Last look at seed pods

I really hate early spring cleanup, when I remove all of last year's growth, the remnants of what was a greener, warmer, happier time. It's true that I enjoy the often architectural stems and pods that remain sturdily standing after months of cold snows and winds, but the main reason I hate cutting them is that I'll have nothing to look at for several weeks. The new growth is so slow to emerge most years, cautiously peeking, wondering when it will be safely warm again.

The rose mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpos) is probably the poster child of this -- I so hate removing its wonderful pods each spring! Let's take one last look at them before they go...

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The stiff stems are so strong, some seeds easily stay within throughout the winter:

There are so many of them too, both stems and pods:

I couldn't let the seed go to waste, so I collected as much as I could:

I did the same in the fall, and I know that lots of them must have still fallen to surround the plant -- I see several tiny stems from last year's seedlings -- but perhaps I'll find something to do with these.

One last look at this bouquet of browns before it goes onto the compost pile:

I miss having the stems next to the walkway, helping to define the bounds of the path. It seems so open right now, with no vertical elements...

Soon though the new stems will emerge, stiff stalks supporting those big, white blooms.

Something to look forward to...

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