This year it seems as if plants are hesitant to do much more than break dormancy. I blame it on the cool nights. Last night the temperature was down to 33 again and the same is predicted for tonight. There is life but plants are waking up with a yawn and a stretch and a touch to the snooze alarm.
Here are some photos. Check out the vibrant, cherry-red Rhubarb leaves! Each of the three photos were taken a few days apart.
 |
| Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum) |
 |
| Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum) |
 |
| Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum) |
Earlier, I thought my 'Morello Cherry' Lupine was dead. Then I saw leaves. It's alive!
 |
| Lupinus polyphyllus 'Morello Cherry' |
I love this fuzzy-leaved dwarf willow.
 |
| Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina |
 |
| Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina |
My Podphyllums are opening and looking fabulous. Apparently they like cooler weather.
 |
| Podophyllum pleianthum |
 |
| Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' |
Last fall I crafted a "fern table" with mostly objects and plants I had on hand. You can read about it
here. Well, it survived the winter and doesn't look too worse for the wear.
 |
| Fern table now |
 |
| Fern table last fall |
Interestingly, the red Sempervivums on the right of this container were not always so. Some of them change color with the cooler temps.
 |
| Sempervivums now. |
 |
| Sempervivums last fall |
Here are some wide shots of the garden, such as it is.
 |
| Bergenia in flower |
 |
| I took out the Boxwood at the left, bottom of the photo. |
 |
| The patio area |
 |
| I love these Saxifrages. (Saxifraga x urbium 'Aureopunctata') |
 |
| This is my still-dormant Butterfly Weed (Asclepias speciosa) area. |
|
 |
| Here it is from the other side. My son got me the rusty bed frame. Nice, huh? |
 |
| I've still got a bunch of river rock to distribute. So many projects. |
 |
| More projects. |
 |
| Clematis macropetala 'Markham's Pink' getting ready to pop. |
 |
| The HUGE Camellia bush in the front yard by the neighbor's property. |
 |
| Pretty spring color. |
 |
| While the native Shooting Star (Dodecatheon sp) is coming up. |
I'm a little worried about this new Clematis I purchased from
Joy Creek Nursery last summer. I'm still waiting with crossed fingers that it will show some signs of life.
 |
| Clematis montana 'Marjorie' |
Finally, do you ever plant something and wonder what the heck it is? I apparently planted this guy last fall and now I'm completely perplexed as to its identity. Any ideas?
 |
| Mystery plant! Do you know what I am? |
Thank you for visiting!
Your fern table still looks great! Did you leave it out all through the winter? I'm in love with that Ribes but, sadly, it's yet another of the many plants that has no apparent desire to make a happy home in Southern California. My guess is that the mystery plant is in the same family (i.e. something that doesn't care for SoCal).
ReplyDeleteHi Kris. Yes. I left the fern table out all winter. There are some plants that went dormant. And it was covered with leaf-fall from a nearby Japanese maple. It took some clean up, but there are more difficult gardening jobs. :)
DeleteThat Ribes is a wonderful deep color! I have a Semp that makes very big rosettes, that has the same habit of turning green in summer. Right now it's a thick carpet of red. My garden is taking its time waking up too. I hope your Clematis shows signs of life soon.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun? Thanks. I hope my Clematis makes it.
DeleteI'm guessing your mystery plant might be a fall blooming colchicum?
ReplyDeleteBingo. Thank you! I forgot that I planted it here. :)
DeleteOh my gosh: that huge Camellia bush! Be still my heart! You think your Rhubarb is slow; you should see mine--and we've dipped down into the teens at night. Ugh. Strange, super cold early spring. Your plants look healthy and lush, even if they're growing slower than usual. :)
ReplyDeleteCold here too again last night. I'm getting really tired of this.
DeleteI love everything about your garden! Especially the whimsical pieces.
ReplyDeleteHow large does the ornamental rhubarb get?
Hi Gail. The Rhubarb gets about three feet wide and tall. Thanks for your kind words.
DeleteHello Grace
ReplyDeleteVotre jardin est toujours magnifique, toutes ces plantes et ces décorations s'accordent merveilleusement ensemble, j'envie cette diversité
Comme vous nous attendons le printemps, en france il fait encore froid
Belle et douce journée