{"id":12251,"date":"2016-12-05T18:35:16","date_gmt":"2016-12-06T02:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogadmin.plantlust.com\/blog\/?p=12251"},"modified":"2023-11-08T21:41:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T05:41:40","slug":"getting-a-grip-in-the-garden-one-hopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plantlust.com\/blog\/gardens\/getting-a-grip-in-the-garden-one-hopes\/","title":{"rendered":"getting a grip in the garden, one hopes…"},"content":{"rendered":"

How do\u00a0I always forget how\u00a0cold it gets\u00a0when\u00a0we head into winter? I always imagine I’ll do this task and that–after\u00a0the weather is finished with being too hot. Hah! Rumor has it we’re getting our first freeze over the next couple\u00a0days. Soon, I can put away any notion of wrapping up my gardening chores–at least for the next couple dark months.<\/p>\n

Thusly, I did a walk about out there–to see if that\u00a0could kick me into high gear.\u00a0We’ve had a super mild fall\u00a0and a lot\u00a0of the plants are still looking terrific.<\/p>\n

Poor things, their\u00a0run is about done.<\/p>\n

\"Everyone
Everyone else was busy winterizing. Not me. Until now. Fingers crossed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Asparagus
Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’ and Phormium ‘Sundowner’ under leaf cover.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Chamaerops
Chamaerops humilis aka Mediterranean Fan Palm snuggled in.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And the Brugmansias, crazy how good they look. If they don’t survive, it was worth it, enjoying\u00a0them all this extra time.<\/p>\n

\"Brugmansia
Brugmansia ‘Single White’ hanging in there.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s still blooming, for Pete’s sake.<\/p>\n

\"Brugmansia
Brugmansia ‘Charles Grimaldi’<\/a> and Brugmansia ‘Single White’ still singing their hearts out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

(We don’t have any mulch-worthy leaves in our\u00a0garden, so I raked up a few bins from the neighbors’ yard. They have a giant big leaf maple, so leaves aplenty.)<\/p>\n

\"Joe's
Joe & Judy’s Bigleaf Maple–the giant round one. We didn’t make a dent in leaf fall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s colder this morning, and there was a bit of snow forecasted. Nothing is happening here–of course.\u00a0I 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\u00a0tell 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!)<\/p>\n

\"Scrub
Scrub Jay – January 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our snow is so fleeting–this from last January–so please let us enjoy it for the second or two it lasts.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Patio
Patio side bed planted with tropical inspiration–to make it feel like we’re on vacation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Cyperus papyrus has\u00a0enjoyed its\u00a0longest fun yet. I plant one\u00a0in that tall skinny every year, and lot of bang for the six bucks or so.<\/p>\n

\"Cyperus
Cyperus papyrus<\/a> aka Egyptian Papyrus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Tetrapanax papyrifer<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\"Tetrapanax
Tetrapanax in a less protected location is fading faster.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tetrapanax
Tetrapanax leaf taking a last bow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Acanthus sennii<\/a> is hanging in there. Last year about this time, I was photographing skeletal leaves.<\/p>\n\n\t\t