Believe It or Not

Here it is, the middle of December. Despite an ice storm last week, I've still got a few flowers hanging on. Granted the temperatures didn't drop that low, just barely enough to freeze the pouring rain onto bare tree branches. But it was interesting. 

The following day, it melted and my plants are no worse for the wear. However, we have more cold weather coming later this week. Boo!

Here's what's going on. 

The final flower on this Rehmannia (Chinese Foxglove) is looking a bit tattered. Oh I forgot to mention that we had hail yesterday too. 

Rehmannia elata

This Geranium flower is also a bit tattered. I wonder if the bud will bloom before the cold snap.

Geranium 'Jolly Bee'

Despite the weather, I still have two summer-blooming Clematis hanging on. The C. Venosa Violacea typically has much more purple but this one is pretty, I think.

Clematis 'Venosa Violacea'

I bought this C. florida sieboldii in September. It had buds so I let it bloom and it just keeps on. 

Older bloom of Clematis florida sieboldii

Newer blooms of Clematis florida sieboldii

I purchased this dainty small-flowered rose bush last summer. It's been in bloom nonstop since then. The flowers are dime-sized in diameter--tiny and sweet. I've got it under the protection of my patio roof. 

NOID  Rosebush

Fuchsia 'Olympics Sunset'

My Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) shrub is loaded with buds! A few flowers have opened early but oh boy do I have a fragrant fest in my near future. 

Chimonanthus praecox

I was a little lax in getting my slug bait down, as evidenced by this poor Hellebore. But, it has buds!

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow'

More buds!

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow'

But more importantly, the foliage, look at the foliage!

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ruby Glow' foliage

My green-leaved Daphne odora has buds too!

Daphne odora

And check out the tiny flowers on this Heather.

Erica carnea 'December Red'

 And tons of buds on this Viburnum.

Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn'

Check out the reluctant buds on my Tetrapanax. It will be interesting to see how they respond to the cold weather. I hope they'll bloom so the winter bees and hummers can have a treat.

Tetrapanax papyfifera 'Steroidal Giant'

My daylilies are really messed up. Look at the buds! This must be the result of a warm fall.

Hemerocallis 'Coming Up Roses'

Hemerocallis 'Final Touch'

I'm thrilled that last summer I got myself an evergreen Maidenhair fern. I'm going to keep it in its pot under the patio for this year. Then plant it out next spring. 

Adiantum venusum Himalayan Maidenhair Fern

The Beesia is blushing...

Beesia deltophylla

Although surrounded by dying deciduous neighbors, my Schefflera looks happy.

Schefflera delavayi

I'm in love with this Farfugium. Look at those leaves! 

Farfugium japonicum 'Crispatum'

And this Fatsia:

Fatsia japonicum 'Spider's Web'

Here you can see what the 32 °F did to my hardy banana.

Musa basjoo ~~ Before

Musa basjoo ~~ After

Finally, a photo of my patio pond. There is a large Japanese maple that drops a ton of leaves here. I was finally able to get out and gather them. Now I can look outside and not be nagged by that mess.

Patio pond

I hope you're enjoying your garden. 

New Plants!

I am ashamed to admit this but, well, here goes. I have really gone nuts with plant purchases this year. And why not? There are so many cool nurseries to visit and each one has its own special must-haves. How is a gardener to resist? 

I'm really excited about this plant. Check it out.  

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty' has been on my radar since the first time I "spotted" it growing outside the main pavilion at Dancing Oaks Nursery years ago. However, usually I'm so caught up in a spring flower frenzy when I'm there that I forget about it. 

Well, my sister and I took a drive to Nowlens Bridge Perennials last Saturday and dang if Dotty didn't jump right into my hot little hands!  

Part of the allure was knowing that I already had a "spot" picked out for it. That also helped justify the cost which I'm not going to reveal here because most people already think I'm a little nutty.

If you haven't been to Nowlens Bridge Perennials, you really should go. Owner Donna is a kindred spirit with equal parts friendliness and plant knowledge. And her inventory is amazing. Here are a few of the other jewels I was unable to resist. 

Clematis heracleifolia

I saw this shrubby Clemmy last August in the Village Green Garden in Cottage Grove. It was blooming then and a savvy commenter IDed it. Until now I hadn't seen it in a nursery.  

Mukgenia nova 'Flame'

Mukgenia Nova 'Flame' is a new (to me anyway) intergenetic cross between Mukdenia and Bergenia developed by Oregon's own Terra Nova Nurseries. With all of the attributes of both genera, you can imagine how popular this plant is going to be. My specimen is still smallish so I'll keep it in a container for awhile. Click on the Terra Nova link to see better photos.  

When Donna showed my sister and I a large pot of her Beesia deltophylla, I was immediately smitten and had to get one of my own. Looks like a classy, stepped-up wild ginger. 

Beesia deltophylla 

Aren't these leaves delicious? 

And when I spotted this Sophora prostrata 'Little Baby' I turned to mush. Look how healthy it is. It will need winter protection. I lost one a few years ago and I can't let it happen again. 

Sophora prostrata 'Little Baby' 

This plant is notoriously difficult to photograph. Here it is from the top.
It's still in its one gallon pot. Nice, huh? 

And last Saturday wasn't the only plant shopping I've done. Oh no. Here are a few more new acquisitions.

Oenothera pallida "White Evening Primrose" 

I found this White Evening Primrose on Annie's Annuals' website. It was calling my name. This is the very first flowers. The plant was quite small when I got it but has grown quickly. It has a lot going for it: It's hardy, low-growing and has white, fragrant flowers that last all day. You can see Annie's photos here. 

In early June my sister and I visited another nursery, Secret Garden Growers also on the Cascade Nursery Trail. One of the plants I bought was a, then, very small Hibiscus. Here it is now.

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Southern Belle' 

My southern Belle friend Anna Mullins in Texas grows these big-flowered Hibiscus so I've gleaned as much cultivation information from her--full sun, lots of water. Bazinga! 

Well that's all the newbies for now. Oh wait. This rose is new and is putting out a luscious cluster of flowers again.

Rosa 'Adelaide Hoodless'
Thank you to the commenter who IDed it for me. 

Two little Zinnias among the California poppy foliage

My hardy banana (Musa basjoo) has really gone to town this year.
Notice the neighbor's bamboo behind the fence. 

This must be the first year for this hollyhock to bloom.
I can't remember ever having a nearly black blossom. Cool, huh?

Oh wait. One more newbie. The darkest Sedum ever is Sedum 'Touchdown Teak.'
I'm excited to see the blooms. 

 And finally, a few random garden shots.

Keep cool and garden on.