Elephant Ear)

Foliage on Hydrangea macrophylla understandably shows distress from the sun. But I am surprised to see the leaves of Hylotelephium telephium ‘Herbstfreude’ (Autumn Joy) looking sunburned as well.

Hydrangea macrophylla

Hydrangea macrophylla

Hylotelephium telephium 'Herbstfreude' (Autumn Joy)

Hylotelephium telephium ‘Herbstfreude’ (Autumn Joy)

Here are a sample of other plants around the garden whose foliage is looking healthy this week despite the weather.

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’, Brunnera macrophylla ‘Silver Heart’ (False Forget-Me-Not)
Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Eyes’
Thyme
Helianthus angustifolius (Swamp Sunflower)
Euphorbia ‘Shorty’ (Shorty Spurge)
Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud)
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Silver Heart’ (False Forget-Me-Not)
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (Wormwood) , Rudbeckia fulgida (Orange Coneflower)

Thanks to Christina at Garden of the Hesperides for hosting. Read her June foliage update from her holiday in the US and see more links to foliage perspectives from many parts of the world.