Now Blooming

and so it begins...

Hello,

It’s been a challenging week to absorb. Continuing fires in LA, snow (!!!) in NOLA and Florida, to say nothing of the constant and ever more disturbing executive orders coming out of the White House. Life feels fragile. I believe everyone is free to their own opinions. I also believe in the sanctity of lovingkindness, respect, and caring for others. If you haven’t seen or read about Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s sermon delivered at a prayer service at Washington’s National Cathedral attended by the President and VP along with their families, I encourage to look into the matter with an open heart.

Out in the garden, it’s been a week of bluebird skies here in Seattle with the sun coaxing on the first tiny shreds of yellow flowers on the witch hazel. In the back garden the Daphne odora is pregnant with buds that quickly open when I snip a few sprigs to bring indoors. Their heady perfume is both the scent of winter and the promise of spring. When my daughter was young, she called Daphne the “smelly plant.” Scent lodges in our memory. Of course, the flip side to this winter sunshine is hard frost. Fortunately, my topiaries, scented geranium collection, and Meyer lemon moved into the basement before the freeze arrived.

Indoors, my amaryllis bulbs are budded and blooming. The flowers add a layer of botanical opulence to the holidays, but those showy trumpets really earn their keep when they bloom in quiet January. Every year I add at least one bulb to my bevy of overwintered bulbs. While the peachy pink ruffled blooms on my new ‘Giant Amadeus’ are delightful, nothing beats the thrill of emerging blooms stalks – sometime two! – on those bulbs that have been with me for years. Follow the link below to read about how I care for the bulbs throughout the year. The last of the paperwhites that I held onto (read: forgot about on my garden bench) are also coming into bloom. I cut a few sturdy twigs from the ‘Midwinter Fire’ dogwood to support the stalks of the heavy Amaryllis and a bright orange ribbon is cinched around the paperwhites to encourage good posture.

Life is a lot these days. Thank goodness for the mutual tending of the garden. Take care of each other. I’m so glad you’re here.

xo Lorene

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Creativebug

In spring of 2023 I filmed three classes for Creativebug, an online platform chock full of classes dedicated to bringing out the creative in all of us. This month Color In and Out of the Garden, my daily practice series of 31 short lessons about using watercolor to record the colors of nature is FREE! More more details, check out a series of posts that I wrote for the Creativebug blog. Three of the posts are now live and another will post next Monday. My daily practice is a soothing balm for everyday life — now more than ever.

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Shop Talk

Valentine’s Day is approaching but it’s never not a good idea to drop a personal note to family, friends, and loved ones with a colorful postcard. A “Look Closely With Great Heart” sticker or gift tag turns everything into a love letter. All postcards and stickers are 30% off when you enter: SEND30 at checkout.

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Let’s Color

Mandarinquat is, just like it sounds, a cross between a mandarin orange and a kumquat. Color me adorable.

Hello limequat, you little nugget of sunshine. Sweet skin with tart zingy pulp (& so many seeds for such a little one.)

‘Daub’s Frosted’ Juniper looks like it’s lit from within.

What’s not to love about the heart-shaped leaves on Cyclamen hederifolium.

I can be quite critical of my color matching efforts. In this case the bloom - an exquisite double flowered hellebore - is warmer than the colors I picked out. But that green? Nailed it. Simple pleasures and permission to always try again.

Amaryllis season is taking over the living room. Every year I add another bulb or two to my collection of Amaryllis that have been with me for years. This year’s darling in taffeta skirts is ‘Giant Amadeus’, seen here the day after her debut at the winter soiree.

Garden flavors. Fennel seed.

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Before I go…

This year’s Northwest Flower & Garden Festival is the largest ever with 22 display gardens, more than 115 lectures and learning opportunities, and a tempting marketplace. I can think of no better way to pass time until spring arrives.

I’m speaking on Wednesday, the 19th at 1:15 pm in the Hood Room. In Cultivate the Rainbow we’ll explore using color in the garden to manipulate space, leverage light, and discover ways to love your garden life in every hue and season. Hope to see you there!

Follow this link to get $3 off a regular adult ticket. Discount valid through midnight 2/28/25.