First Frost

Last night was the official first frost in my 'hood. The thermometer mounted on a post in my covered patio recorded this:

It must have not have lasted very long because most plants are still alive and doing fine. I'll show you what I mean.

Clematis stalwarts: the florida species seem to prefer the cooler weather. This is the second year they've waited until fall to produce their second flush of blooms. The first being in spring.

Clematis florida 'Sieboldiana'

Clematis florida 'Alba Plena'

Diana, the blooming machine.

Clematis texensis 'Princess Diana'

Winter blooming Clematis cirrhosa 'Freckles'

 

Cyclamen hederafolium snuggling up to some fun rocks.

This Abutilon loves the cooler weather.

Abutilon

I was pleasantly surprised to see one last blossom on this dwarf dahlia.

 But the overnight low temperature was unkind.

 Something similar happened with my Impatiens tinctoria. I was so happy to finally see its first big fat bud. 

Impatiens tinctoria

 But the frost had other ideas. Poor thing.

I think the plant is toast.

 It looks like the frost may not have hurt the Alstroemerias--another blooming machine.

Alstroemeria 'Tricolor'

Some of my fuchsias are still putting out flowers.

Fuchsia 'Beacon Rose'

 

Fuchsia NOID

Fuchsia 'Steel 'n' Stars'

I am so happy with my two Correa plants. They've been blooming since September and they should go clear through February if ... well, you know the drill. I'll be watching the weather and I have my blankets ready if it gets too cold. I'm hoping the hummingbirds will find the flowers.

Correa 'Dusky Bells' backlit by sunshine

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

 One more photo:

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

Correa alba 'Ivory Bells' is not quite as showy as 'Dusky Bells' but the leaves are nicer so it's all good. Check it out.

Correa alba 'Ivory Bells'

This gorgeous scabiosa is still blooming. I see varying reports of winter hardiness. I hope it survives because I've got an Alstroemeria with similarly colored flowers I want to plant near it after I move the Echinacea that are in that spot now. 

Scabiosa 'Gelato Blueberry'

 This Argyranthemum is still blooming. It took a break during July's heatwave.

Argyranthemum frutescens 'Madeira Crested Merlot'

Chocolate Cosmos, the only chocolate I allow myself anymore.

Cosmos atrosanguineus

I'm happy to see my Schefflera blooming. It's the first time in its three year history in my garden so I'm a bit obsessed.

Schefflera delavayi

Come on bees. Wakey, wakey... there's nectar for you!

There are a few fragrant flowers on this daphne.  

 Daphne 'Eternal Fragrance'

d

And speaking of fragrance. Check out what I think will be the last flower on my gardenia.

Gardenia 'Frostproof'

Salvia 'Hot Lips'

I have been pleasantly surprised with how long my Cirsium has been in bloom. I thought after June it would be done. But here are more flowers trying their darnedest to bloom.

Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'

Ditto for the long-blooming Lewisia.

Lewisia 'Elise'

 The last of the raspberries... They were so delicious. What a bumper year for these jewels.

I bought some paperwhites to force. I'm hoping they'll be blooming on Thanskgiving. Do you think they'll be ready in two weeks? 

Finally I wanted to show you my little garden buddy. One of our resident Annas hummingbirds. S/he posed for me today.

I sure hope those fluffly feathers are keeping you warm, little buddy.

Thanks for visiting.

The Birdie is Back!

Remember last week, when I posted photos of my iced-over courtyard fountain and my concern that my little feathered visitors might not come back. Well, they did. I didn't get photos of the sparrows and chickadees but I did get this little sweetie. From my research, it looks like a female Anna's hummingbird. Anna's live here year-round. 

Do you see her?
 

Sorry for the blur. If I were to get any closer, she would have flown away.

That makes me happy.

There are subtle signs of life in the garden. Last summer, I bought this Heather (below) for a buck at a nearby nursery. It wasn't in bloom and had no label so I wasn't sure which variety it would be. I welcome the winter blooms.

Erica carnea 'December Red'  

Erica carnea 'December Red'

I'm very happy to report that, so far (knock on wood) the winter cold hasn't killed my Geranium palmatum plants. If all goes according to plan, they'll bloom this year. I grew them from seed last year and was hoping they'd bloom, but of the ten or so plants, not one of them did. But they're alive and they've got nice foliage so it's all good.

Geranium palmatum

When I Googled the sedum (below) I was surprised that there weren't more photos. Isn't this guy a beauty? I have it in a hypertufa trough on my covered patio and it is so happy. I got it from Secret Garden Growers last year. 

Sedum confusum 'Moonglow'

I already have lots of gray-leaved sedums but when I saw this pot at an estate sale for three bucks last November, I grabbed it.

Sedum spathulifolium 'Harvest Moon' (I think)

The Hellebores are fixing to bloom!

Helleborus foetidum

The Sarcococca is a little late this year. Usually it's in full, yummy-scented bloom by now. 

Sarcococcoa ruscifolia

This "Pepper Bush" has done really well for me. It's in a pot and sits on my covered patio during the winter. I love the bright raspberry-red stems and petioles.  

Mountain Pepper Bush (Tasmannia lanceolata) 

My photos don't do this Osmanthus justice. It also was a dollar in a small pot. Resistance was futile.

Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki'

The winter moss is alive and well.  Last winter's ice storm brought down big branches from my sweet gum trees. Here is one of the logs. 

Mossy log

Fungus

You gotta love that!

The garden is looking very sad. I am making slow progress with the clean up. Here is the patio pond.

Patio Pond

And here is the outer pond. I've cut back the Stipa gigantea to make it easier to scoop the yucky, submerged leaves. But I have to be careful because there are frog and salamander eggs. 

Outer pond

Outer pond

Mossy float

Insulators all in a row on a gently aging ladder

Are you noticing a teeny bit more daylight in the evenings? Spring isn't too far off. May your remaining winter days be full of hope and planning for the garden to come.