I am extremely fond of snow so we have tons of snow shots. This one made the grade as a vignette because of the way the new shoots on the fruit tree acted like little bowls, holding the snow. If you check in with Anna at Flutter and Hum on Wednesdays, you will get some very astute social commentary to go with her vignettes, plus links to others who participate in Wednesday Vignettes.
wednesday vignette
wv
It’s pretty out there but best appreciated from a cozy spot indoors. Anna’s Flutter and Hum Wednesday Vignette weekly posts are always worth a visit.
wednesday vignette
This little pop-up scene came as a hand delivered card. I don’t know how well it would have fared had it gone through the post.
It isn’t easy to capture the intricacy of the design in a photo. I was both charmed and impressed, displaying it in a place of prominence through the holidays. I hope your holidays are progressing merrily. You can always count on Anna at Flutter and Hum to have a philosophical slant to go along with stunning imagery in her weekly Wednesday Vignette.
garden bloggers’ foliage day & wv

Poncirus trifoliata ‘Flying Dragon’
I took this pic last week, as the leaves of the hardy orange were still falling, filling up the bird bath and revealing the twisted, fanged limbs of this favorite shrub. A few fruits still held on. The branches are now bare and the bath has been cleared…filled, instead, with cavorting Juncos. I’m not a regular but this shot seemed destined for Wednesday Vignette, hosted by Anna at Flutter and Hum.
I’ll also use it as an excuse to direct you to Garden Bloggers’ Foliage Day, hosted by Christina, because there can never by too many opportunities to celebrate foliage in the garden.
wednesday vignette
I was drawn to the sharp shadows created by the emerging flower heads on Hydrangea ‘Preziosa’. This one, at Joy Creek, gets more sun than my two plants and is denser and further along in the blooming process. These are easy to propagate by layering so I think I’ll start a couple more to place in a sunnier locale. Click through to see what Anna (Flutter and Hum) has in store with her Wednesday Vignette.
wednesday vignette
So many levels of perception present in this photo. I’m sure Anna (Flutter and Hum), our host for Wednesday Vignettes, would find deep philosophical meaning there. If you click through to her blog you will get so much more than just pretty pictures.
vignette & more foliage
While out shooting foliage, this photo rose to the top to be featured as this week’s Wednesday Vignette, hosted by Anna (Flutter and Hum).
For this month’s Foliage Follow-up, hosted by Pam (Digging), I was attracted to newly emerging leaves and needles. Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’, or Bird’s Nest Spruce, is a uniformly colored background plant most of the year, but in early spring the new growth is a fresh spring green that raises its value considerably.
This little procumbent deodor cedar is interesting by virtue of its form, but even more so right now, with the new needles coming in.
Right after Pieris japonica ‘Mountain Fire’ finishes blooming (with flowers that look to me like dirty handkerchieves) the real show begins, earning it its name.
Here we have the Cotinus blushing bright red before putting on its ‘Purple Robe’ and cozying up to ‘Thunderhead’ pine sporting the “candles” that will become new foliage (at least the ones that escape being snapped off to control the growth pattern).
Ending, where we began, with Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula Purpurea’. It’s at its very best when the leaves are brand new and coppery and pleated like this.
wednesday vignette
Not sure if this is Euphorbia ‘Firecharm’ or ‘Dixter’. They are both planted in this bed with no distinguishable difference that I can see. I’ve heard complaints about their vigor but this flaming beauty is welcome to as much territory as it desires in this garden. Anna (Flutter and Hum) often dishes up deep thoughts to go with her Wednesday Vignettes. I wouldn’t miss it, if I were you.
wednesday vignette
Blue skies…smilin’ at me! You too, I hope. Don’t forget to check out (Flutter and Hum) to see what Anna has up her sleeve this week.
wednesday vignette: portal
Anna (Flutter and Hum) invites us to post a vignette every Wednesday. This week, she is featuring a way to manipulate the environment to distract us from a long walk or a long wait. Here, I’m featuring a portal made of greenery that frames a garden view to manipulate our first impression. We usually think of manipulation as a bad thing, but it can also be a way of enhancing experience. What do you think of when you hear the word “manipulation”?