Which Switch is Which?

Early spring is upon us! It seems we have been chomping at the bit for a few weeks now, but with daylight savings time taking place Sunday...we can taste the warmer days. I have been so excited in anticipation of spring that I made a bit of an identification blunder. Yet, my lesson was re-learned and I thought this an opportune moment to share.  

There are 2 types of bright yellow blooms that grace us with their presence this time of year....Forsythia and Winter Jasmine. Both grow of soft, switch like stems. While Forsythia is a sure sign that spring is on the way, Winter Jasmine is a late winter bloomer and really gave me the slip in my premature spring fever. 

Here's how to tell the difference between the two...  

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)

Winter Jasmine is the first to bloom in "normal" winter season...aka when it stays cold, as it has this year. I don't see this plant often in Greenwood, so the yellow bloom on a walk one morning tricked me into thinking it was a yellow Forsythia bloom foreshadowing spring. A native to China, Winter Jasmine can reach 4' in height by 7' in width if left unsupported. It grows in a tangle of green (first year) stems and does well as a bank cover or billowing over a wall or slope. Winter Jasmine has a 3 leafleted leaf that appears after the bloom. It is a fast grower, tolerant of sun and shade, but blooms best in the sun. Use it for erosion control as it roots where the stems touch the soil. Winter Jasmine blooms a few blossoms at a time over the course of 6-8 weeks. 

 the tangle of green stems with a few open blooms

typical growth habit of Winter Jasmine 

(ignore the leaves and Natty Light can...this photo was taken in the Delta) 

Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)

The literal golden child of the spring landscape, Forsythia has been growing in Southern gardens for so long that people assume it is a native. Forsythia begins blooming in late February and will be seen blooming through April. Warmer winter temps can force it bloom sooner in some circumstances. Instead of growing in a somewhat tangle, Forsythia has graceful arching, light tannish brown branches that can reach 7-10' high. Unlike Winter Jasmine, Forsythia goes all in on the blooms, blooming all at once. This is what makes the display so magnificent in the spring. 

My favorite use of Forsythia is seen across the park from my house where my neighbor uses it as part of a shrub border to divide the yard from the street. The row of Forsythia lines the front of an evergreen holly hedge. The dark green of the hedge offsets the bright yellow glow of Forsythia and makes for quite a show...on both sides... 

Forsythia hedge seen from the front yard 

with an evergreen holly border behind

Forsythia hedge seen from the road, peeping out behind the holly

Forsythia is one of those plants that needs it's space to be allowed to showcase its natural growth habit. Part of the beauty of this plant is the graceful, arching branches that soften any landscape bed. Even when it's not blooming, the soft green leaves on the arching branches add impact to the landscape. That's why it takes my breath away to see it shaped like a boxwood.... 

There are several selections of Forsythia available in the trade, in all heights, growth habits and even leaf variegation. Make sure to select the right variety for your landscape so that you don't have to force it into a mold with pruning.

Both Forsythia and Winter Jasmine are great plants for any Southern landscape. They are easy to grow, tolerant of most conditions and provide a beautiful show during a time when there is not much to see in the landscape. Forsythia is a sure sign that spring is right around the corner, but Winter Jasmine offers a glow during the winter months when we need a light in the landscape. Despite their awesome yellow color, neither flower is fragrant. Both plant blooms on old wood, so wait until after it blooms to prune. And by prune, get in there and cut individual branches to preserve the shape...and please don't shear it into a box or ball... 

Enjoy the golden displays of both plants this time of year, plant either in your yard now for enjoyment next year but whatever you do, don't automatically assume that one yellow bloom means Spring is here... know which switch is which. 

A New Year, A New Landscape...

By now, we're all quite sick of the old saying " a new year, a new you". We survive the month of Kay Jewelry commercials in December just to be bombarded with self improvement and weight loss commercials in January. However, this year,  I've decided to take the whole improvement theme into my own hands and throw a new spin on an old saying. "A new year, and a new landscape....

container,shrub, walkway, etc" Notice I'm not suggesting tear everything out to start completely afresh (although you can), but allowing you to fill in the blank on what simple task could be done in your own landscape.  As it turns out, our home landscapes are outward expressions of ourselves (kind of like our clothes). And not to add any pressure, but one can say a lot with landscape choices and features. Maybe you've read about a herb gardens for years, but never started on? Maybe you've always wanted  some containers on your patio, or wanted to incorporate a water feature (big or small), or maybe it's adding some native plants to your existing beds?  Why not this year, and why not now resolve to make these improvements to you landscape? 

To the non-garden enthusiast, any landscape task besides mowing the lawn can seem overwhelming, yet with the right planning and guidance anyone can develop their own version of a green thumb. The key is to start planning as soon as possible. Early planning can help avoid any hidden obstacles that hinder so many potentially great projects. Sure, it's January, but now is truly the best time to start planning and get the ball rolling so you will be ready for spring.

Start by making a list of the components of the project. Let's say we want to add a new vegetable garden to our landscape. What really makes up a vegetable garden? Light, water, soil, plants, and the tools to create it.

Light- Where will the bed be located? Does any pruning of trees need to occur for there to be ample light? ( remember: a sunny spot in winter, may be shady as soon as the leaves reappear on trees)

Water- Is the bed near a water source? Maybe you need a longer hose or need to add a sprinkler head?

Soil- I will always recommend a soil test through your local extension agent before creating or modifying your beds. Super easy and one of the most important preparations you can do!

Plants- Decide now what you want to plant. Will the local nursery provide your vegetables or will you star with seeds?

Tools- Do you have a shovel? If you need to do some pruning, are your snips ready? What about gloves? A tiller?

Now after checking off your own project list and as soon as the warm weather hits, you're ready to go!

Some simple brainstorming and game planning in January and February can lead to some beautiful garden results in May and June.

Now, on another new year note there will be some great articles to look forward to. I've expanded the horizons to incorporate Southern tales and spotlights to our gardening and design articles. And now, some hints of what to look forward to in 2012:

Spotlight on home conservation techniques, going green in the new year

Plants that every yard needs, if company is coming

Incorporating vegetables into your existing landscape

What's in season?

Creating the perfect courtyard

Overlooked landscape icons

Garden tool management

Terrariums

Etc, etc, etc

Any thoughts, requests, or inquiries please don't hesitate to email them to me at brantleysnipes@gmail.com or tweet them in to @brantleysnipes.

And, finally, if this article has failed to inspire any landscape creativity, Brantley Snipes Landscape Design LLC is now officially up and running and I would be delighted to help! Book now for spring containers and beds.