Where memories are created
Carefree Black-Eyed-Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) is a North American native species in the sunflower family. They can grow to over 3 feet tall and have daisy-like flowers with sultry dark ‘eyes’ and brightly colored petals which emanate pure joy. Each year I always look forward to where they will pop up. We currently have a bunch growing along a path in the backyard. Oh, what a glorious color they provide to the garden!
Published by Amy on Aug 14, 2018
The Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is one of the few hydrangeas native to the United States. This is a cousin to the traditional hydrangea and it’s the only hydrangea with cone-shaped flower clusters. In summer, it flowers in a creamy white and the white flowers fade to a pinkish-brown in fall. But the plant’s distinguishing characteristic is its oak leaf shaped foliage. The leathery leaves are large and turn purple, orangey-bronze in the fall just like the tree. I forgot to cut it back in the winter and all the heads are practically on the ground from the weight as you can see pictured. This plant thrives very well with little attention, little water (unlike its cousin!) and can tolerate full sun or full shade.
Published by Amy on Jul 31, 2018
Hosta or plantain lilies. These plants originate from Asia and for centuries have been used in Japanese garden architecture for its beauty. Hostas are currently the most popular perennial in the U.S. with literally thousands (I came across 6,000!) of varieties that an entire garden could be devoted to growing this alone! Hostas are shade-tolerant, low maintenance, quite forgiving, incredibly elegant, and quite possibly habit-forming. We love them at The Cottage but they are a magnet for the banana slugs so keep it baited.
Published by Amy on Jun 19, 2018
The name Rhododendron comes from the Greek words “rodon” which means “rose” and “dendron” which means “tree,” hence Rose Tree. Rhododendrons are referred to as the ‘King of Shrubs’ since they are regarded by many as the best flowering evergreen plants for the temperate landscape. These Rhodies pictured are 72 years old and the tree must be at least 9 feet tall. Oh, and what a beaut she is! Go, Rhody! Go, Rhody!
Published by Amy on May 22, 2018
Pink Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) an evergreen twining vine that blooms throughout spring and summer. The pinkish-white star-shaped flowers have a mouth-watering fragrance. Ours wraps around the front gate so when guests walk in, they get a whiff of the sweet aroma. We also have one growing around the back gate, and that one is loaded too! The vine is very hardy and some say invasive but I don’t mind that it takes over. Too bad this picture is not scratch n sniff, yes? 🤤
Published by Amy on May 8, 2018
Wild California Azaleas are visually compelling shrubs that fill the air with a delightful sweet and spicy clove-like fragrance. They grow along streams and in damp openings of the Coast Redwood forests. Nearby Memorial Park even named one of their campgrounds, ‘Azalea Flat’ as they grow prolific here.
My mom said my great-grandmother often talked about how these were growing everywhere in Loma Mar. As a girl, she would walk to school and smell their heavenly fragrance. We were fortunate enough to find a few to put at The Cottage in front of the gate so guests can enjoy the sweet whiff. It’s nice to keep some of the memories alive.
Published by Amy on Apr 17, 2018
Hellebores (Helleborus x hybridus) often called Christmas or Lenten Rose. They are particularly valued by gardeners for their winter and early spring flowering period. The plants are surprisingly frost-resistant, and many are evergreen like ours.
They are also valued for their shade tolerance. Most of our cottage garden is in shade during the late fall to early spring months and hellebores help make it a four-season garden!
I found all kinds of lore around this plant. At one time the Christmas Rose was used to predict the weather. In the countryside, people cut twelve flowers on Christmas Eve and placed them in a vase. Each flower symbolized the weather for one month of the following year. The forecast was based on whether the flowers opened or not. Closed flowers indicated bad weather and open flowers indicated good weather. I’ll have to try this next Christmas Eve and report my findings. 😉
Published by Amy on Mar 6, 2018
Snowflakes are often confused with snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) as they look almost identical. You can tell the difference between the two flowers by the fact that snowflakes have a green dot at the tip of each of its six petals, while snowdrops have dots on only three of its petals.
Summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) blooms in late winter/early spring, not in summer despite its name. It usually goes dormant by summer. Our summer snowflakes at The Cottage have been blooming each winter for over 20 years! The banana slugs like to munch on them, but the deer don’t. The soft chocolate scent they give off makes me hungry for a chocolatey beverage right now! Time to take a break.
Published by Amy on Feb 20, 2018
Flowering Plum. Simply gorgeous. I remember when we first put it in about 6 years ago when it was a wee baby. Now, look at it! Those redwoods have some competition…
Flowering plum (Prunus cerasifera) is a small to medium-sized ornamental tree native to Asia. This tree is one of the earliest spring bloomers, harkening the arrival of the season. Although, ours always seem to bloom in late winter. The leaves sprout after the bloom fades away from the trees. Around summertime, the leaves of the tree will change color from glossy green to deep, bright burgundy. Famous poet Lin Bu of the Song Dynasty (960–1279) sums up a plum tree beautifully:
How Plum Flowers Embarrass a Garden
When everything has faded they alone shine forth
encroaching on the charms of smaller gardens
their scattered shadows fall lightly on clear water
their subtle scent pervades the moonlit dusk
snowbirds look again before they land
butterflies would faint if they but knew
thankfully I can flirt in whispered verse
I don’t need a sounding board or winecup.
Published by Amy on: Feb 13, 2018
Little pink petals are showered down all over the place (including the hot tub) like confetti. I love it.
Camellias (Camellia japonica). This year the camellias really outdid themselves. I know, I know, I say this every year. But the trees are LOADED with fragrant delicate creamy pink flowers waiting to put a smile on your face. The flowers are elegant, understated, and beautiful against their deep glossy green leaves. It was one of Coco Chanel’s inspirations and the camellia buds are an iconic symbol of Chanel’s haute couture line. When asked what she ate for lunch Coco Chanel replied once: “Madame, I eat a camellia, and in the evening, I eat an orchid.”
Camellias are originally found in eastern and southern Asia but today they are grown all over with more than 3,000 in a remarkable range of colors, forms, and sizes. They are highly valued for their very early flowering, often among the first flowers to appear in the late winter. They are such happy, cheery trees always putting a smile on my face and I hope you too. Come on over and have one with your lunch.
Published by Amy on February 6, 2018
