Friday, March 31, 2023

We're "in bloom" down south!




One outdoor day was missed due to rain and being busy with other things, but yesterday I was out "beating the bounds" and overwhelmed by the early blooming garden. Our mild winter with no snow or damaging ice storms means the garden is ahead of schedule. I was really surprised when I rounded the house to the side gate arbor to find the 'trumpet vine' covered in blooms!  I had cut this busy clambering member of the crossvine family Bignonia capreolata 'Tangerine Beauty'  down to the ground just before Christmas!  We always wind outdoor lights around the structure and many were no longer working. To remove the old ones and add replacements I needed to get the vine off!  

On looking up this vine online I was shocked to see the price of a rather small one gallon potted one is $50.00 - however I do know it will never die or stop growing so one wouldn't be throwing money away. Mine was planted about 20 years ago, when the arbor was constructed. It has been cut back constantly as it has a propensity to travel. . . . . . . .all over the garden, even up the house which I don't want so I cut off those babies when I see them heading that way.
 




Tangerine Beauty Crossvine

"A colorful staple for trellises, archways, fences and arbors, the Tangerine Beauty Crossvine boasts showy, bright orange-yellow flowers that last from spring through fall. Plus, it’s more low-maintenance than other vine varieties, clinging easily to whatever area you choose in your landscape with blankets of green foliage and bright blooms. It’s vigorous, strong and fast-growing."

"The Tangerine Beauty thrives wherever it’s located, even on the ground – especially since it’s highly resistant to serious insect and disease problems. Its adaptability is second to none, this semi-evergreen vine tolerates heavy shade, poor soils and cold winters."




Bags of mulch awaiting and calling to us!
Spanish bluebells opening, no leaves appear to have been nibbled
 by the deer population this year, however.................
..........guess who arrived in the back garden last evening, a grey fox!

Some of you will recall we had foxes with litters of five in our garden
 for several years. Being this is the time (March/April) for birthing I'm
 hoping this was a mom perhaps looking for a home, and we may see
 her family soon. Favorite places for hiding the babies previously were
 under the potting shed and once under the gazebo, both easy to
 view from our kitchen and living room windows. 


Early blooming azaleas - many more to come and perhaps opening
 over the weekend with some light rain in the forecast.
I will share them later.


Last but not least, my favorite hosta popped through this week and
 is growing fast and unfurling those beautiful leaves. I'm hoping the
 deer, or other hungry nibblers, don't discover it!

Have a great weekend. . . . . . north, south, east or west!


13 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, I think that comment went through! I wonder why, There were Bignonias in the South of France, everywhere, so lovely.

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  2. The coloring in your trumpet vine is so pretty and makes a spectacular statement on your arbor.
    This really is an exciting and beautiful time in the south. A long unfolding season of beauty. Often we sit outside and the floral scent lightly perfumes the air.
    I do remember your fox family. How exciting to have one visit again. Kind of amazing to me how they show up in neighborhoods.

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  3. Dearest Mary,
    What a very special vine that is!
    Looked up a yellow one but they are all currently NOT available...
    Your Spanish blue bells look gorgeous as well.
    Our azaleas don't look happy after the heavy rain and wind, we had tornado warnings.
    So sad once a year when they get damaged like that...
    ENJOY your yard. Well, yesterday I did walk on Pieter's wood walkway, the one he built while I was in Limburg, The Netherlands. Had my 1st OT (shoulder) and PT for both legs on Tuesday and again today. Feeling proud of my progress and today I did DRIVE after 5 weeks + 3 days.
    Looking so forward to 'normal' life.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  4. That was a new expression for me. I was quite surprised, upon looking it up, that it is used in New England. I have missed it, but perhaps should try it once I can get around the house without climbing over snowbanks. Your trumpet vine is obviously not holding anything against you...it is gorgeous...wonderful color.

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  5. Beautiful flowers! It’s good that the trumpet vine is doing so well! Here, the dogwoods are about to bloom.

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  6. Such a beautiful and vigorous trumpet vine, Mary. It's very showy! The Spanish bluebells are some of my favourite spring flowers, and I'll have to wait awhile to see them here. It's too bad the English ones are not as hardy here. Enjoy your beautiful garden!

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  7. Your garden is like Eden in spring!
    Hopefully, you will see the fox and maybe an entire family again - I‘d love to see pictures.

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  8. A lovely blog post!

    Here in South Devon, we have had a dry and sunny February but a very wet March! The winter wasn’t harsh; just a couple of cold spells but no snow. One wonders what the rest of the year will bring!
    I love your Azaleas! And your vine is beautiful.
    We aren’t fans of the Spanish Bluebells here as they are so invasive.…we prefer the English variety, which is more delicate.
    There’s nothing like a Bluebell wood..the smell is divine!

    Hope that you are keeping well! 😁

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    1. Sadly English bluebells don’t grow well here - or I would have them - too hot in Summer and not cold enough in Winter!

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  9. Here in the Shropshire Hills my garden is showing signs of life but nothing as spectacular as your trumpet vine. You probably know that they will not freely bloom in my colder climate. The dreaded Spanish bluebell spikes are growing apace, but no flowers yet. We are encouraged to dig them up and discard them because they have taken the place of English bluebells, but all and every flower is welcome here with me. Well, maybe not the dandelion and bindweed.

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  10. That Tangerine Crossvine is a beauty! And those first pictures are so lovely. Always nice to find surprises emerge, unfold and bloom.

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  11. Your vine is gorgeous! As I mentioned on Instagram, we have only had 2 or 3 blossoms in the 20 years we have had it. Jim threatens to take it out, but the vines are nice shade on our front porch. I don't think he could get rid of it if he tried.

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