I think I finally understand why January can be so hard for me. As soon as the holidays wrap I mentally turn a corner. Something along the lines of: "Okay, winter's over, let's move on to spring!"
If only it happened that fast. Instead we've got a long haul until March 20th rolls around, although honestly towards the end of February it starts to feel like spring here in Portland, at least a little bit.
So knowing this about me you can imagine my excitement when I noticed the Hamamelis x intermedia 'Early Bright' I purchased last January is blooming. That early impulse purchase was one of the smartest things I did last year. I think I owe it to myself to head out to a nursery (or two, or three) soon, and see what else is blooming and figure out how to incorporate them into my garden.
In other exciting spring-like news I'm celebrating a bit of success where previously there had been much failure. After multiple botched attempts at rooting cuttings of Passiflora ‘Sunburst’ my last hope was to dig up the plant itself before temperatures dropped enough to kill it...
I did so mid-November and it thanked me by quickly dropping every single leaf and looking like death. Since I had nothing to lose I kept it, even watered it and what do you know!? I've been rewarded with new leaves!
I am thrilled. Seriously thrilled. Let's see now if spring comes early I can get this planted out and we can get on with things...
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
It should be spring now. We had our freezes and now it's simply time for winter to be over. It'll be 55 degrees here today, certainly feels like spring, right?
ReplyDeleteYes! The warmish weather Monday and Tuesday did not help to quash my spring fever.
DeleteOh cool with the Passiflora sprouting! Which means that every year you can do the same treatment with more confidence that it will resprout :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder how it will feel about that treatment annually? Naturally many roots were severed in the digging. Poor thing.
DeleteCongratulations on saving the passionflower vine! It's certainly beautiful and it would be sad to lose it. Temperatures here are headed toward 80F today and skies are clear but, instead of spring, I'm wishing for more rain - there's a chance this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI hope your wishes come true.
DeleteIt's so important at this time of year to look for things that cheer you up. You certainly found that in your witch hazel and passionflower vine.
ReplyDeleteAnd you in your desert vacation?
DeleteWell done on both fronts. Witch hazels can sulk when first planted so you are doing well. They say you should visit a nursery once a month and buy something that looks good and then your garden will have interest all year round.
ReplyDeleteThe sun was shining the other day here and it was milder than normal, I got all excited and had to remind myself that we still had January and February to get through but it won't be long,
Ha! Visit a nursery once a month? I think I average once a week! I guess that means my garden should be lovely year round?
DeleteWoo hoo! I love Hamamelis, but both of mine seem to sulk, as Helen points out. 'Early Bright' certainly does what it says on the tin.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of hamamelis that refuse to bloom, I'm feeling very lucky.
DeleteYou talked me into 'Early Bright' last year (didn't know that, did you?) and mine's blooming too. Thanks for that. Sun shining through fog here right now...so beautiful that it's hard to be grumpy about winter.
ReplyDeleteI did not know! I knew Tamara and Heather both bought one but not you. Glad to hear it's blooming too. And yes, this week has been lovely. Right now I'm getting that same effect, it's foggy but bright, in patches I can almost see blue sky...
DeleteCongrats on the Passiflora! Great news, indeed. Also the Hamamelis you bought was one that inspired me to go out and buy one…they were out of Early Bright at Garden Fever. I ordered it from Gossler Farms (under the name Rochester??), realized it would get big and had no place for it so gave it to a friend who is enjoying it. Alas, I shall enjoy yours as a stand-in.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really have place for one either, but as you know I never have let that stop me...
DeleteRight. Well, I can always buy another. Hmm….
DeleteMy Witchhazel is getting ready to bloom too! The buds are starting at least. Does yours also bloom in late Oct/early November?
ReplyDeleteNo, but this was it's first year in the ground.
DeleteWhen I had mine potted, it would bloom in November, but not February. When I first put it in the ground, it refused to bloom. So I moved it to a better location and so far, it's bloomed last November and looks to (finally) bloom later this month.
DeleteMaybe now that yours is in the ground, it'll bloom twice yearly too}:)
I might head to the nursery soon, too, for I need some cheering up! We had unseasonably cold days all in a row, and while my plants may have been okay for a night or two, many have succumbed after 6 nights below freezing (pretty unheard of in my zone). I lost a few euphorbias (one was a huge Sticks on Fire), a plumeria, a Mexican sage, a bougainvillea, and more. Oh, the carnage! There may still be hope for the jade that belonged to my husband's great aunt, fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteI am with you! Itching for Spring, not only just so I don't have to put more beloved babies in the compost pile. This time of year I always want to get my hands into the dirt! I'd love a beautiful Winter bloomer to take my mind off my losses!
Oh no! I am sorry, that is horrible. Six nights in a row below freezing is a lot to ask of plants in your part of the world. I hope you do make it to a nursery soon (and find lots of fabulous things to take your mind off the losses).
DeleteToday was very spring-like here, I spent a good four hours out in the garden tidying up. I tend to think the same, that once we are into January, spring is right around the corner. It didn't take me long to adjust to not having a garden under 3 feet of snow till April. I need to check my witch hazel! Hooray for keeping the passionflower alive! I did the same with my Digiplexis, tried rooting it to no avail, but also dug it up.
ReplyDeleteAnd is your digiplexis showing signs of life?
DeleteHamamelis flowers are so exciting! I like them very much, But I even like more the passiflora, so I´m glad you have some new leaves and a promise for next spring!! happy New Year!! I´ve enjoyed very much all the posts I´ve missed these days without my computer.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're back "in the saddle/online" Lisa!
DeleteI know exactly what you mean !! My excitement is growing daily ! Your hamamelis is just gorgeous and one of the first harbingers of spring! Not long to wait now till buds are bursting!!
ReplyDeleteThere's a patch of daffodils I walk by almost daily with the dog. They're about an inch and a half out of the ground right now, confused I'm sure, since the temps keeps vacillating wildly (from a high of 35 to a high of 56, crazy!).
DeleteIt does seem that by early January the cold weather has served its purpose and we should be able to move on already. Sadly that is not to be. I envy your Hamamelis. I have a Hamamelis virginiana which I keep thinking has been killed by rabbits but keeps springing back. This winter I protected it with hardware cloth so maybe next year I might get a few flowers.
ReplyDelete