First Blooms

We've had a light snowfall tonight, hovering around zero. Years ago, about twenty-five!!!...when my tulips were just out of the ground, I remember phoning a garden neighbour fretting about them..."what's going to happen..will I lose them?" Now, I know the resilience of plants, and most especially of bulbs and early blooms like Hellebores and Witch Hazel.

Last year, two Hamamelis (Witch Hazels)..in particular, 'Diane', found a home here. One of my dearest friends is named Diane, so that influenced me greatly, but it was the thought that these blooms would be the first to enhance the garden in spring that drew me to them. Their ripped ribbons of petals...large and striking, were planted where the sun shines through them, in late afternoon as seen in the photo above.

The blooms start out rather bright red as above, and then, grow to an autumn orangey red and last almost a month. These are not tiny blooms..they are about an inch across..and when a mature shrub, it must be marvellous to behold. Mine, only in it's first year here, but two year old stock..is a joy. I cannot recommend this highly enough..this 'Diane'. She is a true and blessed harbinger of spring.