Random Spring Stuff from My Garden

Snowdrops and crocus are finished, hellebores continue and, with the advent of warmer weather, new leaves are popping up everywhere.  Now, if I could only remember where I planted those tulips last fall.  Oh well, if they lived, they'll bloom one of these days. Let's take an after-work stroll around to see what's new.

Impatiens omeiana 'Silver Pink'

Podophyllum 'Red Panda'

Magnolia time!

Begonia pedatifida

Acer palmatum

Yellow violets

Peony 'Coral Charm'

 In the greenhouse, clivias are putting on  a nice show. 

I have several rhipsalis that are all different but were all sold with a label reading simply Rhipsalis.  It's a step above "assorted succulents."  Anyway, this one, which I think is rhipsalis salicornioides, has yellow blooms  that perfume the entire greenhouse for a couple of weeks. 

There are various echeverias and aloes blooming in the greenhouse as well but some of the flowers are hiding behind other plants at the moment.

Tillandsias did well this winter. 

Back outside - Tree peony. 

Some rhododendron purchased years ago at Heronswood for it's interesting foliage.  It's finally decided to bloom.  Since it's grown too large for the space, seeing this will make it easier to cut back nearly to the ground.

The vibrant pink color of these Acer palmatum leaves lingers until mid summer.

The main trunk broke under the snow load and I just noticed it.  Hope it'll survive.

Sinopanax formosanus  looking unfazed by the strange winter weather. 

 Agave 'Mr. Ripple'  looking a bit battered but the center is still firm so hopefully it'll be okay.

Daphne odora makes everything better, right? 

I hope spring is bringing you lots of happy surprises!

Happy weekend all!

Our Winter has been Fairly Mild (So Far.)

One mustn't count his chicks before they're hatched and it's certainly possible that cold air could move down from the north sometime during the next couple of months.  However, the long range forecast doesn't predict much in the way of really cold weather so fingers are crossed that the mild temperatures will continue.  Come take a look at some of the surprises in the garden.  Note, these shots were all taken outside, not in the greenhouse.

While most of the Tetrapanax leaves have fallen, the buds have remained erect.  If the mercury doesn't take a dive, will these buds bloom come spring?

While most of the podophyllum both in the ground and in pots have long since turned to mush, this one brave soul in a sheltered corner remains green.

Pelargonium blooms in January?

This hardy begonia remained green last winter as well. 

While the taller Musa basjoo (hardy banana) has a bit of brown around the edges of the foliage, these smaller and a bit more sheltered ones seem to think it's still summer.

While the Tillandsia usneoides hung in the trees doesn't look quite as green as that inside, it doesn't look dead either. 

Begonia 'Gene Daniels'  was left outside after I took a cutting to winter over.  Perhaps next year I'll have to give this one away.

Same with  Begonia luxurians.    

Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata' (Variegated Shell Ginger)   is supposed to be root hardy here but I've never seen it in the ground in a garden here.  Cold?  What cold?

Elegia capensis is putting out new shoots.  What's up with that? 

Tropaeolum speciosum

Sarracenias 

Pineapple sage, usually an annual, seems to like this warmish spot outside the greenhouse. 

 Tricyrtis, what part of  Herbaceous perennial don't you understand?  Not that I'm complaining, your foliage is lovely.

Begonia pedatifida started sprouting new leaves last winter that were cut down by a week of freezing temperatures.  It came back just fine and now wants to remain green this winter. 

Flower buds on the passion vine?  Sure, why not?

The smaller Osmunda regalis in the front garden changed color and died back a month or two ago.  This one, not so much.

Biggest surprise?  A brugmansia flower.  

So, while the gray skies can be a bit much, I'll take that nice protective blanket of clouds that keeps us from freezing, at least for a couple more months.   The plants certainly don't seem to mind.  How's winter treating your garden this year?

Far Reaches Farm With Friends

On August 10, Alison, Loree, and I set out on a Nursery\Garden adventure that included visits to  Valley Nursery, Windcliff, The Brindley Garden, and Far Reaches Farm.  Although rain was predicted for the day and umbrellas were stowed in the trunk of the plant mobile just in case, only a few drops hit us.  When we arrived at Far Reaches Farm, Kelly said that they'd just had quite a deluge.

After one of the driest summers ever, this duck was pleased with his newly formed puddle.  As you can see in the reflection,  blue skies returned just in time for our arrival making wandering the garden and nursery much more enjoyable. 

Lyonothamnus floribundus in bloom.  I'd seen one blooming in California but not in Washington.  My own specimen is quite large but has never bloomed.  At it's feet, we see another California native, Romneya coulteri.

 Rosa sericea ptericantha

The deeply-incised leaves of this Schefflera delavayi always make me a little weak in the knees. 

Another one growing out in the sunny part of the garden. 

Far Reaches  grows fabulous Crocosmia varieties. 

Eryngium maritimum had the plant lust o meter dancing. 

Another ('Big Blue?')

Artemisia versicolor 'Seafoam' 

Plants not in the sales areas.  Perhaps the plants you'll order are back there somewhere. 

I try very hard to avoid the tables of sun loving plants as my garden has so little of that to offer anymore.  Temptation always gets the best of me and some poor plants end up being dragged home to try and make do with what light is available.   For some reason,  there aren't any pictures of the delectable offerings in the shade houses.  Must be my hands were too busy grabbing pots.

Crocosmia and  blur Agapanthus, a great color combination!

Made in the shade. 

Podophyllum difforme

Lepisorus aff.

 Seed heads of Fritillaria acmopetala

 Berberis jamesiana.  Flowers are followed by this fruit which starts turning salmon from the top of the cluster down and then gets even more intense in color during the winter.  I finally got mine stuck in a sunny spot of ground after growing for a couple of years in a pot in the shade.  Can't wait to see it do this!

Breathtaking foliage combination!

So many treasures to see.  If you can't make it to the nursery,  do check out their mail-order catalog here.

Have a great weekend all and don't forget the Heronswood Fall sale on Saturday from 10:00 - 3:00, the last one of the year.