Spring Flower Fever

Spring came early to Montreal this year. To top it off, we also had a relatively mild winter. So, our plants in the garden is having a wild time now ...... just happy happy and growing like I've never seen them do before !

Our front yard: no grass, just perennials, bulbs and shrubs.

In the backyard: our cercis tree and a species peony shrub.

A Japanese tree peony and our Japanese inspired corner.


Closeup shot of the Japanese tree peony flower.

Both Doug and I are thrilled with the garden so far this year. We're just wondering now, hehe, if we are to enjoy milder winters in the years to come, what new plants (that are not hardy for our zone 5b winters) we can now add to our garden. All plant suggestions are welcome. :-)

Hmmmm, this must be what it's like to garden in England !

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Happy Monday!

This is "Gold of Ophir", one of many named selections of Oriental Poppies (Turkish origins). Its brilliant orange blossoms are spectacular. Either partially double or fully double, its paper-thin petals are pleated and are silk-like to the touch. And believe it or not, the flower is around 4 to 5 inches across and stands on sturdy stems of 3 to 4 feet tall!

I've had this plant for a few years now...... and I've always wondered about its name. Its blossoms are orange..... there's no gold anywhere. Big mystery. Ponder. It was only while snapping these photos that I saw....... with the sun shining from behind the plant, there are patches of shimmering golds...... dappled here and there. How brilliant! Hence....... its name?!

FYI: Ophir is an unidentified region famous in Old Testament times for its fine gold. The geographic list of Genesis 10 apparently places it in Arabia, but in the time of Solomon (c. 920 bc), Ophir was thought of as being overseas. Gold, almug (or algum) wood (i.e., sandalwood), ivory, monkeys, and peacocks were procured there. Many areas of the Arabian Peninsula have been proposed as the site of Ophir; the principal alternative locations overseas are East Africa and India. (Britannica.com)

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