So, the bubble of spring weather we had over the weekend burst in the 30s yesterday. As you run from your car to the indoors, I bet you're barely giving the garden a glance. Are you feeling sad? Don't be, it is February, the cruelest of months. And, it is nearly finished. Hip, hip, hooray!! It's nearly March, and you know what that means, right? It's book season which is always something to celebrate. I'm pulling out the party hats with a week-long celebration of garden book reviews and maybe even a giveaway. So, let's get the party started with The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for a Beautiful, Bountiful Garden, by Ivette Soler, otherwise known online as The Germinatrix. First, I'm green with jealousy. Ivette lives in California, and she gets to garden nearly year-round as do so many of my other gardening friends. I'm a California,...

Helleborus x nigercors 'Honeyhill Joy' So glad to see you sweet hellebore. Missed your sunny face all winter. H. 'Blue Lady' What about your sisters, they of the drooping heads? Why don't they let us have  a peek? You are always first to the party even ahead of H. nigersmithii 'Ivory Prince.' Hello Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane.' Lovely to gaze upon your elegance if only in spring. Later, you'll be covered with rough leaves, but now, you wear your finest frock. Since those same rough leaves turn a brilliant red/orange in fall we forgive them. Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane' always blooms before 'Arnold's Promise' Hello Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold's Promise.' You're just starting to unfurl, but your scent is awesome. The beginnings of bloom . . . Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold's Promise' Hello Crocus chrysanthus 'Snow Bunting.' You are as beautiful and welcome as Elizabeth Lawrence described you in A...

Remember all that boring stuff I wrote about the snow and ice only a couple of weeks ago? Although it started out foggy this morning, it's now 78F and beautiful outside. I'd love to tell you I'm planting hellebores or something, but I've got four articles due this week, and two sick children. Chicken soup came first, and then research on vines later. I will try to get in the garden sometime today. I really do have hellebores to plant, several new seed strains including: Winter Jewels™ Painted Lenten Rose, Helleborus x 'Brandywine,' and Winter Jewels Apricot Blush. I bought these at TLC Nursery in Oklahoma City one day when Helen Weis and I were goofing off. Unfortunately, the snow came and put my planting on hold. When I was at the same nursery the other day looking for two Ilex x meservae a/k/a Castle Spire® hollies for the end...

Because I just can't help myself, here is a look back at RDR's late spring and early summer in 2010 going backward in fact. I'm working on an article on annuals, so this morning, I'm perusing my summer photos. This shot looks good because the creamy white blooms of H. arborescens 'Annabelle' echo off the rusted, white arbor. Several years ago, Bill bought two arbors for me on our wedding anniversary. A hint, always ask for garden goodies you wouldn't buy for yourself for holidays. Then, go with your love to pick them out. You'll receive something you've always wanted for the garden while making a lifelong memory in the process. In fall and winter, Annabelle's now brown blooms pick up the color of the leafy path and the rust on the arbor. It's a win-win year round. Color echoes are so important don't you think? When I took this...