|
|
|
|
Archive: Fourth Quarter 2008 |
|
|
Dec. 28, 2008 Nature never ceases to amaze me. With either wisdom or whim, it has saved plants that I feared might no longer be a part of my garden. I covered one Corokia only to find another that went uncovered in equally healthy condition. So too, were Hebes and Pittosporum. These three genii are questionably hardy in our area, depending on which species we purchase. It appears that the species I selected, coming recommended for their hardiness is, thus far, true. Granted our temperatures never went below 10°. What seems to have been the saving grace is the layer of insulating snow, then topped by ice, then another layer of snow. The ice, which can often damage plants, was not directly connected to most plants. The Eucalyptus for which I expressed much concern due to its bent and nearly collapsed state, has rebounded. They shed snow and ice only to appear as though nothing had happened! Now we are back into normal temperatures for this time of year (40’s to high 30’s), the rain is back, and the snow is quickly melting. Hallelujah! Next year when people are gushing on about a “white Christmas’, I may not feel too nostalgic. |
 An emerging Hebe from its snowy cover. |
|
Dec. 22, 2008 Since my last entry we have had at least a foot of snow and our area is about to enter into record-breaking territory for snowfall in December. As you can see by the photo on the right, if you compare it to the photo below when the snow first began to flurry, there's a bit more snow on the ground. This photo was taken this morning from outside our front door. My poor Eucalyptus trees, along with many other broadleaf evergreen shrubs and trees are suffering from the weight of snow. If we had not gotten a little freezing rain before we got the snow, it would be easier to knock off, but unfortunately Mother Nature is having her way with us. I am curious as my cats about how plants are doing under the cover I put over them before this all began. Our local weather forecasters are predicting that shortly after Christmas our weather will return to something more normal - rain. Hopefully with all of the snow and then rain, we won't have flooding next. Happy Holidays!! |
 |
|
Dec. 16, 2008 Today I walked briskly around the garden in my heaviest coat to check out my Eucalyptus trees. I was happily surprised to see that all of them seem to be doing well. I photographed each of them just to document their progress in this freezing weather. Here's a couple of the photos as proof. Further along my walk I encountered a mossy rock and ceramic sunflower - each with a bit of snow captured in such interesting places. Then I came upon the Banana tree. The leaves are finally looking like they typically do in winter. I'll let them continue to go limp and use them to cover up the tops of the stalks for the rest of the winter. Then I'll cut all of the stalks back in the spring after last frost date. |
 A couple of hardy Eucalyptus species 
 |
|
Dec. 15, 2008 Ten days until Christmas and we are in a deep freeze. After wrapping, mulching, storing, and stashing plants, I am now fretting about the unprotected out in the garden. Here's hoping that the cultivars labeled as hardy to zone 7 or 8, truly are. My grove of Eucalyptus might not be much of a grove by the time this sub-freezing week is over. This is one of the coldest in more than 10 years - in terms of length of time below 32 degrees. |
View outside the front door while the snow is flying. |
|
Dec. 2, 2008 After a joyful Thanksgiving with family members, December hit me up-side the head. It’s time to finish getting plants into the ground! Mother Nature has been unbelievably kind this fall with warmer temperatures than normal. I beat it out into the garden yesterday and planted some native sword ferns, Corsican Hellebore seedlings that I collected earlier this fall, a terrific rosey Penstemon, dark pink Echinaceas, and moved some fabulous Joe Pye Weed. Then I made a firm decision to relocate a fairly new blue Spruce. After I planted it 2 years ago, I added a grove of blue eucalyptus in the same area to hide the new 2-story house that was just built on the other side of our fence (after the owner clear-cut 13 acres of a gorgeous NW forest). Last year, the garden looked out of balance, because there is no blue on the ‘other side’ of the major division in the garden. It makes good sense to move the Spruce, but it will be a 2-man job, because it is about 10’ tall now. |
 Notice the blue spruce about mid-photo with a Eucalyptus to its left. The spruce will be relocated to the right of the 2 arborvitae. Notice also, that the blue leaves look farther away than green, red, or yellow leaves. |
|
Nov. 25, 2008 Two days before Thanksgiving and we have just had our first 2 nights of frost. The banana tree is looking limp - as it should now. I'm debating whether I want to fuss with wrapping it so it will get an earlier start next year. Musa basjoo is fully hardy in our zone 7. However, for me it usually freezes to the roots. This spring I waited until late June for the banana to come out of dormancy, then it shot to it's 8 foot stature seemingly overnight. I plan to move it next spring to the location vacated by a clumping bamboo that bloomed 2 years ago. After blooming, this Fargesia had the audacity to die (which nature intends), leaving a spot that I filled with cannas this year. Yesterday I drained and coiled the hoses for winter storage. The last few pots were tucked into the garage. Abutilon, Geranium, & Begonias joined the Cannas. Now I will have to dig any dahlias that I want to relocate next spring and store them, as well. I label everything using colored tape and a black marker. It will make it much easier next spring when I'm trying to remember the color (and possibly the plant). Most of the leaves have now been nudged into flower beds and off of any hardscape. The leaves will decompose over the winter and make a rich leaf mold to feed plants. Plant Thanksgiving! |
Limp banana leaves |
|
Nov. 18, 2008 As autumn leaves copiously descend, I continue to tuck potted plants into the ground. Fall smells wonderfully earthy! I received an email from a fellow gardener in another climate zone – colder, since she mentioned their frost occurred a month ago. We are still lucky here, so far no frost. I can’t remember living here in the past 18 years when it has been this late. I guess we might attribute it to climate changes, but I’m not sure. In the email she mentioned she had a very dry summer and could not water as needed. It reminded me of another gardener and her garden that I saw this summer. It was a fully sustainable garden and included a good-sized plot for edibles. She had allowed spring rains to water the garden and then mulched it quite heavily with hay, then only watered it maybe twice the rest of the summer! We were there in mid-September and by that time, some of the things had died back, but there were still some things to harvest. Mulching and loads of compost seemed to be her ‘secret’. I know that this is one of things that I will include in my planning for our garden next year. The email gardener also mentioned that it got so hot and sunny, that it was hard to get out and deadhead. Maybe the best time to do that is during the morning or evening, when it is cooler. You know what they say about mad dogs & Englishmen… She also planted Ajuga on a bare slope, which seems to be successful, since Ajuga is a very aggressive groundcover. It will grow anywhere in my garden! In fact, for me it has become a weed. It’s common name is Bugle Weed. Fair warning. She asked me if I have a suggestion of another vine to plant rather than morning glories, since they bloomed so late and only for 3 weeks. Black-eyed susan vine comes to mind, but then I can’t speak from experience, since I don’t grow many flowering annual vines. She also tried growing some California poppies, but did not know that they are summer dormant. Here in my zone 7, they have started to pop up again this fall, as do my perennial Oriental poppies. |
Red leaves from the Bloodgood Japanese Maples fallen into the curvy path at the south side of our house. |
|
November 12 2008:
The photo on the left
shows the entry to the back garden with plants falling victim to
decreasing temperatures and light. As autumn continues its slow
strip-tease, the colorful maple at the entry pergola is in its full
blazing glory. |
 |
|
Nov. 11, 2008 It's a dark and stormy night (I've always wanted to say that!) here in the Pacific Northwest. While rain is pounding the roof it serves as a reminder to me that this is ideal planning weather. I encourage my clients to take advantage of this time to get started with the design of their gardens for next year. There is so much affecting garden design right now! I feel like we are at the apex of numerous converging points. The economy continues to tank affect scores of individuals, businesses, communities, and nations. Global climate changes affect our weather in new and unpredictable ways. An energy crisis means learning how to get along with less oil, but provokes research into new resources. Speaking of resources, water is beginning to loom on the horizon as a big issue partly due to increasing demand. Our food comes to us questionably grown. Who can we trust to grow food we can safely eat? Sustainability is beginning to catch on for many of these reasons and because we want to be responsible earth stewards. Biodiversity is declining as many species are challenged to stay alive with so many pressures against them. Back to the economy - it's affecting our livelihoods and our lives. Fewer jobs, less money mean more stress - as if we didn't have enough already! How can we, as gardeners, turn these challenges into opportunities? I'll be blogging about ways we can all contribute - one garden at a time. |
With
the new butterfly house in the garden, I hope to attract more butterflies
- one of our "canaries in the coal mine". |
|
Oct. 28, 2008
Another interesting idea is using plants like marigolds and garlic as mutually beneficial to other plants to help deter pests and disease. Naturally, I'll be particularly keen on growing everything organically and in the most sustainable manner possible. Stay tuned for progress reports! |
|
|
Oct. 20, 2008 This weekend I spent considerable time trying to plant as many pots in the garden, with priorities given to the zone limits of plants. The higher the zone, the higher their priority for planting. In addition, plants that are not hardy that I overwinter in the garage were potted up and moved into or towards the garage. This week’s weather isn’t anticipating freezing weather, but I am–just in case. Plants in the garage category are cannas & tuberous begonias. I wait to dig dahlias (if I dig them) until after first frost. Last winter I successfully overwintered my Meyer Improved Lemon on our covered patio on the southwest side of the house. It’s a very sheltered area that stays warmer than any other area around the house during the winter. On the coldest nights (down to around 18 degrees) I threw a tarp over the top and used some lounge chair cushions to wrap the pot’s base. This year I’m going to try and keep my tender succulents in this area using similar techniques. My fancy-leaf begonias usually spend the winter in our laundry room, but this year I’m considering putting them in our furnace room (part of the basement) under some plant lights. This room stays a pretty even 60-65 degrees during the winter – plus they won’t take up space in our laundry room. |
A few fancy leaf begonias |
|
Oct. 14, 2008 One of the most important aspects of a garden is its entry. This past weekend found me rethinking the planting material at the entry to the back garden and next to our parking area. While I like the announcement and interaction of the pots with the bronze Chinese bell, I find that the variety of plant material is too distracting from this important focal point. In the north view, I planted a new Pittosporum, which may not make it through the winter. IF it does, it will be because I throw a box over it on really cold nights. The reason I planted this one, is because it has a dense form and a pale blue-green color which boldly contrasts with the dark green Raphiolepis behind it. I find it important to punctuate the end of a path-especially if its a little long-to foreshorten the length. If artwork would make the area too busy with art, as in this case, then plants will do very well. The blue-green color ties in with the bell, the Fescue Grass, and the blue-green of the junipers in the pots. It's still small, but if it grows to the size Monrovia mentioned, it will be about 3 feet tall and wide. Some Pittosporums are questionably hardy in my area (somewhere in the range of Zone 7 to Zone 8), but I have found that the protection given overhead by our tall Douglas firs from snow, rain, and frost, and their root competition for water works very well for Pittosporum. Our fir trees are limbed up due to natural occurrences. This allows plenty of sun through the area during the day. The view towards the west with my cat, Tashi peeking around the pot, displays the red fall coloration of Syringa 'Miss Kim'. Plants mound upwards in this area to buffer the view of the parking spaces from the main garden. I have a variety of plants there that is in desperate need of editing. It's crammed with plant treasures and visually very noisy. Editing is the most difficult thing to do if you are both a plant collector and designer. I'll keep you posted on my progress. |
 Entry Bell & Pots
|
