Witch Hazel: Arnold Promise vs Pallida

 Witch Hazel: Arnold Promise vs Pallida

A short note regarding Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ and Hamamelis japonica ‘Pallida’.

Both grow quite well here and their late winter/early Spring blooms are pure delight. But, if I could plant again (I’m too old now to plant too far into my future) I would definitely plant more ‘Pallida’.

While there are many other cultivars that seem equally, or even more desirable, [and I may add one or two of those in the next year or two], for now ‘Pallida’ has my five pale-green thumbs up.

The colour of the bloom is a vibrant yellow, especially compared to “Arnold Promise’, and this year it has been blooming, as of today, for at least two months, or is that three? The branches are floriferous.’

Arnold Promise’ is now displaying its red calyces, which are quite nice, but ‘Pallida’ blooms on, as if it has been told aging is a myth.

I think I am displaying my own gray calyces, and I’ve discovered aging is definitely not a myth.

Arnold Promise [background]

Pallida [foreground]

So many poems, so many poems and only myself to listen

From a Ben in the Cairngorms

The Hebridean sheep

are gone from the braes,

even St. Kilda is silent.

Last years Bluebells are gray -

nod silently -

they have set no seed.

Much too late

for a nip of single malt

to bring them back.

The copse of Rowan is leafless.

Calunas have lost their purple haze.

Wind from the loch

brings nothing

but decay.

You dare tell me

this is not the end of the world?

Perhaps not,

but it is a good beginning.

It Might Take

I’ve found

it might take a ‘Rocket Scientist’

to get us

out of this.

Reading Too Much Bukowski

I’ve been reading too much Bukowski

lately

and drinking too much wine.

Perhaps it’s time

to read Billy Collins

instead.

At least I’ve never had a weakness

for the horses.