I Didn't Shiver Today!

For the first time in a week, I didn't shiver when I went outside today. I got some photos during one of those shiver sessions: 

There was snow!

Not the kind of deep snow that fell up north but enough to remind us that it's still winter.

My courtyard fountain is apparently the coldest of all my water features. Here it is right before things started to warm up.

 

Weather wuss that I am, that is all the photos I took of the snow.

I don't think the low temperature dropped below 28 degrees so my plants did just fine, even the tenders I keep on my covered patio. I put a blanket over some of them, and also my Melianthus. It is still a bit bent out of shape but alive. 

Melianthus major

On the aforementioned covered patio, Fuchsia 'Tricolor' is blooming. This is a baffling plant. It didn't bloom at all during the summer months and just a few in the fall. I don't mind though. Winter bloomers are very special.

 

Fuchsia 'Tricolor'

I'm always surprised how early the Grass Widow (Olsynium douglasii) sends up its tiny blades.

Grass Widow (Olsynium douglasii)

There are plants that would be blooming now if it hadn't been for that cold snap. For instance my new Prunus mume 'Kobai' (not pictured). And of course Daphne odora. 

Daphne odora

And this Rosemary in my front yard. See all those buds? And the sweet little friend? I noticed not one but two bright red lady beetles sleeping on those fragrant stems.  

Rosemarianus officinalis and friend

 And we can't forget our little Dougie-the-birdseed-stealer. (Douglas Squirrel)

This duo are regular visitors to my front yard. They've come to expect the apples we toss to them. On this visit I had my camera handy. (All of those brown balls are from my Sweet Gum trees.)

That about does it for this go around. Spring is not far off now and I'm SO ready! 

Thanks for visiting.

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.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Well, not anymore. But last week it really looked like Christmas, as evidenced by the photos.

Berries from Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'

Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki'

Leaning Myrica californica (Pacific Wax Myrtle) branches

Euphorbia stygiana

Melianthus major

Allium schubertii already up!

Carrots wintering in the trough

The snow is gone now. Time for spring.

I wish.

Love to you all.