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| the last of the Chrysanthemum 'Sheffield Pink' |
With the flip of the calendar to December, it's now meteorological winter, but some plants refuse to acknowledge this fact. While this is standard procedure for the mum, and not a complete surprise for
Geranium 'Bob's Blunder',
it is unusual for
Campanula persicifolia 'Telham Blue'.
There even are a few buds coming along.
Demonstrating the impact of microclimates,
Sutera a/k/a
Bacopa continues with a profusion of blooms in the front porch pot.
The
Sutera in a container on the front walk, just a few feet away, has already given up the ghost. This is the first time I tried this annual. Its incredible cold-hardiness has earned it a place in next year's containers.
But what is most strange about this year is evident from the following photo, in an existential problem sort of way:
note the complete absence of willow leaves. For the first time in recent memory, the weeping willows by the retention pond dropped all their leaves before snow covered the ground. I was able to rake them up, to the benefit of the back lawn. This pleases me greatly, as the sight of willow leaves on top of the snow just grates.
The last of the mulch has been spread, the ground is starting to freeze, and this week's forecast calls for lows in the 20sF every night. It's time to turn to indoor gardening and getting ready for Christmas.
I love that the same garden is different every year, with new surprises for me. Sometimes the surprises are more in the nature of a cold shock, but at least it's never boring. I wonder what next year's garden will bring?
8 comments:
Quite extraordinary, those late bloomers, the green, perfect lawn and the photos! Well done, MMD!
It is always interesting to see how different each season is from year to year...and how different plants react. I've found there's really not hard rules as to when plants will go dormant. I've even noticed that the Sedums (like Matrona) have already formed little buds at soil level...I don't remember that ever happening before! Love 'Bob's Blunder', must find some for next year!
We never know what next year's garden will be like, but we are always ready to find out.
Yes, it's been the most pleasant autumn I can remember here in the Midwest--from beginning to end. That is interesting about your Willow trees. I noticed recently that the Willow down the street still had its leaves, too. And we still don't have snow. It will happen soon enough, though. I hope you'll join in the "Lessons Learned" meme now live on PlantPostings. Happy December!
Yes, the garden responds to the weather in different ways every year. Right now my garden is nearly afloat. Record rain after a droughty fall. I too have bacopa still blooming. Every hardy plant is still green which seems a stretch. It is nice to have some green still in the garden though.
The lawnette and surrounding garden look wonderful. Glad your willow leaves cooperated this year. This is the first year that all of our trees are bare before January. I do believe that our autumn weather was switched. gail
I love your little lawn. Yes, it's officially winter here too with a low of 20F or something like that.~~Dee
I think you are the one who first introduced me to the concept of microclimates, MMD. Your December blooms really illustrate what that means--nothing in my windswept garden is blooming anymore!
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