Clematis Love

Although there are people here in Oregon who are lamenting the lack of rain, I'm kind of glad the torrents are holding off a little while longer. It gives me a chance to enjoy the reblooming Clematis. No waterlogged petals here! 

Clematis 'Ville de Lyon'

C. 'Venosa Violacea'

C. 'Polish Spirit'

C. 'Pagoda'

C. 'Julia Correvon'

The Chinese Foxglove, (Rehmannia elata) continue to pump out blooms!

Rehmannia elata

Aren't you all loving our Asters, right now? Are you calling them by their new and "improved" name, Symphytotrichum yet? It's taken me several days just to figure out how to pronounce it. 

"Sim-fy-oh-TRY-kum"

Okay, I guess that's not too terrible.

My garden definitely didn't need another Aster but I couldn't resist this double, deep purple one I saw at a nursery last week while looking at bulbs. 

Newbie Aster--Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Marie III"
Hopefully there's still enough yellow fluff for the honeybees.

Argyranthemum 'Comet Red' (Sorry it's blurry.)

Callirhoe involucrata is still pumping out a few blooms.

Next spring I will be sorry for letting my 'Painter's Palette' Persicaria bloom.
But it's so perty!

Last week, my daughter and I found another trough for sale at the Corvallis Habitat for Humanity ReStore. 

SCORE!
I think it's ideal for holding more veggies next year.

The hot summer was kind of brutal to this Acanthus so I couldn't resist take a photo of the new, luscious foliage. 

Acanthus mollis

We're still getting lots of strawberries.

Strawberries, 'Tri-Star'

And finally....

Miscanthus at dusk...

Take care my sweet garden peeps!

What a Soggy Mess!

In the past week, we've had a lot of rain. And a pretty strong wind storm too. Despite the weather drama, I have been able to sneak in time to get things planted. I still have more to do, of course. Don't we all? 

On Thursday, garden buddy Carol and I went to our local nursery's fall sale. Wow, talk about good stuff. 

Among other things, I bought this huge 'Peppermint Swirl' Hydrangea. 

Look at the flecks of darker pink and white. I love it. 

After losing one of my Daphne odora to last winter's nonsense, I was happy to find this $5.00 replacement!
Yes five bucks for this beauty. Daphne odora 'Mae-jima'. 

I just love the fuzzy-wuzzy look of my Chenille Plant. (Acalypha pendula 'Firetail')

I know I keep showing photos of my Fuchsias but I LOVE them. 

This NOID Fuchsia has never looked better. 

Geranium 'Elke' decided to put out one last blossom. 

Mimulus x aurantiacus 'Cherry' 

A water-soaked Honeysuckle blossom

STILL blooming, Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising' 

My Cup and Saucer vine is also still blooming. 

As are my Alstromeria. Can you believe that?

Rain-soaked and leaning, Salvia 'LaTrinidad Pink' is a trooper.

Arbutus unedo usually starts blooming in December but this year it started in September and is still going strong.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' is happy. 

My Tetrapanax didn't get quite as tall as I wanted but that's okay. 

There are lots of new leaves on my Acanthus mollis. 

Red berries on my Skimmia japonica. 

Cotoneaster microphylla has berries too. 

"Welcome" is such a cliche but when I saw this sign for two bucks I bought it. 

Reality check

Finally, a very blurry photo of a Canadian geese fly-over. 

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!