256/365: clematis seeds
The Virgin’s Bower clematis is an aggressive vine. Covered with small white, star-shaped flowers in summer, by early fall the whole vine is a hairy mess of seeds. I can’t help thinking of truffula tufts (or a raging case of bed head).
They have a certain disheveled charm. Then, after a while, they just look messy. It’s a fine line.
Every time I see one of these huge puff balls, it brings me back to my 70’s childhood. We used to have to stop the car so my mom and grandma could climb into the ditch to pick them. Back home, they were given the AquaNet treatment and put on display.
Funny which moments turn golden as time goes on.
187/365: puff ball at the prairie garden
I’m sure there’s someone who knows every plant. But it’s not me. I’m guessing I may recognize this one when it’s flowering, but coming across these groovy, transparent seed cases, left me without a clue. If you know, please tell me in the comments! Always something to discover…I love it.
171/365: you tell me
We have these crazy clematis that turn into hairy Seussian tufts when the blooms are spent. There are plenty left over from last summer. As usual, the late afternoon sun worked its magic. Seriously – everything is beautiful in the golden hour.
137/365: last year’s clematis
Take a long, deep breath. Let it all out. Grab a cup of tea, if you like. Now, settle into a cozy spot and enjoy a moment of winter zen.
25/365: winter zen
The ground is thawed, the soil is tilled and raked, the supplies are ready. Now, it’s just a matter of sowing the seeds.
This is the moment of absolute possibility.
136/365: bamboo stakes with hemp twine
Sure, it’s back in the single digits on this final January day but an arctic blast can’t snuff out my spark of garden fever! The other night, I took an awesome free class from Mother Earth Gardens (held at Riverview Wine Bar, nice touch!) and learned all about starting plants indoors from seed. Fever ignited.
Do you know what that means? The seed catalogs are in the mail and I am pulling out the graph paper. I could be actively gardening in just a few weeks. Onions seeds first, I think. With all that fervor to keep me warm, I went out wandering in the yard and examined all the garden-related stuff still strewn across our potting bench from fall…
Things are going to be sprouting before you know it!
31/365: two twines with stone
“Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.” – Henry David Thoreau
avant garden 365 