March(uary)
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It is bleak on the market, individuals!
I needed to title this put up Bleakuary, however properly, that is simply foolish. Marchuary is far more civilized.
I will spare you the somewhat uninteresting snow images that inevitably come up each winter; all of them look the identical plus they learn black and white. Blech. I need some shade, please, and a 50-degree day could be swell.
Whereas the snow has melted (we had round 9″ complete that caught round for 12 days), and likewise got here again on Wednesday the eighth (one other inch right here), there’s not a lot to see. As I simply suffered frost burn attempting to take images of the backyard (kidding, however not far off – we’re one thing like 20 levels beneath common currently), there are only a few pics this spherical. However I managed just a few. Vegetation are late! It is chilly! Nonetheless when it is 109 levels in August it’s enjoyable to look again on what I discovered fascinating in early March (and complain in regards to the warmth). Right here goes:
A blue shed and a vivid Erica ‘Kramer’s Rote’ are about as colourful because it goes round right here. The Hebe ‘Karo Golden Esk’ provides a little bit of a punch, too.
Birds have been hungry! All birds, together with the birds of prey. We had this Cooper’s hawk attempt to seize just a few hummingbirds, unsuccessfully. He then perched right here on the now lifeless Arbutus menziesii (sniff) and provides me the evil eye for scaring him off from our hummingbird feeders.
Evil eye
One of many solely vegetation that’s truly doing one thing is that this Ribes speciosum. I do notice this isn’t precisely the top of swoon-worthy images, nevertheless it’s what I’ve to work with.
Ribes sanguineum says no means am I popping out on this climate.
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Right here is identical plant taken March 16 final yr.
Helleborus foetidus flowers have braveness.
Pulmonarias wish to get going however have stalled. They have been at this stage for at the least a month.
Even the hellebores are shy. Hellebores! The Christmas rose, proper? How in regards to the Saint Patrick’s Day rose?
Some of the thrilling issues so far as shade is anxious proper now’s Erica ‘Rosalie’. It would not take a lot to get me fired up.
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Similar plant, photograph taken January 31, 2021. This yr the flowers are barely open and fairly pale nonetheless. A full six weeks late this yr.
The salix are simply starting to flower with their fuzzy grey blooms.
Not the very best photograph however this is identical tree, photograph taken February 10, 2018. That is far more typical.
I suppose my daffodils are arising.
Similar patch, very same time, final yr.
Rhamnus alaternus ‘Variegata’ as soon as extra leaning after plenty of snow. I do know it is going to perk up in time however a long term answer is that I’ve determined to plant one thing subsequent to it to assist it. Strategies are welcome.
I do have just a few astilbe vegetation within the backyard, though I neglect about them as a result of they love water and hate my backyard. However final yr they bloomed properly and I left the flowers.
Physocarpus capitatus, our native Pacific ninebark does have cool winter curiosity.
Hooray! My first lemon from my Improved Meyer lemon tree who lives within the greenhouse.
The hen home gourd crop was prolific this yr. I’ll make these into hen homes and promote some in addition to donate many to my favourite cat charity within the autumn. They take almost a full yr to dry earlier than you possibly can course of them, I’ve realized it is best simply to go away them out right here all winter and convey them into the storage round April.
The hebes have endured a lot nasty climate in my backyard. I can say with confidence which of them are completely hardy for me. That is one, Hebe ‘Purple Edge’, is though it did lose a few branches final yr in dangerous climate.
Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fireplace’ shines its brightest this time of the yr.
Phormium tenax ‘Atropurpureum’ not half dangerous contemplating the current climate.
Let’s verify in on Oscar, the Agave parryi var. truncata that has so many pups at his ft that he is gone from going through south to going through upright. These outer leaves have been severely mushy and broken final April after that heavy moist freak snow storm. He’s rising out of it from the middle and might be some time earlier than he is pristine (if ever), however that is okay. I am pleased with that.
Agave neomexicana seems fairly good, however there’s some blackening on its outermost leaves. I am not too involved, nevertheless, because the one at Pleasure Creek Nursery is gigantic and has been by many years of progress and storms and snow with little or no harm. It has glorious drainage and is south going through, as is that this one, which got here from Pleasure Creek – the identical plant.
Arctostaphylos ‘Austin Griffiths’ in one of many extra lush scenes proper now.
Closing out with Arctostaphylos ‘Austin Griffiths’ which by all accounts needs to be blooming. The buds are there, immature, tiny and staying closed awaiting hotter days. Vegetation are sensible.
Simply how late is our spring season right here in northern Oregon? Sean Hogan and I have been discussing this at Cistus Nursery the opposite day and he stated one thing round two months behind. I am positive that is true for a lot of however not all vegetation. All of my Arctostaphylos definitely are and Sean is among the many better of the arcto consultants on the market. Snows in California have certainly wreaked havoc for a lot of superb gardener pals there – I’d actually somewhat every part keep dormant till the chilly climate passes than have a freak snow kill newly fashioned leaves and flowers.
Sure, I’m complaining in regards to the climate – just a little tongue and cheek nevertheless it’s true. I attempt to reserve that for FM and the chickens and spare readers my foolish woes. Fact be instructed, I do know this may change rapidly and we’ll be scorching and dry quickly sufficient, however what will get underneath my pores and skin extra is that our shoulder seasons of spring and autumn appear abbreviated at finest the previous a number of years. So 60-degree April days with a light-weight breeze out of the south are few and much between. We go from winter to summer time and again once more. And so it goes. However we backyard on! Observing, having fun with, complaining and all. I lead a splendidly uninteresting life. Hooray for that.
That is a wrap for this week at Chickadee Gardens. As all the time, thanks a lot for studying and commenting, we do love listening to from you!
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