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| Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' |
It's 3 for Thursday, the any three things meme started by Cindy of
From My Corner of Katy. This week, I'm looking back at New Year's Eve 2010, when the temperature soared to over 50F/10C and it rained, making all the beautiful, insulating snow disappear. I will admit that it was nice going outside with only a sweat jacket on instead of a winter coat, but I worry about the garden now that the cold has returned, but the snow has not.
Here are just a few of the plants I've not seen for several weeks. Above is the blackened foliage of
Baptisia against the backdrop of little bluestem,
Schizachyrium scoparium.
My favorite evergreen native plants are the
Hepaticas.
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| Hepatica nobilis var. acuta |
This is the more robust sharp-leaved hepatica,
Hepatica nobilis var. acuta, formerly known as
Hepatica acutiloba for the pointed leaves. This particular plant retains its green color, while the other sharp-leaved hepaticas in the garden turn a dark wine. I'd love to know why this plant is aberrant. It's the healthiest and most robust of them all and was either a division or a seedling of one of the other plants.
The following image has been subject to photo manipulation.
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| Cornus alba 'Variegata' |
I took the top branch of the red-twigged dogwood and moved it lower in the photo, then cropped it, to yield a better composition. These dogwoods aren't in the best place to show off their glowing red branches, but I can't figure out anyplace better for them, so they will remain overshadowed by the
Thujas. They really would be better by themselves in full sun, where the branches can contrast with snow.
11 comments:
Hi MMGD,
(Did I get that right?)
I enjoyed your photos. I am partial to the baptisia. What you did in the last one is cool.
Happy New Year! I am so ready for spring, but, like you, I'd like the snow to stay on the ground awhile. We haven't had much this year.
I'm waiting for a melt to see if there's a chance of putting out some raised beds for some early sowing. Audacious and potentially reckless? Possibly.
Some lovely contrasts, especially in the top photo.
Lucy
Love that Baptisia....that dark, almost black, foliage is so striking!
Hoping the snow returns~Cornus does look wonderful against it~But, more importantly~the garden needs a snuggly blanket! gail
I'm concerned about the cold temperatures without snow. Hopefully we get some garden insulation soon!
I don't know about the Chicago area, but in Toronto we frequently have a cold, snowless January. It isn't the best, for sure, but we do manage to, if you'll forgive me, weather it. Enjoyed your three.
Expert manipulation on the dogwood photo! I love the way you have found beauty in the wet and snow-free winter garden. It is all too easy to get depressed at the sight of all that blackened foliage and dampness.
Wow, wow, wow! Love the pictures of the Baptisia foliage and the Red Dogwood. Thanks for joining in on 3 for Thursday! (The verification word is defects ... this worries me.)
The baptisia foliage is gorgeous! All our snow melted last week, too, and with the temperature at 10 this morning, I hate to say it, but a little snow for garden insulation would be nice.
Sue - hang in there, I have a feeling it will not be an early spring this year.
Susan - life is risk, be audacious!
Thanks, Lucy!
Scott - the old Baptisia foliage looks remarkable good black and dead, unlike most of the blackened foliage around here.
Gail - snuggly at 32 degrees is a funny thought, but compared to -6, it does sound warm.
ROR - I'm very skeptical about further snow cover.
Helen - we haven't had a snowless January in a few years, and I lost quite a few plants after that one.
Plantalicious - I can always manage to find some beauty in a garden.
Cindy - LOL!
Rose - it's funny how becoming a gardener gives you a new perspective on snow.
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