Monday, March 15, 2021

March Bloomday

Many of my fellow Portlanders have been disparaging the month of March. True it can be a fickle month. Cold rain, morning frost, and those sunny days that have you thinking that's all behind us, only to end up back in another stretch of cold and wet with a little hail for good measure. Still... I do love the chance to get outside and spend a day in the garden... made all the sweeter by the fact you know the rain will return so you've got to enjoy it while you can. As I work on this post full of blooms I am completely and utterly exhausted from two solid days spent cleaning up, cutting back, and tearing out. It's a wonderful feeling.

But the flowers! Today it's all about the flowers.

You may recognize this scene from my pruning post. I couldn't bear to toss the spiky poncirus branches so they're stuck in the soil behind the hellebores, which will be planted out in the garden soon. They're here by the back door now, to add a touch of cheer.

Helleborus x hybridus 'Frostkiss Cheryl's Shine'

Helleborus argutifolius, aka Corsican hellebore


And Helleborus x hybridus 'Frostkiss Winter Angels Charmer' (such ridiculous names)

We cannot forget good old Helleborus foetidus...


And one more, Helleborus x hybridus 'Black Diamond'.

On to the arctostaphylos! A. densiflora ‘Harmony’

Arctostaphylos 'Monica'

And last—but certainly not least—A. x 'Austin Griffiths'. Sadly Austin is past his prime, helped by the days of below freezing temps and ice. I'm a little concerned about the fact he's got a lot of leaf burn... we'll see how things progress over the next few weeks.

Daphne x houtteana

And one of the stars of my March garden, Euphorbia rigida.

Such a fabulously acidic color.

The Edgeworthis chrysantha 'Nanjing Gold' blooms weathered the, well, weather, with aplomb.

Everybody is enjoying them.

The Edgeworthia  chrysantha ‘Akebono’ blooms waited until after the freeze to start opening.

Aren't they splendid?

Since I am kind of low on flowers in the garden this month I decided to share four images from this shrub.

Hopefully you won't mind.

Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae has a reputation as a thug. It hasn't managed a take over in my garden but has slowly marched along the side of the garage, moving a good 10-ft or so in 13 years. Dying out slowly from where it had been and moving to new ground.

The last entry is a newly acquired plant, Pachysandra axillaris 'Windcliff’—it smells as good as it looks.


As always thanks to our Bloomday host and inspirational leader, Carol at May Dreams Gardens!

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Weather Diary, March 14: Hi 52, Low 43/ Precip .16 

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

26 comments:

  1. Pachysandra axillaris 'Windcliff’ is a beauty! And speaking of how good smelling blooms, how do you reach E. chrysantha to inhale its marvelous fragrance?

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    1. There are a few lower flowers, and the fragrance carries—you can enjoy it from several feet away.

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  2. Nice to see spring blooms in your garden, Loree. Love the Hellebores and Edgeworthias especially, so pretty.

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    1. Is it feeling spring-like in your garden yet Eliza?

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    2. A few snowdrops are poking through by the sunny front steps, but we're just coming off another few-days freeze so everything is icy, and crusty snow still blankets most of the yard. March is always a bit of both spring and winter playing tag. I expect another couple weeks most days will be in the 50s and we'll see our spring bulbs. Thanks for asking!

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  3. Once again, your hellebores make me "hella" jealous. ;> I especially love the black one and am waiting (salivating is more like it) until a double-petaled version becomes available from a local grower.

    BUT I am happy to report that one of my hellebores is (finally) growing flower buds. Plum-colored to boot. Counting the days 'til they open...

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  4. I have never heard of Edgeworthis before today, and now yours is the second one! Interesting, but to sticky for me, at least at this time of year.

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  5. It looks like you're bounding back from all that snow, Loree. I never knew a Pachysandra could be so pretty. It appear my alkaline soil and water issues make it a poor choice here but I'm tempted. I just looked up Edgeworthia (again). Sunset claims it'll grow in my (Sunset) zone 23/24 but I've never seen the plants anywhere here. I'm wondering if that's because its deciduous. Coastal SoCal garden centers seem surprisingly reluctant to offer deciduous plants.

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    1. Makes sense though, I can just hear the rush of calls in the fall "Help! My plant is loosing it's leaves!"

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  6. March is the awakening month! Your flowers are exotic and beautiful! Such a nice reprieve from cleaning up the storm damage. Incidentally my 2 acca sellowianas only lost a few leaves, which is weird since I live in N. Tabor and they aren’t close to the house like yours. Jim

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    1. Our street feels like a cold wind tunnel when the east winds start to blow, I think that must have something to do with it.

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  7. Gorgeous Hellebores, and I love the Edgeworthia, too. We just got hit with 3" of snow!

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  8. I saw the E. rigida alternated with Agave americana this morning on our walk. Looked great. Will have to snap a photo for you.

    Sad to hear 'Austin Griffiths' suffered winter damage--hope he can come back from it.

    Ridiculous names indeed on those lovely Hellebores. What are they thinking? I've got 'Frostkiss Glenda's Gloss' and it's not the least bit glossy.

    Always enjoy seeing your beautiful witch hazels. The only one I've ever seen in SoCal was at the Huntington.

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    1. I wish I could take the credit for the agave/euphorbia planting but mother nature did that for me. I'd love to see a photo if you get a chance!

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  9. Great selection of blooms. And that lovely Akebono, a plant that we keep killing...

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  10. Pachysnadra plant is so unique and beautiful, all of the blooms are beautiful I loved thee shades of Edgeworthia. It would be my pleasure if you share your post related to gardening here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2021/03/garden-affair-spring-flower-snapdragon.html

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  11. Amazing that the daphne and edgeworthia survived those conditions and Arcto AG is on the ropes! I hope it's only a sulk. Two days in the garden will loosen you up! I've rediscovered my bath tub lately...

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    1. I think it has a lot to do with their positions in the garden. Austin is very exposed to the cold wind that blew through.

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  12. Looks like the Danger Garden is on the rebound from from your winter event. And the Arctos look fantastic. Wish I had room for one !

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  13. Just getting to your Bloom Day post, and I’m really loving your Edgeworthias. I have no time for them most of the year, but in spring... I’m relieved that you comment on your A. ‘Austin Griffiths’ leaf burn. Mine is looking pretty peaked, too. I was afraid it was trying to say goodbye but your comment makes me think it’s maybe going to be okay, although it might lose a number of leaves and then branches (as that tends to go). Fingers crossed for both of our Austins!

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  14. I need some spiky poncirus branches in my vegetable garden to keep our squirrels from poking around the seeds just planted. Double flowered AND dark color get you two bonus points from me. I appreciate your photographs in full sun without producing flat images - the subject between you and the sun to give a glow to the flower.
    -Ray

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