The State of Things

Hi Guys! I've been so busy with work and projects (and yada, yada) that I've neglected visiting the awesome blogs of my gardening friends. If you're one of them, please except my sincerest apologies. I'm going to make a point of getting around this week. I'm also going to get my bulbs planted. Hold me to both, okay? 

So the state of things. I took some photos yesterday. I purchased this very cool Hart's Tongue Fern last spring. I already have one in the garden but this one looked so perfect and the price was like $4 so it (and a bunch of other plants) came home with me. 

Hart's Tongue Fern Aspenium scolopendrium

I can't get enough of this Nandina. The foliage is so beautiful and will remain this way until the new foliage emerges next spring.

Nandina domestica 'Wood's Dwarf'

The photo below should give you an indication of what the state of things have been in my garden. The 25 degree F reading is the low temperature for Sunday night. Fortunately it's back in the 40s now. While many plants did just fine, there are a few that are looking pretty sad. 

One of my projects has been to organize and file the bazillion photos I've taken this year. I set aside a few of them to do a little "before and after" segment I'm calling, 

"Before and After." 

Musa basjoo -- BEFORE the temperature dip.

Musa basjoo -- After the temperature dip. Sad. And a tiny bit scary.

Variegated Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum 'Axminster Gold') -- Before

After... Slugs enjoy Comfrey as evidenced by the tooth marks.

Elephant Ears (Colocasia sp.) -- Before

And now. The upside is that the neighboring Geranium palmatum foliage looks okay.
The plant didn't flower for me this past summer so I'm hoping it will winter-over and bloom next year.

Bear's Breeches (Acanthus mollis) -- Before

Acanthus -- After. But it will recover in a few days.

Tetrapanax -- Before

Tetrapanax -- Now. Eeegads! 

The wet blanket plant.
(Side note: If you look closely, you can see that the English Laurel
is about half of what it once was. More on that in a future post.)

But things aren't too terrible in the garden, all things considered. Here's a few more random garden photos. 

The burgundy stems of a variegated shrub dogwood.
Cornus alba 'Argenteovariegata'

Between the stems and other plant detritus, you can see a frozen pond.

Last weekend we had sunshine. My Melianthus was soaking up.

Rosa 'Cinco de Mayo' -- a valiant effort.

Ditto for Rosa 'Carefree Spirit'

A sea of Japanese Maple Leaves...

The 'Polish Spirit' Clematis (on the far left) still has green leaves.

And so does Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Oops! Somebody forgot to protect the Digiplexis!

But I did get all of these guys moved under the patio.

And finally...

Winter's Simple Pleasures...

Take care and keep warm!

The Last Week of October? No Way!

It's really true that the older we get, the faster time swifts by. Despite the reality of the calendar, there hasn't been a frost yet and my garden is still doing its best to hold on to summer. I have to keep reminding myself to stop all toiling and enjoy the moment.

Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' leaning on Sedum oreganum

A single blossom of Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill'

Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill'

Dahlia 'Otto's Thrill' didn't start blooming until a few weeks ago.
The thrill isn't exclusive to Otto!

Dahlia 'Creme de Cassis' has really cool coloring. 

Volunteer Love-Lies-Bleeding growing with my fragrant! Nemesia.

A delightful surprise on one of my Stachys officinalis 'Pink Cotton Candy'

A few last flowers on my Hollyhock

Finally a few buds on my Climbing Aster Ampelaster carolinianus. 
I purchased this plant last fall so I don't know if this is normal behavior or not.
Anybody know?

 Garden shots:

This is where the pear tree once stood. I'm in the process of redesigning it now. Fun!
You could say this is the "before" photo. The after won't be published until next spring.

The south bed, with tired plants.

A very happy Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon' 

Just behind the uncharacteristically lush (for this time of year) Canna foliage,
is my burgeoning Gardenia 'Frost Proof' and behind that a blushing Nandina.

Here's another shot. In front of the Nandina is Hellebore foetidus already in bud.
I cast those cement leaves several years ago.

While the Hostas are looking very sad, this variegated Comfrey is still pretty chipper.
Symphytum x uplanicum 'Axminster Gold'

Here's a wider shot. Behind the plants is the area where the pear tree was.

Here's a shot from the far-north end of the garden. The closest raised bed is where I
grow my 'Fall Gold' raspberries. In front of it is an old water meter cover
 I found at the ReStore for a buck. It makes a fun stepping stone.
The shiny grate is another fun piece.

This hypertufa container was looking very sad so last July I gave it fresh soil.
It's responding very well.

And finally, a healthy clump of toadstools making a brief appearance
thanks to the recent rains.

I hope you all are enjoying the final fall days in the garden.

Craving Color

HOORAY! It's the last week of January and while summer's opulence is still months away, I'm sure glad I have my photos. I'm referring to them a lot right now, not just to feed my craving for color but to ponder design ideas too. 

Below are some of my favorites from last July. 

Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Coming Up Roses') 

Monarda didyma 'Raspberry Wine' 

Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' 

Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' and variegated Comfrey
(Symtyphum x uplandicum 'Axminster Gold')

Zip

Clematis viticella 'Polish Spirit' 

Hollyhocks

Thank you to each of you for your sweet comments. 

They mean the world to me.