Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in the Winter, always something green to see.

Very surprised to see Cherry blossoms!

A few weeks ago, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond offered FREE admission, so of course I had to go! One might think that January is a drabby time of year to visit but there is always something to see. Right now there are plenty of little shrub berries, ornamental grasses yellow Winter Jasmine, Camellia, Cherry Trees, Snowdrops, and even a few Daffodils opening. The bare deciduous trees provide a nice view of the bones of the garden.

My new discovery, The Woodland Garden

I wanted to see if there were Daffodils blooming on the far backside of the Asian Gardens as I remembered spotting them a few years ago in that area. I was happy to see a sign for the  Woodlands Garden, a little hideaway off the beaten path.

First Daffodil spotting of 2020

This trip I really wanted to make time to visit the extensive library. Normally I visit Ginter in Spring or Summer so I'm totally distracted by the glorious gardens. Winter is a perfect time to check out the books and the "seed library". I was really excited to see they have a seed loan. You have to pledge to "attempt" to grow the seed you take and harvest seed and return back to the library. I was quite greedy but I hope to have some success. I've been saving seed for 25 years and I've always wanted to start a seed library in Charlottesville. I'm sure someone else will eventually do this as it's becoming more and more popular.

Weeding and preening never ends!

I'll have to admit that not seeing even one rose in bloom is a bit of a downer but the bodies of water help make up for this loss. Volunteers were packing up the thousands of lights from the annual Light Show. It takes months to get the garden ready for the big Spring burst. There were certainly a lot of people involved with this effort.

Several varieties of Camellia popping open

I enjoyed testing out my new camera and look forward to having more to shoot soon. The birds outside are providing the most opportunity and I'm filming our continued home renovations and posting on YouTube.

Get outside and look closely and you will find those first signs of Spring!

~Rebecca

Spring has sprung, Garden flowers are coming up quickly and Charlottesville Gardening events abound.

Spring fever has hit as the sleet rains down but the Robin's have arrived so no one thinks this burst of bad weather is going to last. Just a few clumps of Daffodils have begun to bud so hoping there won't be grave losses of flowers as the bad weather rolls in over the next week. Lots of changes are happening in Charlottesville on Forsythia Hill.

Spring is my favorite time to garden because its not humid and the plants are just emerging. It is super easy to divide and relocate plants while foliage is short and buds have not appeared. I've even divided Daffodils during this time but you may sacrifice some of their show until next year. Check out my garden as it grows on youtube.

Line to enter native plant sale at Ivy Creek Nature Center

On the hunt for unique plants this Spring? You should not miss several upcoming annual Charlottesville events. Insects are searching for their favorite plants so add some beneficials to your garden. The Native Plant Sale always has a little this and that for me to snag. Truth be told, they have tons of plants and I've purchased so many over the years that my selection choices have nearly been exhausted. A few of my favorite past purchases were Asters and Viburnum shrubs. Check it out on Saturday, April 27 from 1-3.  Another popular sale with tons of great plants is the Master Gardeners Plant Sale. It has relocated to the Shops at Stonefield outdoor lawn on Saturday, May 4, 2019. I also follow an active local gardening Facebook site that often hosts a Spring swap, https://www.facebook.com/groups/cvilleplantswap.

The chickens have begun laying again! Many chickens go on strike during the short days of winter and Spring brings on lots of coop laying action. A friend gave me 3 of her hens so we're experiencing a recent influx of eggs at the moment. We are now getting 3 - 4 eggs a day from our 6 girls.

I love Cville

To tide you over until the garden gets going, check out the Tom Tom Festival in Charlottesville the week of April 8, 2019. The Tom Tom Foundation is a nonprofit that celebrates entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and creators who shape cities and communities across the nation. The summit convene experts, practitioners, and innovators for a week of keynotes, workshops, round tables and mixers. Over 200 speakers will present this year. The theme this year is Building Better Hometowns.

~Rebecca

Grand View Nursery, a Charlottesville Hidden Gem

Yesterday I decided to take my dead lawn mower battery to the annual Hazardous Waste drop off at the Ivy Material Utilization Center, along with my household trash. I recycle practically everything we consume so I make a trek across the mountain three times a year to drop off trash for $2.50 a bag (this is in lieu of paying for monthly curbside pickup). I always look forward to driving past Grand View Nursery located at 648 Dry Bridge Road. I typically link to a business page to provide more details but this nursery is so popular it doesn't even need advertising and there is no online listing.

Tucked off the beaten path on top of Gilliams Mountain is a gardeners paradise. You won't have access to all the landscaped property which has been purchased over the years by the owners of Grand View Nursery but you can drive by in the Spring and see the thousands of Daffodils, Azalea, and Rhododendron. Stop by the nursery and be blown away by the diverse selection of annuals and perennials that are propagated each Spring. They also have slow growing Confer's, Azalea, and Rhododendron for sale. The nursery is only open for a short period in the Spring and on select days, so call before you head up. The plants sell out quickly due to the popularity of this hidden gem.

There is a lovely area across the street from the nursery that is gated and if you are lucky to find the gates open, you can stroll through the stream and perennial beds. Blooming this time of year are unusual varieties of tulips and daffodils artfully arranged with other Spring bulbs cascading over banks and streams. Soapstone boulders have been crafted into art throughout the landscape.

I was fortunate to walk through the other gated areas of the property during Historic Garden Week in 2010. Located on approximately 50 acres (property has been added gradually over the years), Grand View sits on top of the mountain with majestic views among massive trees dotted with an enormous collection of Azalea and Rhododendron. When the property was originally purchased, four hundred Rhododendron were obtained from a nursery in Germany. Many other pocket gardens were designed, mainly with an oriental flair.

Looking for a weekend drive? This is it! Don't miss the beautiful Spring show and visit the nursery if you are looking for unique plants.

Please be mindful that this is a private residence as well as Nursery so if gates are closed, there is no access to these areas but you can still catch quite a show just driving by!


-Rebecca

The Peony Flower

Red single Peony on Forsythia Hill

Is the Peony the perfect flower? It is very difficult for a plant lover to narrow the list down to just one Species but when thinking about how much delight a Peony blossom brings and weighing it against the others, it just might come out narrowly ahead. The top competitors in my garden are perennial Iris, Daffodil, Hibiscus, Lily, Daylily, Rose, Dianthus, and Primrose.

Pale Pink Tree Peony, 50 + yrs old in Ted's Cville Garden

Peonies are long lived, being recorded to live in flower beds for centuries. This Peony Garden article published by China Daily talks about plants over 100 years old and one 170 years old!

Top competitor, My Grandmothers Primrose, 50 + yrs old

Also long lived are Daffodils, Primrose, and Iris. I have some that my Grandmother planted 50+ years ago. I LOVE Dianthus and at one time collected it but they don't make it from year to year in my garden. Store away a little seed each year, from non-hybrids, to ensure you have a backup plan if they peter out.

Climbing Rose, Seven Sisters, on my trellis on Forsythia Hill

Roses are breathtaking and I have several, but once again, it all depends on the type of Rose as to its longevity. I tend to go for Climbers, Grandiflora, or Rugosa as for me they are easy to grow and require only pruning to keep alive and happy. Generally, if it does not have a glorious scent then I am not interested.

Faithful perennial Hibiscus, stunning in its own right

Daffodils are by far my favorite Spring bloomer and I collect them as well but most don't have the color variety or size like the Peony to make you GASP. Perennial Hibiscus is also a knock out plant that lives many years in the garden but it doesn't have the layers of petals like the Peony. Lilies and Daylilies come in all sorts of varieties and seem to last a very long time as well but I go back to the massive pillowy layers of petals in the Peony that brings out romance and reminds me of the finest of old fashioned floral arrangements.

This Double Peony head is heavy and will kiss the ground

My only complaint about the Peony is that often the big doubles get so top heavy they sink to the ground when it rains. To assist, I shake mine off and fluff them up. Also planting a few other clumps of Summer blooming sturdy plants in front of them helps to prop them up. That is one reason I lean toward the single Peony. It has less weight and is more upright. In my collection I have a Red and a single Pink that was my Grandmothers, planted at least 60 years ago and in appearance to the original Peony that all were bred from.

I don't have any Tree Peonies because they are so ungodly expensive but hopefully one day someone will want to share!

Glorious Single Hot Pink Peony on Forsythia Hill

After the Peony bloom dies, you can cut off just the bloom and leave the foliage (never cut this down because like Daffodils it provides needed energy for next years blooms) until it withers away. The leaves are actually very pretty as well and can provide a nice backdrop for small Summer bloomers.

What can outshine a faithful plant that returns each year, blooms its head off, and provides such delight. I would love to know!

-Rebecca

Virginia Festival of the Book, Charlottesville

Over the last week the annual Virginia Festival of the Book occupied Charlottesville. Hundreds of well known authors came to town to share their recent publications. On first glance one might think this event to be rather narrowly focused and pertaining to (yawn) subjects. It's quite the opposite and it never disappoints. There were seven FREE presentations that I decided to attend.

Dwarf Daffodil, the Cville City Building, On the Mall

In between the sessions, I found time to shoot SPRING flowering plants around downtown.  Splashes of pink and yellow dotted the medians and coated  flower beds on the UVA Campus and Downtown Mall. You can't miss the blooming Daffodils, Forsythia, and Cherry Trees. But back to books...

McIntire Rd Pink Cherry and Daffodil, we're a Tree City!

The first discussion I decided to attend, was The Enduring Popularity of Bohemianism, brought to life by Bruce Boucher (The UVA Fralin Art Museum) and Michele Krisel (Ash Lawn Opera).  There was no book to purchase but a lively lecture and video of Pavarotti ensued. The explosion of Bohemian was around the 1840's when many films were released featuring a Gypsy heroine living off the land in a fun filled precarious fashion. Many popular operas also take the Bohemian theme and run with it.  The Bohemian Girl and La Boheme sung by Pavarotti were sited as examples.

Daffodil on the UVA Corner at the church.

I attended several "nature" themed sessions.  One very interesting book was written by Jeff McCormack, Bush Medicine of the Bahamas. His book features 120 plants that he documented while living in the Bahamas for 4 years.  Jeff shared that modern medicines were introduced to this area of the Bahamas in the late 1950s and ever since the "old ways" have been dying.  The younger generation is more interested in modern life than learning about plant medicinals (sound familiar?)  Jeff has spent years trying to document and save this history of medicinal plants before all who know about it die. Only 1% of the 250,000 known tropical plant species have been screened for potential pharmaceutical application. 

Witch Hazel, Small Collections Library 

The recent publication of the nearly 7 lb Flora of Virginia reference book was discussed by Christopher Ludwig and local illustrator Lara Gastinger.  A wonderfully rich book cataloging a whopping 3,200 plants native to Virginia.  It was an 11 year project and no other such book has been created since the 1700s!

Busy intersection at Market St, my abfab city landscaping.

A very interesting discussion was held by author and architect, Lance Hosey about making sustainable architecture aesthetically fit into the environment.  His view is that often there is a disconnect between the environment and the structure, that building design is based on a standard formula rather than looking at nature and the surrounding environment.  He offers a new way of thinking about green building design in his book, The Shape of Green.

Lavender, Small Collections Library

First Light, The fine art of Garden Photography by Stacy Bass was the author I most wanted to hear to learn more about her photography process.  Stacy has photographed nearly 100 private gardens in her career and has created a beautiful book, In the Garden, that shares an intimate look at some of these lovely gardens.  We watched an amazing slide show of her inspiring work and learned more about her technique.

Busy book buying, National Geographic.

I really enjoyed the discussion from two authors, Mark Collins Jenkins and David Braun who have both been or are employed at National Geographic.  Mark has published a fascinating history of the society over its lifetime, National Geographic 125 Years.  A book covering the rich history of birthing a multinational corporation from a Washington based Government Geological Society.  Bringing to light the ups and downs and changes required in order to continue its survival while keeping the old guard satisfied and entertaining the young online reader.  David's book, Tales of the Weird, Unbelievable True Stories holds gripping trivia that has been collected by National Geographic for over a century.  Did you know that by weight, there are more ants in the world than people?

Angel guarding the Rotunda.

A fun discussion from romance writer, Jeaniene Frost and audiobook narrators, Elizabeth Wiley, Andi Arndt, and Anne Flosnik was held to talk about Romance Audiobooks.  It was quite entertaining, learning the process of audiobook making with a bit of spicy on the side.

Speaking of books, don't miss the wonderful semi-annual Friends of the Library Book Sale that begins Easter weekend.

-Rebecca

Seeing Yellow

This small cup Daffodil opened first on Forsythia Hill.

It's a blaze of yellow on Forsythia Hill this time of year.  The yellow Crocus arrived first then secondly my Grandmother's lovely antique large cup Daffodil.  Now the absolutely shocking yellow Forsythia is in clear view out every window in my house!  Hence the name, Forsythia Hill.  I just transplanted stray 10 Forsythia shrubs yesterday and today I spotted another possible transplant location!  We have those hideous electrical boxes on entry up our driveway.  I've never quite decided how to mask them.  I have some stray Althea shrubs that need a new home.  I think a few of them along with some Forsythia might make a good screen.  I was told by the electrical man that as long as I planted to the side and front I would not interfere with the box.

Forsythia was named after William Forsyth, who started the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain.  A member of the olive family, it was discovered growing in China in 1842 by Scottish Botanist, Robert Fortune when he was sent there to bring back plants by the Society.  Another species of Forsythia had already been growing in Europe since 1833 but was labeled as a Lilac.

The way you prune Forsythia - YOU DON'T

Often mentioned as a hiding spot for the dancing Fairy or even a sly Fox (in my yard) the Forsythia hedge grows with abandon having few limits.  The tiny Forsythia fruit from the Weeping Forsythia suspensa was recorded as being used in China beginning in 100 A.D. as a medicinal along with Lonicera to cure heat related diseases and remove toxins (fever, goiter, sores, abscesses, swollen lymph glands, flus, etc). 

Personally, Forsythia reminds me of the past and I always envision it as situated, overgrown, beside an old farm house in a field.  On Forsythia Hill it welcomes in Spring and cheers me to view it out every window.  I've not yet discovered a Fairy but as a young girl, I looked and looked for them under the old Forsythia shrub. 

The main Spring activity around our back Forsythia hedge is the Mockingbird territory wars. Often three or more Mockingbirds zooming around and around in and out and over the Forsythia hedge - battling for the supreme nesting spot.  I'm not sure if the same bird wins each year but it appears the returning bird puts up a most ferocious fight.  One evening I was walking my dog through the yard when a beautiful Red Fox popped out from under the Forsythia shrub.  It was an incredible sight but I felt as if he was sniffing around for my Hen House!  A two door night lockup system will hopefully keep them safe.

A pruned yellow neon highlighter line of Forsythia in a field - UCK

Forsythia certainly provides cover for wildlife and nesting for the birds.  It's a valuable shrub with a long history.  Can there be too much Forsythia planted?  Well yes, it can look horrible when attempts are made to control it by pruning.  I shudder when I see lollipop Forsythia or even worse is the manicured short clipped boxed version.  If you grow Forsythia, plant it in a spot when it can naturally roam and spread without much attention.  Up against the house is asking for trouble, or next to almost anything is a bad idea and planting just one bush usually looks kinda weird (a neon glob of yellow).  An expansive hedge is best and it will form this all on its own given time.  Annually, I dig up the roaming sprouts each year and cut back a few of the really tall spikes but not much else is required.  Once you have Forsythia, you will always have it!

-Rebecca

Dividing Perennials

I'm always amazed at how quickly Spring ends and the heat of the Summer takes over.  I've been dividing bulbs and perennials for 2 weeks now and they are all growing and are in good shape.  It gets so hot here in Central Virginia in the Summer that dividing and planting anything is risky.  I've burned up many a plant and tree by not providing enough water and baking plants to death in the hot sun. 

If you can see it sprouting then go ahead and move it or divide.  Your chances of getting good moisture increase during May showers and decrease as June approaches.

Actually I prefer to transplant bulbs when they are in bloom.  I know that sounds crazy but I can see the bloom and the location of most bulbs and perennials so I won't accidentally dig up something.  Carefully relocating keeps the bloom intact without any problems.  Dividing is another matter.  There is greater risk of harming the bloom if you need to rip apart bulbs and this is better done after bloom or in the fall.

-Rebecca