Recent Posts
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Of Raindrops & Moody Morning Skies…
Raindrops on Spring Blossoms at the Secret Garden Door (Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’) Rain Mixed with Snow & Sleet in the Blushing Hills of Southern Vermont But Even the Greyest of Days Still Glow: Spicebush Filled with Golden Buds of Promise (read more about Lindera benzoin by clicking here) Well, it seems that Spring has decided […]
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Ferncliff, Home, Outside Architecture, Paths and Walkways, Secret Garden at Ferncliff, Secret Garden Room, Secret Gardens, stonework, Water Bowl, Water Features, Water Gardens, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Seduced by Springtime Sunshine & Sweetly Scented Air …
Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ Scents the Air & Reflects in the Water Bowl at the Secret Garden Door in March {Stonework by Vermont Artist Dan Snow} Seduced by the sweet scent of springtime and early morning’s soft light, chores in the Secret Garden —raking, weeding, edging and mulching— hardly resemble work at all. After filling the […]
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Hamamelis, Honeybee Friendly Gardening, Hummingbird/Butterfly, Native Plants, The Seasons, Vermont, Vernal Equinox, Viburnum, Witch hazel, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Beauty Emerging on the Vernal Equinox: A Warm Welcome to Spring …
The Carpet of Rose-Tinted Spring Heath (Erica carnea) is Blooming a Full Month Early on the Ledges (read more about this lovely plant here) in My Garden This Year More often than not, the first day of spring arrives with a bit of blustery snow, sleet or freezing rain here in Vermont. But if there’s […]
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flowering shrubs, Flowering Shrubs and Trees for Forced Flowers, Garden Maintenance, Garden Paths, garden tools, Hamamelis, Hardy shrubs, ornamental grass
Marching Forward to Springtime …
Cerise-Flushed Bodnant Viburnum Buds, Swollen in Morning Sunshine (Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’) The sleepy garden is slowly rousing now from her long winter slumber. And as she greets the warmth of each early March morning, I slip on my wellies, grab a few tools and a hot cup of coffee, eager to join in her blushing, […]
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Begonias, Costa Rica, Tropical Plants
Tip-Toe Through the Tree-Tops: Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica …
Selvatura Park, Santa Elena, Costa Rica: Suspended Bridges Span Verdant Valleys & Lush Canopies of Mist-Covered Tree Tops When describing a great adventure, sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to begin. Such was the case when I returned from my recent travels in Costa Rica. Because I truly fell in love with one particular […]
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Costa Rica, Travel, Tropical Plants
Field Notes from Costa Rica …
Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica Where in the world is Michaela? Yes, it’s been a long time since my last blog post, of this I am well aware. But, if you have been following The Gardener’s Eden page on Facebook, you’ll know that I’ve been hiking all over beautiful Costa Rica. With warm, moist air and lush, […]
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Bark, Books, Garden Maintenance, pruning, Shrubs for Winter Interest, Tree Care, Trees, Winter, Winter Garden, Winter Gardening, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Mild Days & Mid-Winter Pruning
Although the Ice and Snow are Beautiful, Winter Damage Must be Cleaned Up Every Year & Now is the Best Time to Tackle Major Structural Tasks (Above: Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’) … Although the old “prune in June” rule applies to certain woody plants in some situations —-those that blossom in early spring, such as lilacs […]
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Ice Storms, Winter, Winter Garden, Winter Gardening, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
The Drama of a Crystal-Coated Garden: Mid-Winter Ice Storm Beauty …
Sunrise Through Crystalline Cornus kousa Branches Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ Greets Daylight in an Icy Ensemble Beyond the Kousa Dogwood, Sparkling Twigs of Viburnum x burkwoodii ‘Mohawk’ Gleam Against the Still-Dark Hillside Sunrise moments after an ice storm are always beautiful here on my Vermont hilltop. But the subtle drama of the storm itself —freezing rain, […]
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Winter Crescent …
Winter Crescent Up early this frosty morning —pulling on winter woolens and running outside to enjoy new-fallen snow— and as I sipped my morning coffee, I savored a breakfast of crescent moon and a sky spread with apricot-blueberry jam. Photographs and Text â“’ Michaela Medina/The Gardener’s Eden. All photos, articles and content on this site […]
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Secret Garden at Ferncliff, Secret Garden Room, Secret Gardens, Uncategorized, Winter Garden
Snow, Fog & Ice: Quiet Garden Beauty On a Winter’s Day …
The Garden, Cloaked in Ice-Cappeded Snow (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’) Awoke this morning to find Winter —after a long and inexplicable absence— has finally returned; cloaking the garden in shades of alabaster and cream. Vibrant shades of red and gold punctuate the stark landscape; jewel-like accessories on Winter’s cool, icy ensemble. Driving conditions are treacherous […]
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Greeting January’s Wolf Moon …
An Eerie Golden Glow Twixt Skeletal Trees: January’s Full Wolf Moon January’s Wolf Moon is full today —reaching it’s peak at 2:30am ET— and will rise this evening at 5:17pm ET (click links in the paragraph below for moon rise and set in your geographic area). I’ve been enjoying many celestial pleasures this month, including […]
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Begonias, cactus, Conservatory, Container Gardening, Decorating Ideas, Exotic Plants, Garden projects for kids, Garden Rooms, Gardening Inspiration, Green House Gardens, Home, House Plants, Indoor Eden, Indoor Gardening, Indoor Table Arrangements, Insects/Entomology, orchids, Organic Insect Control, Plant Spotlight, Poisonous Plants, Secret Garden Room, Succulents, Succulents in Containers
Out With The Old & In With The New: Creating A Lush & Lively Indoor Oasis …
Bringing Nature’s Beauty Indoors: A Scene from My Wintertime Oasis. Clockwise from back:Â Cycas revoluta, Agave geminifolia & Kalanchoe ‘Manginii’ I kicked my Christmas tree out yesterday (p.s. Sorry Mr. Balsam, I will miss your sweet fragrance, but you were growing stale and it was time for a fresh start). Of course no sooner did I […]
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First Morning …
First Morning in Freezing Fog and Mist Welcome 2012 ! Photographs and Text â“’ Michaela Medina/The Gardener’s Eden. All photos, articles and content on this site (with noted exceptions) are the original, copyrighted property of The Gardener’s Eden and may not be reposted, reproduced or used in any way without prior written consent. Contact information […]
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New Year’s Greetings …
So Long 2011! Wishing You Health & Happiness in the New Year! xo Michaela Photographs and Text â“’ Michaela Medina/The Gardener’s Eden. All photos, articles and content on this site (with noted exceptions) are the original, copyrighted property of The Gardener’s Eden and may not be reposted, reproduced or used in any way without prior […]
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Gardening Inspiration, Naturalistic Garden Design, Nature, New England, Paths and Walkways, Reflections, Stone Sculpture, stonework, The Seasons, Winter, Winter Garden, Woodland plants
Sticks, Stones & Magical Forest Mystery
Sticks and Stones: A Forest of Mystery Winter has arrived —swirling snowflakes and glazed pools all around— and yet the earth remains open in much of New England. Patches of snow dot my Vermont hillside, but elsewhere —in fields and forested areas nearby— the ground has yet to freeze and there’s nary a trace of […]
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Celebrations, The Seasons, Winter, Winter Garden
Peace on Earth …
Wishing You All Things Merry & Bright – Happy Holidays Michaela
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Secret Garden at Ferncliff, Secret Gardens, The Seasons, Winter, Winter Garden
Dreaming of a White Christmas …
Sometimes Dreams Really Do Come True … An Early Morning Welcome to Wonderland with a Garden of Sleeping Beauty, Blanketed in White! Fresh Snow Coats the Secret Garden Door Like Fine Ivory Lace And Could There Be a Merrier Welcome to Christmas … Than a Pretty, Snow-Coated Entryway? All Stonework Featured Here is by Vermont Artist […]
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Welcoming the Winter Solstice …
Winter began just after midnight today, December 22nd, and I like to celebrate the arrival of the new season with candles, bonfire and a toast to longer days and shorter nights ahead. Learn more about the history and science of the Winter Solstice by visiting EarthSky.org. A Warm Welcome to the Wonders of Winter ! […]
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Good Morning Moon …
Night Kisses Day: December Sunrise by the Light of the Moon As we approach the shortest day of the year, I find that I’m rising before the sun; hitting the floor mat to stretch and practice meditation before beginning the day with a run or walk through the forest. Starting my morning in the cold, 5:30 […]
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Climbing plants, Color in the Garden, Conifers, Decorating Ideas, Decorating the Garden, Ferncliff, Fire Pits, Fire Pits and Fire Sculpture, Flower Seeds, Frost, Garden Design, Garden Design Photos, Garden Paths, Garden Structures, Gardening Inspiration, Perennials for Winter Interest, Planting Techniques, Plants for Texture, Sculpture, Sculpture and Features, Secret Garden at Ferncliff, Shrubs for ornamental fruit, Shrubs for Winter Interest, Shrubs with Colorful Twigs/Stems, Shrubs with Textural Bark, Steps and Stairs - Stone, Stone Sculpture, Stone Walkways, stonework, The Seasons, Viburnum, Walkways - Stone, White & Silver, Winter, Winter Garden, Winter Gardening, Winter Solstice
Sparkling Texture & Dramatic Structure: Creating A Beautiful Winter Garden …
The Entry Garden at First Light in Early December, After a Dusting of Snow I often wonder why I bother to mourn the end of autumn when there’s so much magic and beauty to be found in the garden during this quiet time of the year. As we near the winter solstice, I find myself […]
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Native Plants, Nature, New England, The Seasons, Winter
Sleeping Beauty in Sunlit Snow …
December is such a busy month —days of rushing here and there; shopping, baking, wrapping gifts, hosting and/or attending parties— that it’s easy to caught up in the chaos. The calm beauty of nature —sleeping beauty in sunlit snow— is my sanctuary … Photos from a Quiet December Morning in the Forest Surrounding My Garden Photographs and […]
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