A Sense of Place

Two images I didn't include in my last post include Helleborus 'Pink Frost' and Hamamelis x 'Jelena', both taking advantage of the warm weather today. Helleborus 'Pink Frost'. Hamamelis x 'Jelena'.

Between Christmas and NewYears Eve the storm that dumped a record breaking 45cm of  snow onto Montreal, left a very manageable 10cm here in Toronto. It snowed all night, coming straight down with no drifting and left a beautiful blanket of white that was easy to shovel ( almost a pleasure really).  This was not unusual for this time of year, however, a reversal of the weather at the end of the week has given us an extraordinary warm patch culminating in a sunny Saturday afternoon with the Spring-like temperature of 12C! It has been a wonderful sight this weekend to see many plants reappearing from under the snow; Galanthus elwesii, I knew would be well advanced, and Helleborus niger 'Praecox' was completely unaffected by the weight of the snow, many of its blooms unfaded and still loaded with pollen. Galanthus elwesii. Helleborus niger 'Praecox'. Other Hellebores also show signs of life, especially those with H. niger genes such as H. 'Pink Frost...

In the comparatively mild climate of Somerset in the UK, Margery Fish was able to find a flower every day in her garden at East Lambrook Manor, and as a result, her book A Flower for Every Day was first published in 1958. Although I live in what is laughingly called the banana-belt of Southern Ontario, I fear I can't do the same, but by taking broader strokes and taking advantage of the plants I grow in my cool greenhouse, I can manage a flower a month: January. Viburnum farreri. February. Cyclamen coum. March. Crocus tommasinianus. April. Pulsatilla vulgaris. May. Ranunculus ficaria. June. Clematis 'Cassis' July. Pelargonium  'Mrs. Kingsley'. August. Scadoxus multiflorus. September. Tricyrtis hybrid. October. Saxifragia fortunii hybrid. November. Helleborus niger 'Praecox'. December. Narcissus romieuxii.

I was surprised today to see Viola grypoceras growing in a pot containing a large Agave. They were quite brilliant in the sun, and although they were very leggy, the flowers were large and very prettily coloured.   They had self seeded around the Agave, and having gone through a dry period had dried to a crisp. For the last few months I had forgotten all about them, but now had obviously responded to the watering I had given the pot only days before.  The irony is that I find V. grypoceraas a bit of a weed, and in my garden a bit of a disappointment, I rarely see them in flower and when I do they are almost inconspicuous., they do however still produce lots of seed and are always present in the garden cropping up in the most unexpected places.   Leggy Viola grypoceras growing around an Agave . Although they were very leggy, the flowers were unusually large.

Tradescantias are such common house plants, so it was interesting to discover  an interesting species that differs in many ways from the more common forms.  It is a native of Mexico an is equipped to deal with hot and dry conditions, having evolved thick succulent leaves, it stays close to the ground in the hottest months, and with the rainy season grows longer stems and finally flowers. Grown in lean conditions T. navicularis forms colonies of tight succulent leaves. T.navicularis emerges from lean soil and gravel mulch.

I was happy to see Joseph Tychonievich 's enthusiastic post about Cyclamen, and in particular  his love of the diverse markings and shapes of C. herifolium.  I too find extraordinary the degree of variety in these plants, and like Joseph, I have a fondness for the elongated lance shaped leaves that show up occasionally in pots of seed grown hederifolium. This is not to underrate the others that conform to the usual five point ivy-like shape, as these too, are among my favourites when they also have wonderful markings and textures. C. hederifolium with silver,  lance-shaped leaves. Lance-shaped leaves with typical C. hederifolium markings. Lance-shaped leaves with light green centre graduating to a darker edge. Silver leaves with less elongated form. Ivy shaped leaves with a striking silver and green markings. A more conventional leaf shape, but with beautiful markings. Another Ivy-shaped leaf with very distinct markings.

I live only a kilometre from Lake Ontario, and benefit  from the mild weather that results from this proximity. Even now at the end of November we have experienced only a few light frosts and can still enjoy the last few flowers that survive the cold nights.  The roses are the most dogged survivors and despite the fact that they have lost much of their foliage, they continue to bloom.  It is only a question of time, of course, and winter will take hold and force these hold outs into dormancy.  In the meantime we are enjoying these last precious blooms.