How do I always forget how cold it gets when we head into winter? I always imagine I’ll do this task and that–after the weather is finished with being too hot. Hah! Rumor has it we’re getting our first freeze over the next couple days. Soon, I can put away any notion of wrapping up my gardening chores–at least for the next couple dark months.
Thusly, I did a walk about out there–to see if that could kick me into high gear. We’ve had a super mild fall and a lot of the plants are still looking terrific.
Poor things, their run is about done.
And the Brugmansias, crazy how good they look. If they don’t survive, it was worth it, enjoying them all this extra time.
It’s still blooming, for Pete’s sake.
(We don’t have any mulch-worthy leaves in our garden, so I raked up a few bins from the neighbors’ yard. They have a giant big leaf maple, so leaves aplenty.)
It’s colder this morning, and there was a bit of snow forecasted. Nothing is happening here–of course. I took the opportunity for a few shots around the garden, pre-snowpocalypse. (Native Oregonians often stand around holding our breath at the suggestion of snowflakes falling from the sky. I cannot tell you how many times the weather folks have snatched that football from beneath our feet, and yet, we stand, still breathless. P.S. Peeps who’ve moved here from snowier climes are asked to kindly refrain from commenting on disdain for snow. I’m serious!)
Our snow is so fleeting–this from last January–so please let us enjoy it for the second or two it lasts.
Back to the present. How crazy is this, the tropical-style bed near the patio. I had my fingers crossed I could enjoy it all winter–my praying for snow notwithstanding. This was yesterday, December 4, 2016. Wacky.
The Cyperus papyrus has enjoyed its longest fun yet. I plant one in that tall skinny every year, and lot of bang for the six bucks or so.
The Tetrapanax papyrifer have exceeded my wildest expectations. Their success is making me a little nervous–even though I think they’re super cool. There’s another stand at the back corner with less protection. They’re going faster than this grove.
Acanthus sennii is hanging in there. Last year about this time, I was photographing skeletal leaves.
-
- Acanthus foliage looking sharp.
-
- Acanthus sennii fading blooms
-
- Acanthus sennii — caution
The spines on Ethiopian Acanthus are not kidding around. Secret Garden Growers describes it as “well armed.”
We did get one final task done. The area around our apple tree had gotten so muddy. And I’m out there mucking around in it every day filling bird feeders. Those little critters are hungry. Then a stroke of luck; nice neighbors on nextdoor.com advertised an abundance of FREE woods chips.
The man is always so willing to accommodate my whims–provided I bear in mind that he’s tactical: What, when, where. He will handle the how.
How about you? Have you tossed in the towel for the season?
Cheers