March in the Garden - Moss on Redwood Stump

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I've been working in the yard, as the weather allows, trying to get the berry canes out before they start their summer ranging, which can be up to 20 feet for some of them.  Crouched under a thicket of Rhododendron and camellia shrubs, yanking at berry roots, I cleared a space and came upon this little scene.

I just love mosses and the delicate and sometimes private ways they grow. 

Happy gardening!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Spring in the Sacramento Valley - Scilla Peruviana

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I took this before sunrise in my friend Erika's Sacramento Valley garden last week.  I'm pretty sure it's a variety of Agapanthus, but I'm going to have to rely on some of you more knowledgeable gardeners out there to help me out.  It looks for all the world like Agapanthus africanus 'Dwarf Lily of the Nile', except for the prevalent stamens and the cone-like nature of the still-closed buds in the middle of the umbell.  I'll bet Makiko will know. ^^

Ed. note:  Makiko did know - The correct name for this flower is Scilla Peruviana.  Thanks Makiko!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Early Morning Candle Light

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On weekday mornings I get up in the dark about an hour before sunrise.  I like to wake up gently so I don't turn on lights.

I light candles instead.

 

One morning as I was standing in the kitchen doing stretches in the candle light, waiting for my tea water to boil, I turned toward the sink and saw the play of chrome and shadows that the candles were casting on the yellow tile backsplash.

I've been playing with these shadow shots ever since.  It's a very pleasing way to greet the new day.

It's Shadow Shot Sunday time again.  Head on over to Harriet's to check out the shadow creativity.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Spring in Sacramento - Pink Azalea

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I was away from my garden on the first day of Spring, but found this perfect specimen of an azalea in my son's Sacramento front yard.  To me, they look as though they are made of spun sugar.

I can see from the garden blogs I follow that spring is bustin' out all over!  And even though it is still in the mid to high 50s in my garden, the greenhouse thermometer says it was 82-degrees farenheit in there at 5 o'clock this afternoon.  I can't put off sowing the tomatos any longer.

Happy gardening! 

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

March in the Garden - Apricot Daffodils

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Look at what happens when the sun comes out for a few days

I'll be away over the weekend and won't be able to wish you all a Glorious Spring Equinox, so I'm saying it early.

Happy spring gardening!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Manatees at Blue Spring Florida

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I couldn't stop gasping.  They are so beautiful, gentle, slow, unafraid (which is why they are endangered), and simply amazing.

When the St. Johns river is cold, as it was this winter, they come up a side tributary called Blue Spring, where the water is a constant 72-degrees, and loll around until the river warms up.

Blue Spring State Park is now a reserve for the manatee.  They can come and go as they please, but here they are safe and warm.

More from our south-Atlantic trip soon.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Behind the Curtain

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This time of year the sun makes ethereal shadows on my office curtain just before sunset.

Can you see the crystal ball?

It's time for Shadow Shot Sunday again. Go on over to Hey Harriet's, you know the drill ...

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

March in the Garden - The Wood Hyacinth are Blooming

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The photo is rather dramatic of me, I know, but there are not enough of these lovelies blooming yet to block out the rather unsightly foliage growing in the background.

So I used a flash and just blacked it all out.

I kind of like it.

This is Hyacinthoides hispanica. Plant the bulbs in the fall and they will reward you the following spring and then forever after. I mix them in with pansies, daffodils and sparaxis.

Happy Gardening!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

In the Greenhouse, March 2010 - Early Nasturtium

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I thought it would be nice to share some summer color, albeit a little early.
My greenhouse gets very little sun these days due to the mostly constant cloud cover, but it's still warm enough in there to invite this volunteer nasturtium to bloom. I'm tempted to plant tomatoes ...


Gardener's Notes:
The swallows returned yesterday! Every year they arrive a few days earlier than the previous one. I worry about that.

Two species will nest this summer under the eaves of our house and barn: the violet-green, and the barn swallow.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Savannah Fence

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Walking through historic downtown Savannah, GA recently

revealed so many little treasures.

This sweet dance of a shadow was one of them.

Hey Harriet has lots of cool Shadow Shots posted for this Sunday.

Go take a peek!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

March in the Garden - Kerria japonica 'pleniflora'

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Bright points of yellow are beginning to punctuate the browns and grays of my late winter garden. Kerria japonica , also known as Easter Rose and Japanese Yellow Rose, is just one of those bright points. This shrub loves being in the company of Rhododendrons, azaleas and a slow-growing berberis in one of the garden beds just outside the front door. It's nice to walk by it these days and be reminded that more flowers will be blooming soon.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

February in the Garden - Daffodils

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Hello Sunshine

Daffs have such a wonderful way of letting us know that spring is not far off. Twenty days and counting . . .

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.