Both Sides Now

On Thursday, you saw the back view of the small witch hazel clipping from our garden, appearing to look out the window longingly. A few of its petals had opened, but most were tightly furled, like rolls of ribbon.

What a difference a few days make -- this macro shot of just a few of those flowers looks like a party is going on!  

Our shrub is an "Arnold Promise" witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise'), a hybrid born from the cross between Hamamelis mollis (Chinese witch hazel) and Hamamelis japonica (Japanese witch hazel). It's one of the first plants we put into our back garden after moving here in 2002, and it's never given us any problem. I wish we'd planted more of these! 

The Pacific Horticulture website has a lovely photo of an 'Arnold Promise' in full bloom and a great deal of interesting information and other fine photos.

And of course you'll want to hear this again...

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