I’ve always wanted an Aesculus pavia, aka Red Buckeye. Why don’t I have one? They are small, very full, with these wonderfully exotic leaves and great red flowers right now. They’re also native to our DC area and make a great hiding place for birds! I really must get one for my back garden.
This photo doesn’t capture how cute and fluffy these things are! I think I’ll put one or two in my garden.
I’ve posted pictures of this Euphorbia (Wood Spurge) before, but since it’s flowering right now, I ran out after a rain shower and took another photo. This is such a great groundcover. It’s evergreen and it spreads to cover more area, but it’s very easy to pull out if you think it’s getting unruly. Check out this article from Fine Gardening to see some commonly available varieties.
Daffodils are a perfect choice for the DC Metro Area. They will naturalize (come back year after year, often forming clumps), squirrels don’t dig up the bulbs, the deer don’t eat them, they’re affordable, and they require very little effort. Best of all, they bring incredible cheer all spring long. Love!
My very favorite source for bulbs is Colorblends. Check them out and order early in the fall- they do sell out!
I took this picture at Green Spring Gardens last winter and it’s still a favorite! With this warm weather, bulbs will soon be blooming everywhere!
Hellebores are a wonderful plant for the DC area! They provide green foliage year-round, beautiful blooms in winter and early spring, and the deer don’t seem to touch them!
Need a dose of the tropics? Head over to the US Botanical Garden! I just went for the first time in several years to catch the end of the Christmas displays. It’s a great place to warm up and dream of spring.
Words of encouragement for our darkest days.
It’s been such a mild fall that the hydrangeas and roses are re-blooming here in the Metro DC area- lovely! [Photos taken November 17, 2015, Potomac, MD]
There is so much wonderful foliage right now I can hardly stand it, but one thing I keep seeing around my neighborhood is the Staghorn Sumac. Ranging from deep red to orange and bright yellowy-green, the pinnately compound leaves just jump out against the landscape. I always notice this up and down I-95 in the fall, with the fruits especially showy in winter when the leaves have dropped. Sumac can become the size of a small tree over time. Love this plant!