This week I’m featuring my mom’s garden in Southeast PA! I visited my parents for Christmas, and took a few pictures outside on a day of unusually warm weather.
Front Door
First, front door with their “fruit” wreath. I thought this wreath looked so pretty against the newer black door. I remember most years growing up, my dad would install a spotlight to shine on the front door for Christmas.
Wreath with fruit
Near the front door, out front, is this giant Rhododendron bush. You can see here that it surpasses the first story of the house, so it’s at least eight feet tall. This plant is about 30 years old, maybe even closer to 40!
Giant Rhododendron
Many buds are starting to form for the Spring show on it.
Rhododendron Bud
Also getting ready for Spring, some daffodils have already started coming up.
Early Buds
Out by the end of the driveway, bordering the neighbor’s yard is a large forsythia bush.
Forsythia
This will be covered in yellow blooms this Spring.
Forsythia Buds
Sometimes I need to use my hand for a better detail shot. I suppose I could start going out with a colored piece of foam-core or something instead.
Bark of a Cherry Tree
This cool looking bark is on a Cherry Tree. I like how it looks “zippered” where the two main trunks split.
Moss
This cute moss is everywhere! There are a lot of mature trees in the yard, giving moss and lichens the ideal environment to grow.
Brush Pile for the birds
What’s also great for this ecosystem is this brush pile in the back- perfect for little birds, many of whom I saw hopping around it.
Happy Hellebores
The Hellebores I gave my mother last spring are still happy in their pot. After transplanting them later after they flower, I hope they’ll really start to spread.
Asiatic Lily dried pods
They’ve also left some dried heads for the wildlife this winter, including this dried Asiatic Lily pod (above) and a dried Daylily head (below).
Dried seed head from a Daylily
And one of my mom’s favorites in the garden is this stand of Sensitive Fern, Onoclea sensibilis.
Stand of Onoclea sensibilis or Sensitive Fern
It’s grown quite large over the years, as she has encouraged it to spread out. In the winter, it leaves these little guardians to tell you where they are.
Sensitive Fern in Winter
Also known as the Bead Fern, for the little “beads” that are left in the winter months on this deciduous fern.
It can be challenging searching for life in the winter garden, but the more I look, the more I see.
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