Today is the longest day of the year up here in the north. The night is only a bit longer than four hours. In other words lots of light available for the plants.
The snowball bush (Viburnum opulus) is at its best and full of flowers.
The Snowball is a very decorative shrub blooming with huge green flowers which turn gradually to brilliant white as the season progresses.
Because of the rapidly cooling nights I was forced to collect the bean harvest a bit earlier than I wished. They could have used two more weeks to ripe.
Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco Nano (Phaseolus vulgar–is ‘Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco Nano’) is the other bean variety I tried this year for the first time. They grew well and going to continue to grow them next year as well. I like the way they look and the unique coloring they have.
This variety is also called with the name Tongue of fire. There seem to be several different recipes what to make out of the beans. Cannot wait to try some of them.
Something new for the garden. Bought two Nova Zemblas (Rhododendron ‘Nova Zembla’) to the summer cottage.
Fell in love with the bright color they have.
The location is a bit too north for them but decided to give it a try. It usually depends on the amount of snow fall how well they do during the winter. Enough snow protects them from the coldness.
The Cunningham’s White (Rhododendron ’Cunningham’s White’) is a new addition to the garden.
Bought two plants last year and both of them made it through the winter. We are a bit too north for them but let’s see how they make it in the following years. This winter we had plenty of snow to protect the newcomers but that is not the case each year.
My father’s plant is blooming beautifully but the other one I planted to the other side of the lake is doing well but not going to bloom.
The speed is now staggering. With in a bit more than a week everything has changed.
Suddenly all trees now have leaves and it seems that everything is blooming. Change happens fast up here in the north because summer is short and over in a blink of an eye.
Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) also opened its blooms. I bought it last year from Ikea and was a bit unsure how it will turn out but it seems that all is well.
The first pansy (viola) found its way to my balcony during the weekend.
I know it is a bit early for them because the nights might get too cold still but could not resist the temptation to have something blooming outside.
It will be interesting to see what kind of colors there will be available this year. I usually go for the light colors since they stand out better in the shade.
Hope that you all have had a good holiday season and have managed to enjoy the Christmas!
My Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) bloomed just before the holidays bringing a bit color to the gray winter we are having.
It is one of those plants that requires very little and blooms nicely if you neglect it a bit before the blooming season.
Have a very good new year 2021!
It is a good year for European blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus). Everywhere you go you see Bilberries or as we call them here, blueberries.
I have already picked up enough for six blueberry pies and have not been further from the cottage than 20 meters.
The harvest always varies from year to year but this year seems to be nearly perfect.
The Blue Barlow (Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Blue Barlow’) is doing well.
I have had a fair share of challenges trying to get it to grow but I think I have finally succeeded.
For the Barlow series we are a bit too north when it comes location and it is hard to get them flourish.
Gardening in the North 