We still have another two weeks of winter, but the gardens at my Bedford, New York farm are already beginning to show signs of spring.
This time of year is when all the witch hazel shrubs are blooming. With their fragrant, butter yellow to orange and scarlet red flowers, witch hazels add a lovely spark of life to otherwise gray winter landscapes. Although witch hazel has many common names, its generic name means “together with fruit” - it is the only tree in North America to have flowers, ripe fruit and next year’s leaf buds on its branches at the same time. Their diversity, beauty, and all-season appeal make them one of the most well-loved garden shrubs.
This time of year, excitement always grows at the first signs of spring. The witch hazel is now blooming at my farm. Witch hazel grows as small trees or shrubs with numerous clusters of rich yellow to orange-red flowers.
Witch hazel is great for splashes of winter color. They’re very hardy and are not prone to a lot of diseases.
Witch hazel is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hamamelidaceae. Most species bloom from January to March and display beautiful spidery flowers that let off a slightly spicy fragrance.
The flowers are able to curl inward to protect the inner structures from freezing during cold wintery weather.
Hamamelis mollis, or Chinese witch hazel, is the most fragrant of all the species. Chinese witch hazel begins blooming as early as January and has buttery yellow petals and clear yellow fall foliage.
Japanese witch hazel, Hamamelis japonica, has showy yellow or red flowers.
There are five species of witch hazel – Hamamelis virginiana, Hamamelis vernalis, Hamamelis japonica, Hamamelis mollis, and Hamamelis ovalis. All of these produce flowers with strap-like crumpled petals.
Witch hazels possess shallow, slow-growing root systems, which do best in large planting areas to ensure normal growth and development. Fortunately, I have a lot of room to grow these pretty shrubs.
Witch hazel is a unique shrub because it features flowers, next year’s leaf buds, and fruit all at the same time.
While most varieties reach 10 to 20 feet high and wide at maturity, witch hazels can be kept smaller with pruning once they are finished blooming.
Witch hazel is great for attracting pollinators and songbirds as well as for deterring deer.
These plants perform best in full sun, or filtered shade in hotter regions. They prefer well-amended soil and regular water, and are tolerant of acid or alkaline conditions. I have several shrubs near my Summer House and more near my allée of lindens.
Witch hazels need a winter chill to achieve full flowering. For best results, temperatures should drop to at least 30-degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the species and cultivars are hardy down to negative 10-degrees Fahrenheit.
Gardeners usually plant witch hazel for its ornamental qualities – in spring and summer witch hazel is a very attractive plant with dark green leaves and graceful, spreading shapes.
Witch hazel will grow in one of six basic shapes – upright, vase-shaped, oval or rounded, spreading, horizontal or weeping.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ is a popular cultivar with its coppery orange flowers that appear in early to mid-winter.
Witch hazel works well as a natural remedy because it contains tannins, which when applied to the skin, can help decrease swelling and fight bacteria.
Witch hazel leaves, bark and twigs are used to make lotions and astringents for treating certain skin inflammations and other irritations.
However, wildlife appreciate it also – leaves are an important food source for native insects and many native birds and animals eat the seeds that follow the flowers in the winter.
Witch hazels can thrive in many gardens given the right conditions and care. I love seeing the witch hazels in bloom – it’s a good sign that spring is just around the corner.
Soon after moving to my property, I built a winding 300-foot pergola along one side of a carriage road leading to my home. Under it, I dug six-foot-wide beds and a grassy footpath. Supporting the wooden beams are antique granite posts from China originally used as grape supports. Every year, this area blooms with beautiful color. In May, a palette of lavender, violet, purple, and blue Camassias, alliums, croci, clematis, muscari, and others. Later in summer, hundreds of orange tiger lilies fill the border gardens. Now, as part of a restoration project, I am replacing the 20-year old timeworn wood with new beams and cedar rafter tails carved from a pattern I conceived and designed myself. Last week, the old wood came down and it's looking markedly different already.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Since building this pergola I’ve added lots of bulbs and perennials that bloom at different times throughout the season. Here is the pergola garden in late May. Boxwood line the beds on both sides.
And gorgeous spring-flowering bulbs emerge along the entire length of the pergola.
In the center, a cross section supports beautiful sweet-smelling wisteria standards.
Here they grow over the rafters.
And on the vertical granite posts I grow several different varieties of clematis.
Each pair of posts supports the same variety and every summer they stand out in all their gorgeous colors.
Later in the season, the gardens change. Here is the pergola in early August when the beds are filled with bold orange tiger lilies. I always encourage guests to walk along the footpath underneath.
From above, one can see the pergola’s structure. This pergola extends from the carriage road in front of my flower cutting garden all the way to the west end of my soccer field.
Last week was phase one of the project. Here’s Fernando Ferrari, who has worked with me for more than 30-years. He saw the original pergola go up. Now he is helping to take it down, one board at a time.
Pete is also a longtime member of my outdoor grounds crew. He is removing the wooden boards carefully, so as not to damage the antique granite posts.
Most of the beams in this section are removed. A lot of them have deteriorated over time.
The copper wire for the clematis vines remains. Here, Fernando moves the wire and any supporting screws and nails from the top of the posts.
The entire removal phase took several days. Thankfully, the milder weather cooperated.
As each piece is taken down, it is placed in a pile at one end of the pergola.
Here is the pergola mid-week. Pete and Fernando have done a fast job.
Next are these old decorative rafters. They must also be removed carefully.
The entire job is done by hand to protect the posts and the gardens below – no big equipment can be used. Pete is close to finishing.
This is what it looks like now – quite bare. The burlap covers the boxwood hedge and shrubs that border the gardens.
Soon, the building will commence and a new pergola will take shape. Follow to see the next phase of this restoration project.
It’s always exciting to have babies at my farm - especially when they're cute, fluffy, delicate little chicks.
Recently, I incubated and hatched nine Silkie chick eggs from Stonebrook Silkies. I got the eggs from this year's Northeastern Poultry Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts. Silkies are best known for their characteristically fluffy plumage said to feel like silk or satin. The chicks are now about a month old and thriving - very alert, healthy, and so curious. They will remain in my stable feed room where they can be closely monitored until they are big enough to move into an outdoor enclosure.
Enjoy these photos.
Right now, the youngest residents at my farm are nine fluffy chicks – eating, chirping and strutting around their cage.
The Silkie, also known as the Silky or Chinese silk chicken, is a breed of chicken named for its atypically soft and showy plumage.
Here in my stable feed room, they are checked several times a day. This room is also well heated and free from drafts.
All these chicks have clear eyes and are very alert – signs of good health.
There are eight Silkie color varieties accepted by the American Poultry Association. They include black, blue, buff, gray, partridge, splash, and white.
Silkies have black eyes, dark beaks, combs, and wattles.
And underneath all that feathering, they also have black skin and bones and five toes instead of the typical four on each foot.
As soon as the chicks are able to walk, they’re up and about and playing and interacting with each other. They also peck at each other playfully.
At this stage, the chicks are already communicating with each other. In general, chickens are quite vocal. They make around 30 different calls, expressing everything from “I am hungry” to “there’s a predator nearby.”
These Silkies are already greeting visitors that enter the room – I am looking forward to seeing them mature with the rest of my flock.
They are full of expression from the very start. I wonder what this chick is thinking.
Here, one is perching atop a stuffed toy. Chickens love to perch. It gives them a sense of safety, especially when they sleep.
The Silkie is one of the oldest breeds of chicken in the world. It was originally bred in China and then made its way to the West through maritime trade. The breed was recognized officially in North America in 1874.
Silkies grow a bit slower than other chicken breeds and shouldn’t be outside until they have all their feathers and have lost all their fuzz.
Because the Silkie’s feathers lack functioning barbicels, similar to down on other birds, they are unable to fly.
These chicks are great eaters. They get specialized chick food as well as micro greens I grow here at the farm.
Silkies also have a distinctive head – very fluffy, soft and fur-like.
Silkies are adaptable, playful, and friendly. And, they are naturally more calm than most other breeds.
It is always nice to see such a strong and energetic group of babies.
In another few weeks, these chicks will be outside enjoying the early spring weather.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
