Wintry Days

My house in January

 

The first snow of the year came overnight on January the sixth, leaving us with about six inches of very dry powder. It was too dry to stick to the branches, except for the evergreens in front--not s scenic as I'd hoped for. But it's good to have snow cover during winter, especially since the past two years have been so dry.

During these garden-idle winter months I have more time to focus on my botanical art work. I got around to finishing this Trumpet Vine piece that I started last summer. After looking at it, I'm thinking that it needs one more thing, I'm not sure exactly what, but perhaps one seed sprouting in the lower left hand corner to anchor the ensemble showing the complete life cycle of the plant?

I though about throwing in a humming bird buzzing the flowers, but that would probably be too much--the ants pursuing the nectar and protecting the plant are enough for the flowering stage. I'm currently trying to stratify some of the seeds that have come out of the pod in my refrigerator, but they need about 30 days in the cold before being brought to a warmer temperature. We'll see if this succeeds.

Trumpet Vine, (Campsis redicans), watercolor on paper, 20"h x 14"w.

 

I also completed my portrait of Peony 'Bartzella' in colored pencils. A dark background is not standard for botanical paintings, but I think in this case it brings out some of the drama I see in the flower, highlighting the pale yellows and crepe-paper texture of the petals.

Peony 'Bartzella' (Paeonia hybrid), colored pencil on paper, 12"h x 9.75"w.

I started another piece of some downy rattlesnake plantain orchids from the Ice Mountain site. I thought of using masking fluid for the markings on the leaves, but since masking fluid can change the surface of the paper, it could alter the colors. Doing it with negative painting is painstakingly slow-- and the dappled light of the forest floor is challenging.

 

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orchids (Goodyear pubsecens), watercolor on paper.

I prefer to work with natural light--no daylight lamp I've ever used actually renders color the way sunlight does. But at this time of the year, with the short days, my painting hours are fewer.  I fill the non-optimal hours doing pencil sketches--more ideas for paintings that rattle around in my head.

 

The back yard at sunrise.

 In the meantime, my frozen garden awaits spring...or perhaps just another little bit of snow?

December 2024 Bloom Day

Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata hybrid)

It's an icy and snowy afternoon outside in my Zone 6B Virginia garden on this December Bloom Day, hosted by Carol Michel's May Dreams blog. There is not a living blossom to be found out there! And not much in my indoor garden either. Above is what my Thanksgiving cactus looked like earlier in the week when it was sunny, but by today, most of the blossoms have fallen off and only a few buds remain.

Still, the winter season has its own beauty, and this corner of my yard with this combination of the 'Goshiki' Osmanthus with my 'Nelly Stevens' holly full of berries and the dried flower heads of Hydrangea are very attractive if you overlook the deer barriers. It's too cold and miserable out there to take many photos.

 

Goshiki osmanthus with 'Nelly Stevens' holly

The back yard from the deck

 

My funky bonsai collection is still outside on the deck, but I should move it into the garage soon for their winter home, where they'll be safer from the elements.

 

 

The large old Bearss lime tree is putting out lots of blossoms and setting fruit, but the rest of my houseplants seem to have gone on strike.  Usually I have at least one orchid sporting flower buds at this time of the year, but last summer I separated two of my most overgrown ones and gave the orchids to my sisters. The leftover plants will need another season of growth before they can produce any blooms.

Bearss lime blossoms.

One of my 'Optimara' African violets has a few blooms, but sadly, it's riddled with mealy bugs, despite having been sprayed with insecticidal soap just a couple of weeks ago. I tossed a bunch of my African violets in the fall because of the severe infestation, but I hate to toss the few plants I've left--I've kept these 'Optimara' varieties growing for over thirty years by taking cuttings!

I don't even know if Optimaras are produced much in the horticultural trade any more--I don't see them being offered in nurseries or catalogs. I may have to try some biological controls like insect predators for mealy bugs. If anyone has tried this on indoor plants, I'd be curious to know what results you obtained, please comment.

 

'Optimara' African violet

That's it for this December Bloom Day...soon the winter Solstice will arrive and the days will start to get longer once again, while I dream of spring.