"And now I have to confess that my choice for the first month of the year, the Chinese witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis, has none of the things I look for - except that it gives no trouble and stays in bloom for weeks. Its flowers, though utterly charming, are not spectacular; its habit is not graceful, its bark is dull, and its leaves are coarse... In spite of these failings, I consider this one of the ten or twelve best flowering shrubs and one that I cannot be without. I like it because the flowers, thin shreds of gold bunched in wine-red cups, are able to defy the furious winter's rages and bloom on and on through frost, cold, ice, and snow."

Elizabeth Lawrence
Beautiful at All Seasons

It's been a little while since I've touched base, so I thought I would take a minute to give a few updates. This week, the Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena' is in full bloom and it really is spectacular. I realize the plant pictured is not the species, H. mollis, that Miss Lawrence refers to in the quote, but the H. mollis has been removed from the garden for the time being because of its bad health. There are plans to return another to the garden. In the mean time, the 'Jelena' Witch Hazel is just as fascinating. The flower color is probably not the best part of this particular plant, but in this garden, it's the size. It truly has a 12' span. It is a small tree.

February will be busy with Wing Haven’s continued Winter Lecture Series, as well as a little bit of construction here in the garden. The gate is scheduled to be refurbished, the stone walls reconstructed, and driveway replaced to address some drainage issues. I will keep the renovation progress posted...

Currently flowering in the garden - some crocus, more chaenomoles, a few Prunus mume buds, one lone daffodil, several forms of hellebore, and the ever hardy galanthus. The fritillaria are poking their heads and so are many more daffodils. Can't wait!!

Until next time,
Katie Mullen