Buds-a-Poppin'

Corylus colurna (Turkish filbert) leaf buds - are they ever plumping nicely! I so look forward to watching leaves unfurl all throughout the spring. As I wait and watch, watch and wait, I’ll be slowly wandering around, head craned up towards the tree tops. Only once in a while will I lose track of the feet and run into something, but the rewards are worth it. Oh, that first glimpse of leaves busting loose, such a small but significant confirmation of rebirth and renewal. 

Corylus colurna - spring buds

It's not just the buds that are wonderful. Corylus colurna is definitely a completely yard-worthy tree. Tough and adaptable once established - will become one of your landscape favorites, mainly because it demands very little work to keep it happy. Disease and insect problems are minimal. I have observed barkminer activity, but the end result was cosmetic damage at worst. Unfortunately, Japanese beetles will feed a bit on the leaves but fortunately, not to the point of detrimental defoliation. Full sun is definitely preferred. In my experience with siting this particular filbert, shade negatively impacts the fullness of branch and habit development. And although quite tolerant to drought conditions, water equal to a rainfall of 1” – 2” per week should be provided for the first few growing seasons. After that – don’t worry, it can do fine without human intervention.

I love the great natural form of this nut producer. Over time it develops a low branching, distinctly pyramid shape. C. colurna is not a tree for the smaller yard as the height will reach up to about 50’ during your lifetime. Expect to see almost twice that if you live long enough. (Allow space for at least a 30’ spread.) Before the leaves pop open in spring, pretty little dangling catkins will develop during the late winter – sometime in February or March. When they emerge, the darkish green leaves are like all in this genus, quite toothy around the edges, fuzzy on the underside, and with very prominent veins. If you spend a lot of time waiting around for gorgeous fall leaf color, it will not prove to be a very satisfying endeavor with this tree. Expect, at best, a nice yellow that blends well into the fall background. The bark is interestingly textured with some give to it when pressed. Although it takes a number of years for most nut trees to bear productively, this Corylus is worth waiting for – C. colurna is often cited for large and high quality nuts, and generous crop size. If you’re worried about a nutty mess on the yard – don’t. In my experience, beating the squirrels (and other greedy rodent-types) to the crop has been crucial to seeing any crop, anywhere at all.

Blooms of Late Winter

What a glorious day it is! The sun is shining and the wind is blowing but with temperatures reaching the mid-50’s before the day is done by half – a good one by our northern standards. 

Much to the surprise of those lacking indoctrination into the wonders of the northern 4/5 regions, there is always something of interest happening in the garden. But I must admit that this gardener can only enjoy the intricacies of bark and branches for so long before longing for some pretty flowery stuff. And honestly, as much as I love the north, we are hard pressed to have much flowering in late February and early March. So when the blooms of this witchhazel - Hamamelis vernalis ‘Purple Ribbons’ – put on such a beautiful show last week, I was glad to be privy to the sight. 

Hamamelis vernalis 'Purple Ribbons' (available from www.songsparrow.com)

If you have not tried any of the witchhazels, Hamamelis vernalis is a wonderfully tough species for our northern area. They are easy to grow, relatively problem free (just a few minor annoyances here and there), and quite adaptable to our generally higher pH soils. Even though the gray coloring and twisted character of the stems is quite stunning, I do love the blooms. Given the many cultivars offering a wide range of bloom colors, that ‘Purple Ribbons’ stands out is quite a statement. And though the purple, ribbon-like petals look delicate, they’re not - and will hold on through a few weeks of late winter weather. If you have a bit of patience left, waiting for spring emergence will reward you with large, medium green leaves exhibiting beautifully distinct veins and wavy edges. Fall color on witchhazels present quite a show and this lovely cultivar is no exception - expect a scrumptious yellowish-orange. If you have a spot with anything from full sun to partial shade, Hamamelis vernalis ‘Purple Ribbons’ is worth a go. Give it a bit of room though as it grows to about 10’ high and spreads to 10’ wide.

Jabber

Welcome to Gardening, Hoe Style.  If you're one of those that need it - I give you permission to enjoy this moment away from real world issues.  For this is really just jabber, about gardening.  Feel free to read on if you like.

Plants are fascinating play dates.  Some behave nicely, others stomp around like truculent toddlers.  And who can ignore those that bully about like partisan politicians?  Whether they have delightful or horrible manners, almost all seem to thrive, on some level, with a bit of appropriate attention.  The artistic portion of plant care science is determining what is appropriate, when, and how to achieve it without causing harm elsewhere.  Yes.  I do know they make those things called books.  And book learnin' is wonderful (I would be a full time student forever, if I could afford it).  But complete knowledge of a plant in perfect health really only gives you the goal.  And a good understanding of diseases and insects only prepares you to make better observations.  Putting it all together, making it work.  That's the fun.  That's the journey.