Travel Memories for a Slow Spring

I had hoped to pop in a photo of some crocus, or maybe a snowdrop or two from my garden, but no such luck. Alas, it just happens to be one of these winters that comes and stays. At this time last year, I was able to take photos of Hellebores - this year, they're still buried under snow.

Every time I look outside, I just long for warmth and green. So, next best thing to taking a new trip is enjoying pictures from the past. Here is a snapshot I took from the Dominica Botanic Garden. It is affiliated with Kew Gardens and has a lovely collection of old tropical plants from around the world. When we arrived at the gates that Sunday a.m. we could hear the voices singing at an open air church service - vendors were busy preparing food - the gardens were full of people and activity. So lovely to see a well used public facility. And, a word of note, while the guide books and front gate signs say - the garden is closed on Sunday - unofficially they are open - you can walk right in. Don't worry if the signage isn't perfect - I found I was able to match my photos to the information at their website.

It is a gem of a garden - and one of the highlights of our Caribbean trip from 2006.

Signs of Spring

This morning in the Toronto Star they published photos from readers from across the GTA who shared their snapshots of Spring. I must admit I was jealous of those who have crocus and snow drops blooming away. Most of my beds are still covered with at least 20 cm of hard crusty ice and snow - and I've just learned that we've got another 5 cm of the white stuff on its way. Mercy.

Canada Blooms is always one of my Spring traditions. This year, my favourite flowers were the tulips. Apparently this year, according to our tour guide, was a very difficult year for forcing due to the lack of sunshine. However, the tulips were just fabulous - here are some from the Brampton display. Imagine giving over one of your garden beds to plant so many tulips so close together. There would be so many blossoms, even the squirrels wouldn't be able to eat them all.

First Flowers of 2008!

Nothing is better than seeing the first flowers in the garden. Pictured here is a witch hazel - purchased with the tag torn off at Sheridan Nurseries several years ago. I think it's Arnold's Promise Hamamelis. Even wilder than seeing these great yellow flowers just starting to unfurl with a blanket of snow on the ground, is the great spicy fragrance. It appears to be a very slow grower for me - no more 5 cm a year so far - however, it has won my heart with its great fall colour of yellow leaves tinged with orange and flowers that seem almost supernatural.

On this cold, wet and rainy winter day - it truly gives me hope that spring is not too far away!

Seeding Madness - 8 Weeks 'til 1st Frost Free Day!

This is a busy week for me on the light table - lots of little seeds to be sown in 4" pots and really not a lot to show for my work other than a bunch of pots with white plastic tags in them. However, when I look at my window boxes from a couple of years ago, that were almost all done from seed, it really reminds me of why I do what I do. There's nothing nicer on a warm summer evening than sitting with a glass of wine and the lovely colour of flowers and leaves on the back deck.

Better get to it!

Last of the Seed Order has Arrived

All kinds of trouble trying to post photographs - not sure if it's the Norton upgrade, or just that things are a bit slow. Anyway, had completely forgotten about the William Dam order - it just arrived. Apparently, they've had a large increase in orders - does my heart good, if this means more of us are planting from seed, plus their paper packet supplier went bankrupt with their paper on their floor. So, in addition to the two unsolicited packages of veggies that just arrived from McKenzie Seed of Manitoba, that means I'll be starting 89 different types of seeds this year. I'm trying a All America Selection from 1939 called Indian Spring Hollyhock - the odd instructions say that it is an annual that overwinters in mild climates, then in the next sentence say it is a biennial that reseeds itself. So, it will either bloom or not, or winter over, or not, or reseed, or not. Looks like it will be another season of surprises. Anyway, these seeds must be soaked overnight before sewing and will go into a pot on my light table sometime in the next two weeks or so.