Books and such

While the snow is on the ground, gardeners can relax from the busy times of the planting seasons. I just got my first two catalogues.  Cook's Garden catalogue is a feast for the eyes.  It's a good time to plan as well.  I will begin to look at my notes from last year and think about how to move things around, where to start new flower beds, etc.  I don't think I will do much winter sowing unless I direct sow larkspur and other hardy annuals. I will really push the envelope by planting some daffodils that never got into the ground.  I planted them as late as Christmas in New York and am not sure I can get by with that here in WS. Meanwhile at the Food Bank Farm we have truckloads of leaves to get distributed into the fields in time to decompose for the spring planting. 

Since January and February provide a great time to dig into gardening books, I want to remind folks to look at the book Community Garden, published by Brooklyn Botanic Garden a year ago.  Hopefully, it will inspire you to look at ways to start your own community garden.

Winter Beauty Camellias

I'm introducing this series of posts on winter gardening with this most beautiful Camellia that was planted in my yard near the front door by the previous occupants. It blooms every winter.  These flowers often seem "out of sync" with the rest of the landscape at this time of year but I love it. According to the NC State Extension another good choices for winter color is Camellia x 'Crimson Candles'. The new foliage is bronze- red, and the flowers bloom in Feb and March. Both these plants can withstand night temperatures in the 20s and is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9.