Breaking Dormancy

This year it seems as if plants are hesitant to do much more than break dormancy. I blame it on the cool nights. Last night the temperature was down to 33 again and the same is predicted for tonight. There is life but plants are waking up with a yawn and a stretch and a touch to the snooze alarm.

Here are some photos. Check out the vibrant, cherry-red Rhubarb leaves! Each of the three photos were taken a few days apart.

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum)

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum)

Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum var. tanguticum)

Earlier, I thought my 'Morello Cherry' Lupine was dead. Then I saw leaves. It's alive!

Lupinus polyphyllus 'Morello Cherry'

I love this fuzzy-leaved dwarf willow.

Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina

Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina

My Podphyllums are opening and looking fabulous. Apparently they like cooler weather.

Podophyllum pleianthum

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Last fall I crafted a "fern table" with mostly objects and plants I had on hand. You can read about it here. Well, it survived the winter and doesn't look too worse for the wear.

Fern table now

Fern table last fall

Interestingly, the red Sempervivums on the right of this container were not always so. Some of them change color with the cooler temps.

Sempervivums now.

Sempervivums last fall

Here are some wide shots of the garden, such as it is.

Bergenia in flower

I took out the Boxwood at the left, bottom of the photo.

The patio area

I love these Saxifrages. (Saxifraga x urbium 'Aureopunctata')

This is my still-dormant Butterfly Weed (Asclepias speciosa) area.

Here it is from the other side. My son got me the rusty bed frame. Nice, huh?

I've still got a bunch of river rock to distribute. So many projects.

More projects.

Clematis macropetala 'Markham's Pink' getting ready to pop.

The HUGE Camellia bush in the front yard by the neighbor's property.

Pretty spring color.

More pretty spring color, flowering current -- Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Ribes sanguineum 'Pulsborough Scarlet'

Muscari madness

The grass widow (Olsynium douglasii) is almost finished blooming and producing seeds.

While the native Shooting Star (Dodecatheon sp) is coming up.

I'm a little worried about this new Clematis I purchased from Joy Creek Nursery last summer. I'm still waiting with crossed fingers that it will show some signs of life.

Clematis montana 'Marjorie'

Finally, do you ever plant something and wonder what the heck it is? I apparently planted this guy last fall and now I'm completely perplexed as to its identity. Any ideas? 

Mystery plant! Do you know what I am?

Thank you for visiting!

Sloppy, Soggy, Soupy and Saturated, Part II

Rain. It's just more and more rain. I am reusing a title I first used last March. The deliberate alliteration seems even more apropos this year. 

Before I show a few photos, I have a have to tell you what happened yesterday. 

I was puttering on the patio, when I heard something on the roof. My first thought was cat, but we don't have any outdoor cats anymore. My second thought was squirrel of which there are many. So I tiptoed over to the edge of the patio for a glimpse. As I looked up, I saw--a heron! And when he saw me, he couldn't have flapped his wings any faster. I'm not sure who was more shocked. I certainly didn't expect to see something that ginormous and I don't think he expected to see me interrupt his pond surveillance. Whew!

Plants are really taking their time breaking dormancy but slowly I'm seeing signs of life. The Star Magnolia is awake and blooming. 

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'

Looking up during a brief period of blue sky.

Little Violas reseed everywhere. This pale-flowered one is blooming below my dwarf palm.

I bought this little dwarf Salix (willow) it an informal plant sale two years ago. I love how fuzzy the leaves are when it leafs out.

Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina

And check out the fuzzy catkins too.

Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina

The purple and yellow Polygala is now blooming beside its partner in crime, the yellow one.

Polygala chamaebuxus 'Kaminski'

Polygala chamaebuxus 'Kaminski'

I'm really happy to see this 'Morello Cherry' Lupine come back. Last year I passed up the cheaper four-inch pots for this thickly rooted one gallon. What a difference! Look how happy it is. And yes, I've been diligent with the slug bait.

Lupinus x 'Morello Cherry'

Speaking of slugs and slug bait, um yes. 'Britt-Marie Crawford' Ligularia is also being watched closely. 

Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford'

This sweet little Korean Violet was a hitchhiker on my Ledbouria cooperi which pretty much died after the unkind winter of 2013-14. Like the aforementioned Viola, it too reseeds all over the place. But I don't mind. Those tiny, variegated leaves are really cute.

Viola koreana 

Last summer, I got this cute Lychnis offered by Far Reaches Farm. I was able to propagate it. One plant is in the ground, this one stayed in my little greenhouse where it grew and is blooming! 

Lychnis flos-cuculi 'Petite Jenny'

Chionodoxa 

This cute variegated Sedum is also looking good despite the rain.

Sedum ‘Winky’ 

Finally, we noticed a visitor sleeping on the heat mat in the little greenhouse. I'm sure he found some aphids to eat while he was there.

Permission to Brag

This time of year is all about enjoying the fruits of our labors, don't you think? I mean, what's not to love about a garden brimming with blossoms and buzzing bees? It seems like around the middle of August [at least here in the Pacific Northwest] things start on a downward turn so right now, at the end of July, things just beg to be enjoyed [and photographed]. 

 I'm psyched about my 'Morello Cherry' Lupine from Annie's Annuals. Purchased in May, this is its first spiky blossom. It's supposed to be a repeat, summer-long bloomer.

 This plant always makes me think of Sue, the Milkweed Queen. It just started blooming after a slow start. What do you think, Sue?

 Stachys monnieri 'Hummelo' Purple Betony is a veritable bee-magnet right now.

 Spiraea japonica 'Neon Flash' is flashing up a floriforous storm right now.

All of my 'Jolly Bee' hardy Geraniums are multi-bloominous!

 This Clemmy, 'Multi-Blue' has been in bloom pretty much non-stop since May.

 Veronica 'Eveline' or 'Sonja' I'm not sure which--is another bee-magnet.

 Finally, I thought I'd share a photo I took on Sunday of Silver Falls, Oregon. I hope those of you affected by this heatwave are finally seeing some relief. Cheers.