Hamamelis - Part Two

There isn't a huge range of colors in this family, but up close, the subtle color variations are pretty amazing. This first one is Carmine, one of the older ones and a lovely deep red. This one is currently unfolding close to my kitchen window and is lovely. On smaller plants, the old, dried leaves may be retained over the winter and get in the way of enjoying the flowers in the spring. As the plants get older, they do a better job of dropping their leaves. Carmine set so much seed that the problem I'm having with it this year is that there are so many hard, dried seed pods that they are obscuring the flowers. I wish the birds would finish eating the seed which they seem to like, especially the finches.
This next one is Diane , another of the older ones and another that I can see from my kitchen window as I do the dishes. This one is lighter and has hints of yellow/pink towards the tips of the petals which are darker at the base. Colors can vary from year to year depending on temperature, moisture and sunlight.

Next is Feuerzauber, obviously one of the German introductions. I like that they haven't changed the names. That can get really confusing since people who can't read whatever foreign language a plant has been named in may think that they are two different plants. Feuerzauber is along the walk from the house and near the driveway, though in the same section as the first two. It has a lot more yellow than Diane and just glows sometimes.
This one if Firechief and grows up the hill. It is the only one in the area and so far hasn't set seed. Not sure how close together they have to be. I'm not looking for seed, so it really doesn't matter. This one can be the shade shown in the picture or a much darker red, all depending on the conditions that year. On 'lucky' years, it will still be blooming when the daffodils surrounding it come out. They are quite pretty together.

Last for today is Georges, another import. This one can have quite a bit more yellow some years. Hopefully it will survive the damage done by rutting deer over the winter. They/he completely rubbed the bark off of the main stem (it's still a smallish plant) for about 18" all the way around the stem. There are smaller branches below that so I think it will actually survive, but will be a bit smaller for awhile.

The sun is shining and it looks like it will be a lovely, but cold day. I'm going to try and take some pictures in the greenhouse today now that it is brighter. It was just plain dreary in there for the past 2 days despite the lights.

Jane