'Tis the Season

One of the benefits of getting older is how quickly time seems to fly by. Here it is, the week of Christmas, 2015 already! This means January is right round the corner and spring is in the not too distant future. Anyone who knows me is aware that in my world, July is the most wonderful time of the year, not December. But, because I understand and continue my efforts to embrace the live-in-the-moment concept, here are a few December moments in my garden. 

Melianthus major, typically with a glaucus-blue look is totally green next to Eucalyptus nicholli.
Go figure.

And speaking of green, the moss growing on this leaky birdbath looks painted on but it's for real.

And speaking of "painted on" um, yeah. Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web.'

This creeping Rosemary plant was an impulse-purchase last summer.
And skirted with the little yellow Sedum, in a vintage chicken feeder, it works! 

Lookie, a little blue blosssom!

Check out the color variability on this Hypericum androsaemum 'Glacier' 

This is the "After" photo, revealing the Semps after being liberated from a mushy
blanket of Star Magnolia foliage.

And here is the "Before" photo of this trough-ful of Sedums and Semps
waiting to breathe again.

In winter, it's the small things.

Sedum makinoi 'Ogon' looks fantastic (so far) this winter.

My hope is that growing Ice Plant (Delosperma 'Jewel of Desert Rose Quartz')
in a container will improve its chances of surviving our wet winters.

Here is a wheel barrow full of succulents. The black thing in the center is an old shoe
one of my daughters found for me.

This succulent container gets to live under the patio roof.

I love how Bergenia leaves blush in response to the chill in the air.
(A lot like us, right?)

For reasons that elude me, Golden Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium aureum)
pops up all over my garden. Very odd since I don't remember ever planting it.

Lamium peeking out from under the mess.

Parahebe perfoliata foliage always makes me smile.

Cyclamen hederifolium

And more Cyclamen

The first blossoms on my Wintersweet (Chimonathus praecox) are popping open.
Ooh the fragrance!
Unfortunately all my attempts at capturing it came out blurry so...

Here is a photo of last year's flowers to give you an idea of what's in store.

On Saturday, between episodes of pelting rain, I was able to get my patio pond cleaned out. Here is a glimpse at one of the Japanese Maple leaf piles waiting for a trip to the compost.

Zip the cat navigates his way around the mess

Now, when I look out the dining room, I see this. So much better. 

Scenes like this help me endure the dreariness of winter.

Finally, in the spirit of the season, I have two photos, taken when my daughter Beth and I

entered a thrift store a few days ago. 

For years, I've had a fascination with vintage pedal cars. When I saw this

reproduction, I had to get a photo.

Seconds later, this toddler ran over to it and knew exactly what to do.

His excitement for this shiny toy was so delightful to watch.

When I showed this photo to my daughters they told me that because I didn't get permission from the parents
to publish it, I needed to obscure the child's face or risk going to jail
for a minimum of twenty years to life.
What killjoys! 

Wishing you a safe, warm and joyful holiday.

Love to you all!

Looking for Beauty

At this time of year, beauty is a little more difficult to define and even more challenging to locate. It requires an open mind and a willingness to ignore the ugly, leafy decay that dominates the garden. I have a feeling this is going to be one of those foggy winters where the sky is shrouded by a milky mist for days on end, especially up here on the hill. Although it can be a tiresome contributor to my winter blues, it's comparatively benign weather and I prefer it over the many manic alternatives. 

Looking for beauty.... 

The November frost didn't completely kill my Brachyscomb. 

My Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa 'Golden Lantern') is still hanging on too. 

My Rosa 'Rhapsody in Blue' tried valiantly to bloom until November's frost halted its attempt.  

But there is promise of things to come. Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata' is fixing to bloom in a few months. 

Ditto for my Hellebore foetidus.

And Hellebore x sternii 'Hot Flash' ... hopefully. 

But until the flowers appear, I'll make do with what remains. 

I'm not quite sure why my strawberry plants are blushing so vibrantly but I'm not complaining. 

Rosa 'Cinco de Mayo' is happy too. 

Not to mention Spiraea thunbergii 'Bridal Wreath' 

And my Eucalyptus nicholii survived last winter's single digit temps and grew back from the roots to over five feet.
I love the contrast between the maroon stems and the bluish foliage.  

The Acanthus mollis isn't looking too terrible. 

Neither is the Yucca filamentosa 'Ivory Tower' 

The Cyclamen hederafolium foliage is very happy despite the surrounding leaf litter. 

Leaves are everywhere. Except in the birdbath--now that I cleaned it. 

And my patio pond. So much nicer now.  

Are you able to get any gardening done? 

Snow!

Winter is not messing around this year. The National Weather Service website predicts a low temperature of -3 tonight. For those of you living in Alaska, (Christine) or The Great White North, (Barry, Joy, Barbara) or Nadezda in Russia, this is just everyday stuff. Or even my sister in Baker City on the eastern side of Oregon who endures horrific winters with style and grace. But not western Oregon. Our average low temperature is 35 degrees F. Although we're classified as USDA Zone 8, most winters never go lower than Zone 9--below 20. So this is highly unusual weather. 

I heard on the news tonight that today the average high temperature for the continental United States was 14. That's pretty freaking cold for all most of us so I'd better quit my whining.  

At 2:00 PM my lovely, rusty thermometer on my covered patio read 38 degrees.

At the same time, the thermometer on the outskirts of my garden read 39. 

This is what our street looks like. Packed snow. 

And now, on to the backyard where all the fun is. I have a ton of photos so I'll keep my comments brief.

May I present the Ghost of Banana's Past

Not much prettier close up. 

Beyond the fence you can see down into the Willamette Valley.
Before my neighbors planted these trees we had a gorgeous year-round view.
Now it's visible only during the leaf-less winter months. 

An attempted snowman. 

The birds have been enjoying the Cotoneaster lacteus berries. 

I am not a good bird photographer but I lucked out today. 

They were waiting for me to get lost so they could resume their feast. 

Here you can see two robins drinking the melted snow run-off from the gutters. Adorable. 

Fortunately, so far the hummingbirds are doing okay. If you look closely
you can see one sucking on a Arbutus flower. 

My Kale 'Lacinata' is looking very sad. 

Notice the icicle on the right? There are lots of those. 

There's a solar light under there. 

The sign reads: "There's always thyme for flowers." 

The aesthetic state of my Tetrapanax is not good. 

Viburnum bodnantense 'Pink Dawn' trying to bloom. 

Behind the low hedge is Feijoa sellowana “Pineapple Guava."
So far it looks to be doing okay. 

A close up of the Felojia. It looks perky.  

Below that dollop of snow is a cluster of red-hued Hens & Chicks.

Another icicle. 

My Carpenteria californica looks no worse for wear. 

A Rosemary and Phygelius are also no worse for the wear. 

Scott, this grass makes me think of you.
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Sarabande’ 

Check out all the plump buds on my
Chimonanthus praecox “Winter Sweet” 

Here is a close up. Aren't they cute? 

Under this pointy tent is my Melianthus major.
I have no idea whether it's dead or alive. 

Eucalyptus nicholii or Willowleaf Gum is also looking good,
despite of the cold. 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. 

Fatsia japonica is looking sad but alive. 

Throw me a blanket, it seems to be saying. 

Keep warm everyone!