This past week we've been experiencing what is known as dogwood winter in the South. Some time between mid-April and mid-May when the dogwood trees are in full bloom we'll have winter-like weather where you're turning the furnace back on and looking for socks. A welcome reprieve, because in just a couple of weeks we go from glorious spring to sultry summer. And I begin to complain about the weather. . .
This morning I walked through the yard gathering these flowers that are at their peak of bloom and loving the cool dogwood winter weather. Claiming center of attention is pink dogwood. Can you believe the size of these blooms? Along the edge of the vase you see the lovely--almost like lacecap hydrangea--blooms of the doublefile viburnum. I love the deeply ridged, bold leaves of this shrub as well. And to finish out the color scheme, there are a few reddish-purple leaved branches of the Japanese bloodgood maple. This tree is magical when the sunlight sparkles on the leaves.
To complete this floral arrangement, notice the watercolor lily postcard on the stand. It's an original painting of "Lilium Nutmegger" from a postcard exchange friend in Helsinki, Finland. It's clear why this lily is called the nutmeg lily, isn't it?
Well, I hope you have lovely flowers blooming in your yard and a free weekend to enjoy them.
We have an abundance of flowers here in the spring. Tallahassee is KNOWN for it. Most of our obvious flowering bushes are azaleas, but I noticed something peculiar last year. When they fall off the bushes to the ground, they start smelling like urine. After the glory of their colors, we get about a week and a half of having our yard smell like someone came and peed all over it. Still... I'll take the flowers!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful arrangement, Faye. I love to bring nature indoors. Don't you wish it would last forever? We have a wild white dogwood in full bloom, but I cannot reach it's branches. Otherwise, I would cut some too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bouquet Faye...Our dogwoods are blooming here also and the weather is perfect...mid to high 60's guess we could call it our dogwood winter too! The lilacs and tulips are in full bloom also..it has been an early spring here..about two weeks ahead. My azaleas are about ready to burst into bloom in another day or two.
ReplyDeleteWhat glorious flowers. I especially love the dogwood as I don't think I've seen one of those before and can imagine that it must look beautiful where you live with those wonderful blooms all around.
ReplyDeleteMy garden is slowly coming to life and getting quite colourful. I have a wonderful array of tulips around the garden.
Pretty posy! Mike & I have been leading wildflower walks for MetroParks - love the spring ephemerals. I'd love to pluck a bouquet of bluebells, celandine poppies, etc. to bring home, but that'd be setting a terrible example. We have lilacs & azaleas just ready to pop, but not much else yet.
ReplyDeletesayre--I wonder if the bad smell comes from there being so many blooms rotting on the ground? You're right though, it's worth the bother when you get blooms to enjoy.
ReplyDeletechurch lady--yes, spring needs to be about twice longer than summer. Unfortunately, it's the other way around. . .
janis--you all are a bit behind us in the seasonal changes. I was looking for lilacs when I picked this posy. They're gone by now.
debs--no dogwoods in England? In the U.S. people sometimes plant white and pink dogwoods close together so they look like one tree of blended pink and white flowers--lovely.
cousin m--okay, you have me getting out the dictionary to figure out what ephemerals look like? Guessing class name for wildflowers with a fleeting bloom season? And yes, the wildflower walk leaders should not pick, no matter how tempting. :-)