Category Archives: months 04-06: spring

April thru June

boulevard garden, drought tolerant, evergreens, garden visits, months 04-06: spring, perrennials

Meadow Blooms 3 – daisy

03/25/2013 svseekins 5 Comments

English Daisy meadow WSO — photo by SVSeekins

My breath caught when I turned the corner along a wooded trail revealing this spring meadow. Doesn’t it evoke images of butterflies & unicorns?

In my quest to ID this tiny smiling flower, I sent these photos to Saanich Parks’ horticultural supervisor, Kelly Mulhern. She quickly confirmed my suspicions: English Daisy.

Kelly says it originated in Europe but has naturalized all over the world. Although many folks enjoy it, “lawn purists” don’t.

The Cedar Hill Golf Course is home to this particular meadow. Their white drift of spring bloom laughs in the face of the perfect golf green.

English Daisy meadow CU — photo by SVSeekins

I reckon it might be a new version of a sand trap. The plant grows in a low rosette shape, almost making a cup; perfectly suited for catching & cuddling a golf ball. And wouldn’t it be a bugger to find a white ball in this sea of white daisies?

The Royal Horticultural Society supports this daisy’s usefulness for planting in a wildflower meadow. I’m with them (surprise surprise).

But the debate rages. 🙂

C says he prefers the even texture of uninterrupted grasses. He’s one of those purists. How about you?

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© SVSeekins and Garden Variety Life, 2013

P.S. Here’s some other meadow faves:

drought tolerant, months 01-03: winter, months 04-06: spring, months 07-09: summer, months 10-12: fall, perrennials

Forsythia Through Four Seasons

11/01/2012 svseekins 16 Comments

It’s taken a couple of years for me to really appreciate Forsythia in all seasons.

ws - Forsythia in April — photo by SVSeekins

Yes, Forsythia is at its best in spring. Every morning through March, I sit with my coffee & ponder the coming growing season. As I’m peering out the kitchen window, my anticipation builds as the buds on the Forsythia show more & even more promise.

I’m energized by the sunny yellow blossoms in March & April.

Each year I feel so desperate to see any spring colour. Forsythia will never be challenged over its prominent real estate between our driveway & the kitchen entrance.

For all that hoopla, it’s easy to forget about Forsythia for the rest of the year. But that would be ignoring the assets.

ws - Forsythia in May — photo by SVSeekins

In April & May, the yellow blooms give way to yellow-green leaves. Like the rest of the garden, the shrub begins to fill out, supplying much-appreciated privacy.

ws - Forsythia in June — photo by SVSeekins

By June, Forsythia is a steadfast background green and working hard to compliment the new flowers in the garden parade throughout the entire length of the summer and into the fall.

ws - Forsythia in early October — photo by SVSeekins

When the brisk winds of October arrive, Forsythia again steps up for a more significant share of the garden interest. The yellow, apricot and red leaves add lovely colour to the fall palette.

For Halloween, they’re even more vibrant. No wonder Forsythia has become one of our garden mainstays!

ws - Forsythia in late October — photo by SVSeekins

ws - Forsythia in late December — photo by SVSeekins

By December, Forsythia is naked again. That’s not my favourite look for a shrub… but I understand that without the barrenness of winter, the spring probably wouldn’t be as exciting.

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bulbs, drought tolerant, months 04-06: spring, months 10-12: fall, perrennials

Pink as a Fall Colour?

09/22/2012 svseekins 6 Comments

The bright yellows & oranges signal summer edging into autumn. Harvest colours, right? Why consider anything else?

CU Colchicum grouping 1, garden Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC, Pacific Northwest olchicum - fall crocus. — photo by SVSeekins

It really seems to clash, but how about boasting soft pink for their fall decoration?

One of my favourites is colchicum. The lovely blooms are such a surprise when they pop up out of nowhere. Why aren’t they clothed in leaves? It’s getting chilly at this time of year!

WS - September colchicum garden Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC, Pacific Northwest — photo by SVSeekins

That’s why I think their common name suits them so much better: Naked Ladies. Don’t you?

C had figured out the leaf mystery when living on Cedar Hill. He pointed out the wide, lush leaves showing so much potential in early spring.

ms - spring colchicum circling the birdbath garden Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC, Pacific Northwest — photo by SVSeekins

Later, when they died back in May without ever blooming, he commented on how they were a waste. Perhaps a failed spring bulb?

It wasn’t until early September that the Naked Ladies appeared out of nowhere.

Realistically, it might have even been a couple of seasons before he reached the “Ah-ha!” moment, but he did. 🙂

PS' row of colchicum, fall crocus, garden Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC, Pacific Northwest — photo by SVSeekins

The deer don’t seem impressed by them in either season, so that’s been another advantage.

It was a no-brainer that we had to have lots of colchicum at the Richmond House.

Now I have to find a way to get soft pink not to clash with the bright yellow of the Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia). Perhaps adding something bright purple? Any ideas?

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Here are some other pink autumn bloomers: