Will wonders never cease?

THE FIRST forsythia blossom opened Jan. 3. Surprise was a first reaction, for it is 45 days or more before the shrub should be in bloom. After a few minutes' inspection to prove to myself that it really was happening, I began a slow walk through the garden to spot other early risers. The balmy weather being what it has been, there should be a good many of them, and there are, but it is the forsythia that surprises most. It is covered with buds and, given weather to awaken it, should be spectacular.

Forsythia is one of those shrubs that needs to be pruned, if it is pruned, immediately after blossoming, for it blooms on year-old growth. Should it complete blossoming now, the decision must be made to prune or wait until late April or early May, the time when I would normally prune, and do so then. It is entirely possible that it will make no difference to the plant, but I think that I will wait until the later date, no matter what the forsythia does now.

Obviously sap is flowing, and, if winter decides to reassert itself, the shrub could conceivably be harmed by pruning when it is in no condition to handle abrupt weather changes.

Daffodil foliage appears above ground throughout the garden, and some buds are showing. One that shows buds is the green-and-yellow double that was naturalized and grew so widely in the area of my North Carolina childhood.

I grew up in a rural area where there were few church or community cemeteries, but many family cemeteries maintained by the people who occupied adjacent houses and lands. Evidently the big double daffodil, planted in these for a century or more, had escaped from them to naturalize itself in fields and along roadsides.

It is not a formal flower, but one with more than a hint of the wild thing, created by nature. The buds are plump and, though still only a few inches high, give every evidence of opening to the fat, tightly packed clusters of yellow and green petals I remember with such fondness.

1 2 3 Next Page

Now is a good time to go through the garden with shears and a shovel. One can see limbs that cross each other and need to be removed, and the shape of trees and shrubs is more obvious now than at any other time of the year, so shaping is easy. Plants that need thinning are accessible now, and vines can be traced to their sources. Trumpet vine, ivy, Virginia creeper, honeysuckle, wisteria and passion flower are among vines that will creep along the ground for many feet, setting roots along the way, before twining around or through something you would rather they left alone. Now visible and easily traced to their origins, they can be easily dug and eliminated.

Date published: 1/20/2007

1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
2. Please avoid offensive, vulgar, abusive, hateful or defamatory language.
3. Read and follow THE RULES.
4. We will block violaters and ban repeat offenders.

Breaking News - click here to have the latest delivered to your email box or cell phone