Who Needs Magic when it's Paperbush Bud Viewing Season?

Who needs magic when outside right now there are flower buds dangling off the ends of Paperbush branches as if to say, "I dare you to find a Christmas ornament on any tree this beautiful and fierce?" There's a 38 percent chance of snow this afternoon and I bumped into a Paperbush this morning!

Paperbush flower buds early December, New York

The Holiday of the Viewing of the Paper Bush Buds

On this, the second annual Holiday of the Viewing of the Paper Bush Buds, there were some early blooms. Am I making up botanical holidays for myself now? Well yes, I am. Having never created a holiday before and being somewhat unsure what the criteria are for such a thing, I've pretty much gone and done it much the way one earns the right for riding shotgun in a car, that is by calling it.

I've chosen to celebrate this particular holiday on the third Sunday of December quite arbitrarily and I imagine any old day in winter would do just as well. I do recommend though the celebrating be done on a very cold day in the last hour of light at Brooklyn Botanic, if you're in Brooklyn. If not, then you have to go out and find your own Paper Bush spot to celebrate. As of yet, there are no official sponsors, logos, or lore attached to this celebration, so it's wide open for interpretation.


At the inaugural celebration

Edgeworthia, Again

We passed two Edgeworthia (Paperbush) plants yesterday on a walk to Prospect Park and admired those amazing flower buds which make this plant so beautiful to lay eyes on in the winter months. Susan had just planted a very tiny one in the front yard at a client's home and was wishing that it was more impressive to see right now. (Currently it looks like a few wee branches with some leaves and small buds.) But if it survives and thrives, it will grow into something grand, and be totally worth the wait.

The Dream that is Spring

Beneath an everblooming cherry in the Japanese Garden, Brooklyn Botanic

At Brooklyn Botanic. Now.


Ants view of a Hellebore, Washington Ave garden, Brooklyn Botanic



Blooming Edgeworthia, Perennial Border, Brooklyn Botanic

Early Spring at Brooklyn Botanic in the Snow, Rain & Sleet

Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paperbush) in the Perennial Border at Brooklyn Botanic

It may have snowed, rained and sleeted at differents points during the day, but it was still beautiful walking the grounds of Brooklyn Botanic with Susan, checking out the earliest spring bloomers. The paperbush in the perennial border was nearly glowing and in the Japanese garden Pieris japonicas were dripping in blooms near an ever-blooming cherry. There were pockets of awesomeness and color busting out all over the botanic garden and it's only the very beginning of spring. This year, I'll only have rainy weekdays if work is cancelled and weekend visits to check out the amazing spring show at BBG. It won't be the same as watching it all unfold while working as an intern on the grounds, but I hope to catch at least some of this beautiful place's spring blooms.



Pieris japonica flowers in the Japanese Garden at Brooklyn Botanic

How Cool is the Paperbush?

Well, the Lily Pool at Brooklyn Botanic is frozen and this shrub is just starting to get ready to bloom. I'd say that makes it supercool.






















You have to give it up for a plant that thrives in extreme temperatures and I consider freezing temperatures to be extreme. If you really think about it, you'd wonder if humans are even Zone 7 hardy. Without our layers of clothing and the heat in our buildings, we'd be hardpressed to get through a winter, never mind trying to do it outside, even in a temperate climate like we have here in New York City. And yet here's this plant, not only surviving, but getting ready to flower. The flowers aren't even open yet and already it looks spectacular. I hope I get to see it in full flower later this winter, but I'm pretty glad I got to witness it as it was today with its winter buds. Is there anything cooler really than a winter bloomer?


Edgeworthia chrysantha, Paperbush, in the Perennial Border at Brooklyn Botanic.

Planting Fields Arboretum

When, near the end of a whirlwind two-hour tour of Planting Fields Arboretem, the incredibly knowledgable and enthusiastic Park Manager Vincent Simeone gets really excited about a plant, you have to take notice. Edgeworthia papyrifera (Paperbush) pictured above must be spectacular in bloom and maybe worth a winter visit to witness. Maybe you'd catch some of the greenhouse Camellias to boot. Not that you'd need to look for an excuse to revisit this place even in winter. We covered a lot of ground on the field trip today, but a place so large could be explored for hours and hours.































Lespedeza thunbergii 'Spring Grove' located with the other L plants in the Synoptic Garden.





















Calathea makayana (Peacock Plant)
There's always lovely architecture too at these huge old estates, once enjoyed by so few but now accessible to many, like the Tea House below.



And I haven't even gotten to some of this historic park's grand old trees in this post. Can't wait to go back again.