The ‘Children’ Are Stirring!

Corylopsis spicata, known to some as the winter witch hazel, is a mass of wonderful pendulous racemes of yellow flowers tinged red and orange! While others are attracted to Hamamalis, this one wins my heart hands down! This is the first in four years that it has covered its branches in flowers. Delightful!

Finally, after what seems like an inordinately long winter, the ‘children’ have started to stir from their winters rest. It is so exciting to see green sprouts breaking through the damp soil. Heavy rains in the past two weeks, combined with temperatures that are slowly but steadily increasing, have brought the residents of Teza’s Garden forth!

The Rare and Unusuals border seems to be ahead in the race, with many of my favourites stretching and spreading forth their bounteous beauty! An unidentified Helleborus has been blooming for the better part of two weeks – its Northern something or other – a purchase from last year’s Hort Society plant sale. Thalictrum, Aconitum, and even two diminutively small, but oh so delightful pink flowering Erythronium [a mail order purchase from Thimble Farms last Spring] are showing positive signs of having overwintered just fine!

It is in the upper left corner of this broder that I have transplanted two of three Meconopsis grandis, in hopes of having my very own piece of blue heaven later in the year! I have also planted my newly acquired Corydalis curvaflora var. rosthornii ‘Blue Heron,’ yet another new introduction of the renowned blue flowering beauties that are my ‘signature’ plant. I must remember to invest in a roll of copper mesh to place around the Meconopsis before they are chewed to oblivion by those damned slugs! 

I had to gasp in astonishment recently when I attended a plant sale in Toronto where one gallon pots of Sanguinaria canadensis f. ‘Multiplex’ were flying off the sales benches at thirty dollars a pop! You’ve come a long way baby, from when I picked mine up for half the price. Of course, having divided it twice in the last two years, its beginning to look a little sparse along the edge of the Shaded Walk!

Although somewhat hard to discern from this photo, this is one of my favourite sections of the Shaded Walk with the majestic arching stems of Polygonatum, the delightful pleated foliage of Veratrum nigrum, the pewter infused Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, and an ever increasing number of various Trillium species firmly holding me within their thrall!

Dirca palustris  was another purchase from last year’s University of Guelph Arboretum Plant Sale – which focuses extensively on native trees and shrubs. Judging from the information contained within the link [click on the botanical latin name] this plant in particular must have been quite old.

Saruma henryi is exhibiting signs of having survived a rather brutal division last fall. This is one of my all time favourite woodland plants, and I simply needed for its presence in the garden to be more prominent!

Can anybody identify this plant? Hint: The very first genera that captured the imagination of a young lad as he accompanied his grandparents through the deciduous darkling woods of Lambton County. Looks to me like it is going to be another stellar season for Arisaema triphyllum! Last year my plant was 1m in height!

Looking toward the front of the Shaded Walk, there is plenty of reason for excitement. I transplanted all, excepting for the tenderest of my recently purchased Helleborus species in hopes of them settling in and establishing wonderful masses in the coming years. I also added the new native Actaea pachypoda ‘Misty Blue’ and Thalictrum ichangense ‘Evening Star.’ While I would have normally added them both to the R and U border, I think its time to integrate more rare and unusual into the Shaded Walk.

Acanthus ‘Whitewater’ has become one of a growing number of container plantings this year. With a minimum hardiness of Zone 7, there is no hope of it enduring and surviving my Zone 5 winters. I have also contained the delightful pink and white striped Arisaema candidissimum, Helleborus lividus ‘Pink Marble,’ Roscoea cautleoides ‘Kew Beauty,’ and for no other reason than to be able to move its pot around to highlight its beautiful blue flowers…..

… my beloved Cory! Next on the list….. adding two very special architectural specimens…… stay tuned!