My Pond was a Mucky Mess

Happy 2019 to everyone. 

As weather and time permit, I've been able to putter in the garden, tackling the few winter projects that really need doing. For instance, the outer pond in early January needs an overhaul now because soon the newt and frogs will be laying their eggs and I don't want to disturb them.  

For reference, here are a few summer photos of this pond. As you can see it is swallowed up in plants which means I'll need to do some thinning out as well as refresh the stagnant water.

The water is completely covered with waterlily pads.

I was so pleased with the flowers on my pitcher plant.

Parrot's Feather, shiny Water lily leaves, and a ridiculously large and expanding clump of Juncus patens.

What is the point of growing Water lily plants if you can barely see the flowers when they bloom?

The pond is to the left of the Japanese Blood Grass.

Finally, my clump of Pickerel Weed was happily blooming last summer. (Pontaderia dilatata)

Now for the muddy winter mess. This was yesterday after I had already gotten rid of the Juncus, cut many of the edging plants back and scooped about half of the water out.

Mud and roots must be a foot deep!

On the right is my scooping bucket. I've gotten most of the gunk out and I'm refilling it with fresh water.

I wanted to leave some muck in there so it will remain a wildlife habitat. Such a fine balance.

I used this net to gather up the free floating leaves and such.

Here, the water is full. I purposefully left some of the green Juncus blades because the frogs attach their egg sacks to them.

So much better!

In other news, here's a few highlights of the rest of the garden. 

'Sunshine Blue' Blueberry plant.

Geranium palmatum foliage, looking lovely despite several light frosts.

Arbutus enedo flowers, hummingbird food!

Dwarf Nandina looks so lush and vibrant, a stalwart winter interest plant.

A Gardenia flower ready for spring.

Clematis cirhossa var. purpurescens 'Freckles' still going strong

Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn'

Melianthus is looking so good this year.

Pelargonium 'Filbert' is still blooming. I've covered it with a blanket three times so far during cold nights.

Fuchsia 'Neon Tricolor' also covered during the brief cold snaps.

One of my favorite new containers.

Look at all the little flowers on my Chimonanthus praecox!

So fragrant!

Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance'

Daphne odora

Helleborus getting ready to bloom.

Oxalis crassipes 'Rosea' fixing to bloom.

And there you have it. It's winter but so far it's mild. Let's hope it stays that way.

Little Signs of Spring

WITH THE SNOW FINALLY A THING of the past, I was able to traipse through my garden without getting icy snow inside my shoes. What a pain. I live in western Oregon for a reason. Snow is relatively rare. Or at least it used to be. If two major snowstorms every winter is going to be the new normal I'm going to have to do some serious readjusting.

Over the weekend, while the rain and wind went on temporary hiatus, I began noticing little signs of life. 

My favorite is the coloration on this Sobaria sorbifolia.

The plant itself is not all that impressive yet. It's only two years old.

Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn' is blooming again! 

The Lungworts are alive. (Polmonaria 'Reginald Kaye') I still need to cut away the tattered old growth.  

Hellebore 'Hot Flash' is almost there. 

But as you can see, the plant is not all that impressive. 

Petasities japonicus a is kind of an interesting plant. Because it can spread, I keep mine in a pot. I've been take photos every week or so to document the bud progression. 

These are the flower buds, which bloom before the massive leaves bud out. Cool, huh?

Crokies! 

A Euphorbia blushing 

Blueberry plant getting ready to bloom. 

 And I found some interesting things in the moss and lichen department.

I don't know what these guys are growing on an old piece of raised bed wood. 

Aren't they cool? 

More moss

And finally, a Sedum that survived all the snow. 

Any life in your garden yet?