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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Snowy March Combination

This morning, I captured one of my favorite early spring combinations covered in a light dusting of snow...

     
     The ground work is laid with dark leaved Ajuga reptans, symmetrical hens & chicks (Echeveria hyb.), and evergreen Phlox subulata.  In the middle shines the white of Crocus vernus 'Jeanne d' Arc'. These ground covers work great together - filling in very quickly! They look great all year round.

     The germ of this idea came from a photo in the book, Rosemary Verey's Making of a Garden, by the great plants-woman Rosemary Verey.  She under-planted these same crocuses with purple sage, to great effect.  She has some excellent color combinations that I am still working to emulate, though I think I most strongly hold to her design ideas.   

 Echeveria
     Close-up of an Echeveria mommy looking magical with a dusting of snow.

9 comments:

  1. I enjoy the ones, like this one, that you have to stop and look to really appreciate. They make you feel like you've discovered something. =) Nice job with the pictures.

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  2. The Echeveria with a dusting of snow is so beautiful. Hard to believe you are still getting snow! We could use the moisture here, it has been really dry.

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  3. I have the same book and also admire her work. Would be great to own a huge property and have a slew of gardeners to help.

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  4. Cat- Yes, more snow...but it was gone by lunchtime. Thank goodness!

    Gardenwalk- Yes! My dream. Maybe I'll move to Niagara to help you. ;)

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  5. Wow you still have snow, when we are already starting our dry season, hot and humid! Your colors are so lovely.

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  6. Sometimes thing can look wonderful under a light sprinkling of snow, and that echeveria certainly does. Like the combination, too - Rosemary Verey is very hard to beat for inspiration (I'm a Scented Garden fan).

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  7. I am always looking for plants that can perform early in the cold.

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  8. Beautiful pictures Julie! I love the spiky purple plant!!
    ~Olivia

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  9. I love the combination of the deep purple of the sedum and the white of the crocus. Beautiful!

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