Stay alert. Walk with your eyes wide open. Tiny bits of color are everywhere.
Even in January.
© Copyright 2006-2019, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label flora. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flora. Show all posts
Monday, January 14, 2019
Sunday, February 11, 2018
First Post of the Year: A Winter-Flowering Rhododendron
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Celebrating mid-winter with the first Rhodie blooms of the year.
On February 3rd, a rather ragged-looking swallow buzzed the eaves of our house where they come, usually later, to build their nests.
This is terribly early for the swallows to arrive and I worry how they will do when winter settles in again.
Right now we're having very un-February like weather: Sun, heat, dry.
© Copyright 2006-2018, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Begonia Flowers in Evening Sun
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I'm having a love affair with the tuberous begonias that I've planted in hanging baskets on the back deck. They receive about 4 hours of full sun this time of year and when that sun hits them about an hour before setting, the results are magical. This plant is a Picotee hybrid named Calypso. Some of the blooms are 4-inches across.
I'm having a love affair with the tuberous begonias that I've planted in hanging baskets on the back deck. They receive about 4 hours of full sun this time of year and when that sun hits them about an hour before setting, the results are magical. This plant is a Picotee hybrid named Calypso. Some of the blooms are 4-inches across.
© Copyright 2006-2016, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Phalaenopsis Orchid
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I love the orchid family, Phalaenopsis. They are easy to grow, can withstand a lot of neglect,
and, with a little care, will bloom many times over.
© Copyright 2006-2016, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Thursday, September 08, 2016
Miltonia Orchid
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Another exercise in lighting contrast, I placed this Miltoniopsis orchid in a translucent gauze-covered west window during a bright afternoon, adjusting the exposure so I was able to photograph the orchid while the background became almost white. You would never know that there are shrubs just outside the window.
The image just above is not a crop of the larger one on top even though it looks like it could be. I was intrigued by the deeper colors created by petal overlap as the bright light shone through them and wanted a closer look.
I'm not sure where these exercises are leading me, if they are leading me at all, but I am enjoying the ride.
Another exercise in lighting contrast, I placed this Miltoniopsis orchid in a translucent gauze-covered west window during a bright afternoon, adjusting the exposure so I was able to photograph the orchid while the background became almost white. You would never know that there are shrubs just outside the window.
The image just above is not a crop of the larger one on top even though it looks like it could be. I was intrigued by the deeper colors created by petal overlap as the bright light shone through them and wanted a closer look.
I'm not sure where these exercises are leading me, if they are leading me at all, but I am enjoying the ride.
© Copyright 2006-2016, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Sunday, September 04, 2016
Black Iris
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These two photos were taken as an exercise in lighting. I stepped behind the flower, which was growing very near to a large clematis, and shot into bright sunlight.
I kind of like the washed out, over-exposed look of the background ferns and plants in contrast to the deep purple-black of the foreground iris petals, along with the bright light coming through and illuminating the veins of those petals further away from the camera.
These two photos were taken as an exercise in lighting. I stepped behind the flower, which was growing very near to a large clematis, and shot into bright sunlight.
I kind of like the washed out, over-exposed look of the background ferns and plants in contrast to the deep purple-black of the foreground iris petals, along with the bright light coming through and illuminating the veins of those petals further away from the camera.
© Copyright 2006-2016, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Monday, February 01, 2016
Bright Spots of Floral Color in Winter
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Small sparks of color are beginning to show up in my garden beds during this very gray and rainy winter. I do not begrudge the rain, we need it so badly, but I must say that these small bits of color are doing a superb job of lifting my weary-winter-blues spirits.
Small sparks of color are beginning to show up in my garden beds during this very gray and rainy winter. I do not begrudge the rain, we need it so badly, but I must say that these small bits of color are doing a superb job of lifting my weary-winter-blues spirits.
© Copyright 2006-2016, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Lavender Iris
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Getting iris to bloom is tricky in my garden. It's too shady for the most part. But mostly it's that the slugs think I plant iris specifically as a snack food.
Much to my delight, this one managed to bloom amid a tangle of thorny roses, successfully keeping the slugs at bay.
Getting iris to bloom is tricky in my garden. It's too shady for the most part. But mostly it's that the slugs think I plant iris specifically as a snack food.
Much to my delight, this one managed to bloom amid a tangle of thorny roses, successfully keeping the slugs at bay.
© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Monday, May 25, 2015
A Study of Cosmos
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Pale yellow, sharing a pot with lower-growing yellow larkspur and bunches of sweet white alyssum, this cosmos changes hue with the light: Shade brings out the yellow; sunshine softens it to almost-but-not-quite white; overcast skies give it a pearlescent quality not otherwise seen. A fun study at any time of day.
Take a closer look - someone wanted their photo taken.
© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Friday, March 06, 2015
Early Spring Sparaxis
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This is another one of those harbinger-of-Spring flowers that will pop up anytime in February or March. They are a sweet indication that Spring is just around the corner - and, yes, I do purposefully capitalize Spring; it's been a long time coming for so many.
Sparaxis are easy-growing, care free little bulbs that will drop their bulblets at the end of the season, which will then sprout and multiply for the following Spring. They come in myriad colors and patterns, seem to be slug-proof and deer-proof, and will bring a spot of much needed color to late winter/early spring.
This is another one of those harbinger-of-Spring flowers that will pop up anytime in February or March. They are a sweet indication that Spring is just around the corner - and, yes, I do purposefully capitalize Spring; it's been a long time coming for so many.
Sparaxis are easy-growing, care free little bulbs that will drop their bulblets at the end of the season, which will then sprout and multiply for the following Spring. They come in myriad colors and patterns, seem to be slug-proof and deer-proof, and will bring a spot of much needed color to late winter/early spring.
© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Monday, March 02, 2015
Spring Primrose
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These days, when the weather permits, I stroll around my garden beds picking up detritus from the winter storms, trying to not disturb any salamanders, just moseying from one bed to the next - my husband calls this my Zen gardening.
Yesterday as I lifted a few dried fern fronds from a wet and messy border, this perky little primrose seemed to pop out of nowhere. I'd forgotten where I had planted it. Now it is found.
© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
These days, when the weather permits, I stroll around my garden beds picking up detritus from the winter storms, trying to not disturb any salamanders, just moseying from one bed to the next - my husband calls this my Zen gardening.
Yesterday as I lifted a few dried fern fronds from a wet and messy border, this perky little primrose seemed to pop out of nowhere. I'd forgotten where I had planted it. Now it is found.
Monday Mellow Yellows features photos that celebrate yellow every Monday. Check it out.
© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Monday, January 05, 2015
Yellow-Eyed Daisy for Monday Mellow Yellows
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As I walk around my winter garden these cold days, I am hard-pressed to find the color yellow anywhere until I stop and just let my eyes rest. Not looking anywhere in particular, I find little bits of yellow everywhere.
Beginning with this daisy, and a brand new year, I am casting aside the "I'm-too-busy-to-post-to-this-blog" blues, and instead am turning to yellows - Monday Mellow Yellows, that is.
Head on over and take a peek!
© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Friday, January 02, 2015
Early-Blooming Camellias
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The camellias are blooming early this year; two months earlier than "normal", a word that I feel compelled to surround with quotes these days, as nothing climate-wise seems to be what we think of as normal.
I desaturated the photo to bring out the distinct shapes of leaves, buds and blooms rather than the colors, which I found distracting. This bush will receive more camera study as it continues to bloom.
Looks like I need to prune an errant blackberry cane, too.
© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Last Rose
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Cold-kissed petals valiantly opening in spite of dropping nighttime temps and shorter days. What a trooper!
Cold-kissed petals valiantly opening in spite of dropping nighttime temps and shorter days. What a trooper!
© Copyright 2006-2014, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
White Clematis - Late Autumn
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I see many garden bloggers preparing their garden beds for winter now. I still haven't begun.
Today I went out with pruners in hand and didn't cut a thing. Bees are covering the Mexican sage, the flowering/seeding parsley, and, until a few minutes ago, this clematis flower, the vines of which seem to be going into a late autumn bloom cycle.
If I keep letting the plants rule, I probably won't get to pruning until January.
© Copyright 2006-2014, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Cosmos at Sunset
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Late afternoon. I was stopped in my tracks by a magenta glow coming from my garden: Cosmos in full bloom, backlit by the setting sun. Oh, Autumn, with your golden light and long afternoon shadows, you are my favorite season.
Late afternoon. I was stopped in my tracks by a magenta glow coming from my garden: Cosmos in full bloom, backlit by the setting sun. Oh, Autumn, with your golden light and long afternoon shadows, you are my favorite season.
© Copyright 2006-2014, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Saturday, February 08, 2014
Mini Iris: A New Beginning Amid the Spoils of Winter
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After the deep freeze of early December, followed by a mild and sunny January, February has begun its watch with rain. Rain, rain and more rain. Rain that is much needed to parched California. And along with this shift in weather pattern, peeking from the brown and dried vestiges of last summer's flowers, come my adorable, always surprising, 6-inch tall mini irises.
After the deep freeze of early December, followed by a mild and sunny January, February has begun its watch with rain. Rain, rain and more rain. Rain that is much needed to parched California. And along with this shift in weather pattern, peeking from the brown and dried vestiges of last summer's flowers, come my adorable, always surprising, 6-inch tall mini irises.
What a pleasure.
© Copyright 2006-2014, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Greenhouse Hollyhocks
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Hollyhocks don't like the cool wet weather here on the northern California coast. The leaves get covered with rust, a particular caterpillar likes to much on them, and often times they will never make it to the bloom stage. Plus, they're picky about where they want their feet to be.
When I lived in the Sacramento Valley the hollyhocks would readily re-seed themselves and the ones that flourished the following summer germinated in the hottest and driest places in my garden. They liked it best up against a sidewalk or driveway where the radiant heat in the valley's 100+ temps could fry an egg.
Still, unfazed gardener that I am, I scatter seeds every fall, in and out of the greenhouse, to see just where they will take root and thrive. This year it's just inside the east-facing greenhouse door in dry-as-a-bone soil where they get morning light and are warmed by the greenhouse temps that top 80-degrees on sunny days.
They seem quite happy. And even though I have to leave the door to the greenhouse open so as not to disturb them, it's a minor inconvenience compared to the beautiful show of flowers.
© Copyright 2006-2013, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Verbascum
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© Copyright 2006-2013, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.
Of course I've lost the name tag for this lovely flowering perennial that pops up in my garden every year at this time. An online search brought me to this site and darned if it isn't a nursery not far from my garden from which I buy lots of flowering annuals and perennials. I do believe I bought the one pictured here from them, named Verbascum chaixii 'Album'.
Mine is not white, as the name suggests ('Album'), but rather more of a lightly blushing apricot-pink.
So I'm asking Joy if she can either corroborate my name assessment or correct me.
I'm told it will re-seed itself. But then I'm also told that if I cut back spent flowers it will bloom again.
Cut them back, or let them have their own way...
What to do?
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