joy in every season
Typically, any plant growing between slabs of paving would be considered a weed, wouldn’t it?
My penchant for tidiness insists it is.
But perhaps I’m wrong.
On our regular morning walk, I spotted some tiny violets growing in such a place. Instead of reaching for my scraping tool, I approached the ‘weeds’ with delight in my heart.
They were likely self-seeded from a long-gone hanging basket.
I hope the maintenance crew will let them be.
Would you?
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Nerine Lilies have got to be on the list of easiest bulbs to grow. A good friend up the street (DP) has designated a cutting bed just for Nerines.
Nerine Lilies aren’t lilies at all. They come from the Amaryllis family via South Africa, which has weather fairly similar to ours here in Victoria.
Seriously.
Remember, we’re on mild Southern Vancouver Island in BC, Canada– zone 7-9.
Last January, a snowstorm brought temperatures to a threatening -15 C (5 F). DP’s Nerine Bowdenii are sheltered close to her house foundations in a west-facing bed– protection from the worst of the cold.
Clever.
This year, the leaf of her Nerines emerged in early February, a delight, along with some early daffodils. It’s exciting to see any new growth during our cloudy winters.
The strappy leaves grew & that seemed to be it.
Even by mid-August, it was just a bed of leaves.
Underwhelming.
The leaves started looking tired in early September, BUT budding stems were shooting out of the ground. With so much summer colour already fading, the promise of new flowers gives hope.
Within two weeks, the perky pink flowers were opening. 🙂
Their leaves were fading fast, but the patch of flowers continued through all of October. Even through the rain. (Although these flowers are so close to the foundation that the overhanging roof might have protected them from some of the wet.)
A cutting bed isn’t the showiest way to display blooms, but it serves a purpose. There’s no expectation for it to be a constant showpiece. This one is around the side of the house. DP can plunder the blooms guilt-free. She adds several stems of these firework flowers to each bouquet of her pale pink pompom Dahlias — such a striking, and long-lasting combo.
And the best part? Maintenance is minimal.
Easy peasy.
Right?
In truth, I’ve yet to succeed with Nerines in our garden.
BUT I think there are a couple of reasons why:
Those are a few ways that I could’ve screwed up. Too little water in summer… too much water in winter… or too deep for planting. 😦
Overall, if your nerines are performing well — you’re in the pink.
Easy peasy. 🙂
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Other Indispensibles:
In mid-March, along the walking trail of Cedar Hill Golf Course, Sharon spied some early Spring Gold. I’m used to seeing Lomatium utriculatum waving above tall grass, but it’s too soon for tall grass. This early, they get to bloom lower to the ground, where they might be more protected from the cooling wind? I imagine they stretch for the sun as the grass grows taller around them?
Alongside the striking yellow blooms are some less-showy white flowers. I’m unfamiliar… so I give my iPhone Visual Look Up a try at identifying them. (It’s not a fool-proof test, but it often points me in the right direction.) Results: Migranthis integrifolia. Grassland Saxifrage.
Sharon is great to hike with. She even spotted the Camassia quamash. This is the earliest I’ve ever seen the Common Camas in bloom. I’ve known it blooms earlier than the Great Cammas, but this seems really early.
Walking around Thetis Lake Park, a few days later, I was delighted to see Fawn Lilies blooming. I’ve been searching in vain for their distinctive leaf in my garden. Perhaps this particular location has just the right conditions for them?
Further around the lake, we smiled at the blooms of the Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum). It is a sure sign the hummingbirds will be arriving soon to feed.
Perhaps the hummingbirds arrived already? Maybe, like me, they’ve been tucked away, waiting for a nice sunny day. Well, it’s certainly time to be getting out of the house now! 🙂
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Other places to see Wildflower Meadows:
Garden Variety Life 