I found so much to write about in the garden over the holidays, that I decided to break up the first post of the year into three parts. (I changed my mind when I realized how long this post was getting). Last week, I was super excited about the Mahonia (Oregon Holly) blooming, as well as finding signs of life in plants that I thought weren’t doing so well. I also started using a piece of scrap gray mat board for better detail shots. This post will focus on the ‘dead’ parts of the garden that are so beautiful in their dried state.
Dried Leaves of the Japanese Maple ‘Crimson Queen’
Finding the beauty in the details of the winter garden is easy. The finely fingered leaves cling to the ‘Crimson Queen’, as though they were hoping for warmer days just around the corner. Eventually, the cold winds and icy rain will pry them off.
Unknown Plant
I finally got a shot of the top of this pretty plant- I still don’t know what it is. It was kind of weedy looking in the fall, but it’s really pretty now. Here’s how it looked earlier when still green:
Not sure what this is
This plant is also about six feet tall. It might actually be longer than that, but I haven’t measured it.
Detail of Fluffy Seeds of an Aster
I was playing around with the mat board and different plants, to see what I could get. I really like the pale ochre color against the dark gray.
Catkins of Harry Lauders Walking Stick
The only difficult thing about using the mat board as a backdrop was trying not to get it wet. It had been raining, so everything was a little wet.
Opened Butterfly Weed Seed Head
Before and After shot– Butterfly weed. Without mat backdrop above, with background below. Same pod, slightly different angle.
Butterfly Weed Pods
It really helps pull out the shape and form of the plant. Below is another butterfly weed pod that is open, but the seeds are still stuck inside. Anybody want any seeds?
Butterfly Weed Pod
The Bletilla (Hardy Orchid) dried heads are also interesting shapes- sort of like a blimp.
Bletilla dried pods
I didn’t look to closely for seeds, but I want this plant to self-sow as much as possible. I love the bright (almost neon) purple flower that sometimes blooms more than once. Here is a shot of it in bloom (I never did get a good pic of it):
Bletilla or Hardy Orchid
I let the lemon balm go to seed this year- which may prove disastrous next summer…we’ll see how many baby plants come up. Lemon balm is in the mint family which can spread quickly and voraciously. But, I love using lemon balm to make tea and will gather as much as I can!
Dried Lemon Balm
The little dried flower/seed heads look like mini-bells.
Detail Dried Lemon Balm
It is so cathartic to be able to go outside (in daylight) and walk around see what’s going on in the garden. Sometimes I really have to hunt to find something new, but it’s always amazing.
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