Posted on by susurrus

Warmer Shades of Brown in the Liminal Garden

Prunus serrula (Tibetan cherry)
Prunus serrula (Tibetan cherry)

Today’s selection of pictures is not exactly wintry, but hardly spring. (What is the equivalent of ‘wintry’ for spring – surely not ‘springy’?)

Dogwood stems, snowdrops and witch hazel
Dogwood stems

While 1st March brought the start of meteorological spring, we’ll remain in astronomical winter until 20th March. Crocuses, snowdrops, primulas and early daffodils may be proclaiming that the tilt of the world doesn’t matter a jot to them, but they’ll need to hunker down through the snowfall that is predicted for parts of the North West UK next week.

Hamamelis (witch hazel)
Hamamelis (witch hazel)

Here we have pronounced, contrasting seasons. In the ‘dead’ of winter, setting aside the fairy lights, the natural world can start to seem nothing but lush moss-green against drab, grey-brown.

So bear with me if I’m rather strangely celebrating the reddish / pinky notes I’m seeing in the browns

Epimedium leaves
Epimedium leaves

Is it a quality in the light, a natural blush sweeping over the plants as their sap rises or just a quirk of my attention?

Bergenia leaves
Bergenia leaves

Whatever the reason, it’s welcome.

Helleborus x sternii Blackthorn Group
Helleborus x sternii Blackthorn Group

Our hours of daylight have crept up to almost eleven per day from less than eight in December. It makes a difference to plants as well as people.

Variegated Phormium
Variegated Phormium

Several types of trees are producing catkins which always seem the clearest sign that spring is near. Some of the alders’ ones have an attractive purplish bloom, but I’m sharing this very striking willow in keeping with my colour theme:

Salix gracilistyla 'Mount Aso'
Salix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’

I wonder how many Lancastrians could say that winter is their favourite season. While it’s not mine, I do like the way well-defined seasons and their inexorable changes affect the rhythm of our lives. In the next few weeks, we’ll find ourself switching from winter’s slow waltz to a spirited polka. And I’m ready – bring on those spring brights!

34 Replies to “Warmer Shades of Brown in the Liminal Garden”

  3. Yes indeed. Although the brilliant clear tones of snowdrop and aconite are much appreciated, I also like the more subtle tints of hellebores and catkins. But the blues and purples of an English spring can’t be beaten.

  5. The Tibetan cherry is gorgeous and that willow too. There’s always something to focus on in the garden, isn’t there. We are inordinately excited that our Bird of Paradise is finally about to flower. We kept a plastic one for years to remind us what it would look like.

  7. A beautifully crafted collection Susan. I love those pinkish, purply tones and the willow catkins are gorgeous. My epimediums are still in hiding.

      1. Both orange though they are different plants. One is Silver Queen and one is Orange Queen. I cut all the old leaves off last month.

  8. It’s funny that we don’t usually associate the colour pink with spring when it is all around us! The photo of the witch hazel is wonderful, and I love those Epimedium leaves.

    1. Epimediums are such great plants. I’ll always remember when I first saw their tiny, perfect flowers bobbing together on wiry stems. I had thought it was just a leafy plant until then.

  10. Well constructed post Susan. Started with a wow, then took us on a ride through twigs, grasses, flowers and leaves until a big WOW at the end, that Salix is wonderful 🙂

  12. What a glow in this ruddy brown! There’s real encouragement in it, and thank goodness! I admire it all, but I am especially partial to that crinkly witch hazel — there’s a plant with a sense of humor!

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