Happy St. Patrick's Day

Pin It

I hope you're smilin', Irish!

Actually, what you see here is not clover, four-leaved or otherwise.  This is Redwood Sorrel which grows in the Redwood understory here in Humboldt county.

I'm thinkin' it makes a pretty good substitute.

© Copyright 2006-2013, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Ruby Tuesday 2: Ruby Daylily

Pin It

The first daylily to bloom in my spring garden,

I caught this one glowing very ruby-like in the late evening sunlight.

Followers of Ruby Tuesday 2 will want to head on over to see this week's delightfully creative ruby photos.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Winter in the Greenhouse - Susan's Orchid

Pin It

 Last year Susan's orchid put out a scape of buds, much like this one, only to perish in sub-freezing temps. This year, when not one but two scapes were produced, I insulated the plant when our temps fell into the 20s and ...

... this was my reward.

See Susan?  I've been taking good care of it. :)

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Discovered on a Walk: Creamy Yellow-Red Dahlias

Pin It

Dahlia's seen on a recent walk through town.

The flower was bigger than the span of my hand.

Of course I had to get in real close ...

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

February in the Greenhouse - Christmas Orchid in February

Pin It

I am going to be away for several weeks and wanted to leave you with this photo of my still-unfurling orchid.

It was on its last legs when I finally moved it from my home into the greenhouse last fall. Now it has three flower stems besides this one, and I'm hoping they will be blooming on my return.

Greenhouses rock!


Don't forget me. Two weeks is a long time in the blogosphere. I'll catch up with you all soon.

Happy Gardening!

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

Autumn 2009 - Chrysanthemum Petals

Pin It

This flower was part of an arrangement in a vase on a table in an ice cream shop in Arcata.

(I loved writing that sentence)

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Summer in The Garden: Lycoris squamigera

Pin It

Another sign that summer is waning . . .

Naked Ladies dancing in the breeze.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Summer in the Garden: Cosmos at Night

Pin It

Sometimes the photo speaks for itself.

That's when I should just sit back and shut up.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Summer in The Garden: Critters on Parsley

Pin It

How many critters can you find on this parsley umbel?

While you're figuring that out, here are a few links that you might find interesting.

Here on the north coast of California, we have many varieties of umbelliferous plants growing in the wild. It's a good idea to be able to tell the safe ones from the toxic.

Have you found all the critters yet?

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Native Rhododendron

Pin It

Rhododendron macrophyllum, Pacific rhododendron, California rhododendron, California Rose Bay. They are all names for this spectacular native rhodie that grows wild along the northern California coast. Encountered while on a recent walk in the woods.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Spring in My Garden - Reflection in a Drop of Dew

Pin It

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Spring in My Garden - Purple Columbine

Pin It

The first photo of what I hope will be a series from my garden. Columbine, or Aquilegia, is easy to grow from starts or seeds and can be found many shapes, colors and sizes.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Wisteria Floribunda 'Violacea Plena'

Pin It

Coming into bloom now in my garden, I pass by this mass of deep amethyst flowers on a sturdy vine as I go to and from the greenhouse, the heady perfume making me stop for a moment and murmur a thank you to the wisteria goddesses.

I first grew Violacea Plena , a rare double-blossom wisteria, in my garden in the Sacramento Valley. I had just found the one and really didn't know what I had until it began blooming, as the tag didn't give its variety. When we moved up here, it took me several years to find another. Now they're more easily found, but not as popular as the singles. With their rich perfume, I can't imagine why.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Spring in the Garden - Bronze Pansy

Pin It

Who can resist such a cute face? Not me.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Spring in My Garden - White Primrose

Pin It

Primroses, or Primula, are actually winter-blooming plants around here but I didn't see this one, hiding deep down under leaves and ferns, until just now. Usually by this time they've been munched by slugs. We both got lucky.

After a bit of a hiatus, I'm happy to enter my primrose in the ever-exciting blog event, Today's Flowers. Do stop by Luiz' blog on Mondays to check out all the beautiful flower photos.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Signs of Spring - First Rose

Pin It

Growing on a south-facing wall of the house, this one always blooms first.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Mystery Solanum

Pin It

Photo taken on Trinidad Head. I'm pretty sure this is a variety of solanum, but I haven't been able to key it yet. If any of you garden bloggers know, please leave me a comment.

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

Sunny Yellow Pansy

Pin It

Back-lit by the sun.

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

Winter In My Garden #12 - Perris Japonica Blooming

Pin It

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

Winter In My Garden #5 - Sarcococca ruscifolia

Pin It

Also known as Sweet Box, this slow growing evergreen shrub is quite the show-stopper in my winter garden. The tiny and shy intensely vanilla-scented flowers are quickly followed by bright red berries creating a sharp contrast against the leathery green foliage.

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