Friday, March 20, 2009

PLANT CONTORTED FILBERT INTO YOUR LIFE

Catkins are hanging gold now. Backlit by the morning sun. CONTORTED FILBERT is winter's focal point in the landscape. My Contorted Filbert is the best on the North American Continent. Truly. But more important, my Contorted Filbert is an old soul in my life.

If I've done one thing right in my life it's having Open Garden in Winter, passing along Contorted Filbert.


Planted without knowledge, simply a Plant Crush, my Contorted Filbert quickly outgrew its space. With no heart to move a vigorously happy plant I pruned Contorted Filbert up from the bottom.
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Its contorted trunks are naked for 5'. Capping at 15' in a bower of curly branches overhead as you walk my woodland path.
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This tree makes me understand the DRUIDS.
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Contorted Filbert is something you should do for yourself. It's zone 4-8, (Corylus avellana 'Contorta'.)
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Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

6 comments:

Pigtown*Design said...

is the same as harry lauder walking stick?

Tara Dillard said...

YES. I should have said it's called Harry Lauders walking stick too. Thanks for the nudge!
XO Tara

Ewa said...

Ow.. it looks beautiful - you made me want it.
I saw it many times in nurseries, but frankly I was not attracted.
However I started to think about it last winter, cos I need some more winter beauty.
Would it look good as solitaire?
Greetings,
Ewa

Tara Dillard said...

Yes, Ewa. It's best as a solitaire. And I love your word, 'solitaire'.

XO Tara

Unknown said...

Oh, I miss my contorted filbert! When we moved I transplanted my 7 year old, but, alas, the drought did it in. Will have to go out tomorrow and buy a replacement!

scott b said...

ohyeah, i love 'contorta' - mine is in my ex-wife's back yard. but i have a customer with one that i get to visit and prune - the flower arranger at shambhala center uses contorta limbs in arrangements often (the name for japaneses floral displays escapes me at the moment) with wonderful effect. great blog

the thumb