Winter

Winter

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Spring Garden Series #2 - More Narcissus

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Not the same as these early bloomers, the above beauties are blooming now. I never tire of photographing them and never, ever tire of their scent.




Copyright © 2006-2008, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved



Friday, March 28, 2008

Rainbow Weather

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Cause...





and effect.







Copyright © 2006-2008, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved




Sunday, March 23, 2008

Easter Trilliums

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Trilliums are blooming throughout the shady forests and creekbanks now; another sign of springtime. We're lucky to have a small patch of these beautiful plants down in the shady redwood forest on our property. Although the one above is growing against the house in a protected, shady area. As its name implies, the Trillium has a three-petaled flower with three offset sepals just below, and which blooms above three leafy bracts.
So just who or what is this imposter? A Quadrillium? I shot this while taking a walk on Trinidad Head this morning with Mr CC and felt as though I'd found something even more rare than a four-leaf clover. A quick Google search brought me to this blog where the flower photos are drop dead gorgeous and another Quadrillium was encountered.

Happy Easter!



Copyright © 2006-2008, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Greenhouse Tomatoes

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There are six of these "trial" tomato plants all potted up and growing in my greenhouse. Better Boys, purchased from a small box/pharmacy store, and very inexpensive, are going to be my bellweather for what I should and shouldn't do to raise greenhouse tomatoes. A little later in the spring, and hopefully well along the learning curve, I'll put in the heirlooms that I long for.




Copyright © 2006-2008, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved



Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Spring In My Garden #1 - First Rose

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On Sunday, March 9th, the first actually warm day of the year, this rose slowly unfurled its petals and two swallows were seen checking out the eaves of the house. And because it's awfully difficult to get a photo of a swallow in flight (they hardly ever sit still), I offer this rose as my first Spring Garden Series post. Because when the swallows return to Trinidad, Spring truly has begun. I hope gardens everywhere are beginning to feel the warmth of longer days and increasing sunlight.





Copyright © 2006-2008, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved



Saturday, March 08, 2008

Winter In My Garden #14 - Muscari

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Unless it snows sometime between now and March 20th, this will be my last winter garden series post. Sorry, no matter what the calendar says, spring has sprung along the northern California coast. What has also sprung are these cute little Muscari armeniacum. Known more commonly as Grape Hyacinth and actually a member of the lily family, you have to get down on your hands and knees and put your nose right up to the diminutive blue blossoms to get even a whiff of scent and even then it can be rather disappointing as these don't have the sweet fragrance of your standard Dutch hyacinth. Ah well, they make up in cuteness and blueness what they lack in scent.





Copyright © 2006-2008, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved



Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Winter In My Garden #13 - Golden Forsythia

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I don't mark the seasons by a date on the calendar that proclaims "First day of Spring" or "First day of Winter". For me, seasons begin and end with small proclamations: Swallows returning, frogs singing to the heavens, the last maple leaf slowly sailing to the ground, the first frost, the last frost, the sun coming up before 7am, then before 6am, dark at 4:30pm. And always, one of the surest signs that spring is fast approaching is when the Forsythia begins to bloom. The calendar may say it's still winter but in my garden, spring is movin' on in.



Copyright © 2006-2008, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved



Sunday, March 02, 2008

Winter In My Garden #12 - Perris Japonica Blooming

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This post is especially for Paz, who asked me, when I posted this photo, when it would be in bloom. And that would be now. :)






Copyright © 2006-2008, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved



Saturday, March 01, 2008

Winter In My Garden #11 - Vegetables

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Because they're planted up against the south-facing wall of my greenhouse, these lettuces, fava beans and broccoli enjoy an advantage that other plants do not: When it's sunny, they're warm and cozy. A perfect environment in which to grow. Beets, carrots, peas, cauliflower, more broccoli and favas will be planted soon.







Copyright © 2006-2008, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved