Mid-Winter and A Little Web site Housekeeping

It’s formally mid-winter and we’re completely happy to report a reasonably uninteresting, common winter so far (after all I’ve simply cursed myself by saying this, however what the heck, I am feeling like a insurgent). So far as the backyard is worried, it is a sluggish grind till spring nevertheless it’s nonetheless fantastic to wander round and take within the foliage colours and textures. However make no mistake, there may be nonetheless so much to do! I have been busy planning our vegetable backyard and planting onion seeds in addition to dividing and propagating vegetation to promote for the upcoming spring season. Cleansing hoophouses and tending chickens (the women are laying!) are additionally amongst a few of our chores. Historical past has proven us that we’ll be in full-speed-ahead mode by March. So earlier than I turn out to be swallowed up into all of that, there’s just a little housekeeping to be accomplished. I believed I would mix that with a snapshot of a reasonably moist backyard right here at Chickadee Gardens on a uninteresting February day. 

I believe that wraps up the housekeeping. Now, again to our repeatedly scheduled program of winter photographs of the backyard. Right here we go!

A large shot of the labyrinth backyard with Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Golden Pillar’ (or ‘Donard Gold’, unsure which is which) within the background. This shot is hebe heavy with, from entrance to again, H. buxifolia, H. ‘Pink Edge’ and H. cupressoides. 

Arctostaphylos pumila and associates on the outer edges of the backyard. It is on the point of bloom and I can sense the hummingbirds know this.

The middle of the berm backyard with plenty of foliage coloration for February. The reddish foliage within the middle is Itea v. ‘Henry’s Garnet’ whose leaves usually persist by way of the winter into spring and summer season.

Agave neomexicana (is that this actually Agave parryi v. neomexicana? Does anybody know?) wanting dashing. These are mounded up with plenty of crushed gravel for drainage. Even nonetheless, the very backside leaves usually die again in winter.

At all times impressed with complimentary colours, the reds of the Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ look nice in the identical photograph as Hebe ‘Karo Golden Esk’ and their vibrant inexperienced foliage.

A large shot of a lot of the gravel backyard and the sting of the meadow backyard.

Glowing foliage of Ozothamnus ‘Sussex Silver’, a dry border shrub that has been most tolerant of neglect.

The southern fringe of the property

Trying up in the direction of the deck, the trail and steps are practically hidden by vegetation. Think about that.

One other dry border scene with very differing foliage varieties. Arctostaphylos ‘John Dourley’ has reddish tints to new foliage whereas Brachyglottis greyi has very silver, cool foliage. Let the mingling start.

My backyard shed and surrounding beds.

Erica darlyensis ‘Kramer’s Rote’ – many of the different heathers are just a little behind from years previous, simply beginning their lengthy bloom cycle.

Clematis cirrhosa ‘Wisley Cream’ is unquestionably delayed. Normally starting blooming in November or December, its buds are simply now getting giant sufficient to open. That is the one totally opened flower on the vine. 

One other of my many winter tasks is cleansing out my photograph library so I’ve come throughout many photographs the place I scream “oh my gosh have a look at this!” to FM. That is from June 2020 and whereas it isn’t an enormous distinction, I do word the vegetation have all grown fairly a bit.

Right here it’s right now, the phormium having placed on plenty of weight in addition to the Arbutus unedo ‘Compacta’ behind it. The foliage coloration of Chamaecyparis ‘Heatherbun’ is starkly totally different from summer season to winter. I like earlier than and afters. 

This earlier than and after goes from fairly spring foliage of final Might to what it appears like in February. That is within the shade backyard when Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’ was holding court docket.

Identical place as seen in early February. Nonetheless some curiosity there nevertheless it goes to indicate how a lot these deciduous perennials add to the backyard.

Candy little evergreen and silver Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Variegatum’ with Carex conica ‘Snowline’ make me smile. Not unhealthy for February.

We had been generously given two giant vegetation from a pricey backyard consumer and good friend who rescued them from neighbors who moved overseas. I am happy to have added a good-sized Schefflera taiwaniana right here and an equally giant unknown eucalyptus in one other a part of the backyard. Thanks, Jackie!

Spongy soggy inexperienced moss makes me completely happy.

Stems from Aruncus dioicus remained standing this yr, I like the impact.

Our native sword fern, Polystichum munitum, will get ratty in winter however they really look fairly nice this yr. These had been principally right here once we moved in however we have added extra and allowed them to multiply, making a form of floor cowl for beneath fir bushes.

Particulars – Ophiopogon ‘Nigrescens’ paired with that very same Carex ‘Snowline’

Holboellia coriacea, an evergreen climber is gaining dimension climbing up a redbud.

Closing out this submit with a parting shot of FM hanging out with Pixie whereas he’s being a hen shepherd. These hens, all 18 of them, are fairly spoiled. Not solely have they got their very own super-deluxe coop, they’ve 1/3 of an acre of their very personal open, ethereal backyard to destroy. Even nonetheless, we allow them to out of their enclosure a few instances a day to (what, get contemporary air?) eat discipline grass and seek for bugs within the orchard. They LOVE it and scatter about in 18 instructions as in the event that they had been on the journey of a lifetime. FM walks round with a bamboo follow information them and surprisingly, they obey FM. After 20 or so minutes it is time to herd chickens. Oy. The life we lead. At the very least they’re giving us eggs, fairly a shock as they normally take the winter off (we do not gentle the coop to present them a pure break of their egg laying). So, we’re promoting at $245 a dozen. KIDDING. However actually in case you determine how a lot natural hen feed prices, it isn’t far off.

That is a wrap for this week at Chickadee Gardens. Thanks a lot for studying and commenting and subscribing! Thanks in your persistence whereas I wrapped my head round fixing the subscription situation. My head tends to be within the grime. Woo hoo! Comfortable gardening every person.