November Garden Magic

November certainly isn't among the favoirte  months for gardeners in this part of the world.  Many abandon venturing out into the sogginess until spring and warmer temperatures return and admire their gardens from inside instead.  With the days growing ever shorter, being home when it's light outside is a rare treat.  Over the weekend while exploring the garden I found some little happenings that made me smile.


Knowing nothing about mushroom identification, I have no idea what kind these are.  Many people dislike mushrooms growing in their gardens; I find them interesting and beautiful.

                     

The top of these reminds me of the caramelized sugar atop creme brulee. 

The cyclemen seem to be finished blooming for the year but now they put out this gorgeous foliage to entertain us all winter long.

Slightly frozen water droplets adorning Sedum palmeri which will also look beautiful all winter long.

And what's happening on this opuntia?  It looks like it's starting to grow.  Should I be worried?  Does the plant need to be inside?  Will the winter hurt this new growth?  There are several of these all over the plant.  What should I do?  I'm a cacti newbie.
 

Podophyllum delavayi, one of my favorite foliage plants will get a much bigger pot this spring.  As it is going to sleep for the winter, look at what it's leaving behind.

Lots of seed laden fruit which I'll throw on top of some soil-filled pots to see if they'll grow.

Waiting in the wings are next year's beautiful leaves.  Even in autumn, spring's promise is evident.  Hooray.

The passion flowers aren't in my garden but were flowering outside at Watson's  on the same day as I took the other pictues.  These made it through our first frost and will probably bloom off and on until we get a big freeze.  There was one on my back fence for years but it eventually gave up the ghost in a very cold winter a few years ago.


                          

My wish for you is that, even in this dark and cold time of the year, you can find some magic in your own garden (a nearby conservatory or nursery works too!)  to keep you going until spring!