Gardening and Gardens

Compared to summer's bold riot of colors, spring begins in a slow crescendo of color. Mostly pastels followed by a few brightly colored tulips or daffodils. But for me, the real spring show is the trees. Spring flowering trees are simply magnificent. They bloom before the leaves appear and since so many other "leafy" trees are just starting to break dormancy, their lovely blooms stand out all the more. A quick drive around my neighborhood had me spotting these beauties: Yoshino Cherry Tree (Prunus x yedoensis) A round shape with the palest, almost white flower petals. Saucer Magnolia Tree (Magnolia x soulangeana) Large petaled blossoms flushed with pink, white and hints of purple Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) One of the first flowering trees to bloom. It's blossoms consist of up to 15 individual white petals, giving the illusion of a star. Flowering Plum Tree (Prunus cerasifera) Small light pink flowers contrast nicely against the burgundy le...

Spring has finally sprung in my Long Island garden and all my hard work planting 200 bulbs last fall is finally paying off! Some of the bulbs are in full bloom, others are still sending up shoots. Each day there is something new to see and it's all very exciting to watch unfold. In the photo above, a group of Tete-a-Tete daffodils are happily mingling with purple hyacinth.  Clumps of crocus are all over the property - some deep purple, some white and some purple and white! And the lovely chinodoxa (Glory of the Snow), smiling happily upwards. This Lenten Rose is one of three plants I planted last year. The delicious pink hue of Helleborus 'Cotton Candy' brightens my day. Looking forward to more and more blooms and new growth as the month wears on. Hope you are enjoying your gardens were you are! Head on over to May Dreams Gardens blog for a look at what's blooming around the country today.

Spring seems to be taking it's timing coming to New York this year. But inside the conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden, one quickly forgets the weather outside and its transfixed on the beauty and majesty inside. This year, the annual Orchid Show has been expanded to include beautiful displays throughout all the Rain Forest Galleries as well as the main exhibit section. In addition, the orchids aren't simply on display here and there, they are suspended from the ceiling and from the tops of trees and arches, truly living up to this year's theme name: Orchid Chandeliers. By suspending these "chandeliers" one can admire the aerial beauty of these gorgeous and fascinating flowers. Most of the cultivated orchids are epiphytes, which literally means "air plant" or "to grow on a plant." The roots of these plants do not grow on the ground, but rather in trees or on rocks. They are not parasites though, and therefore do not take ...