A decidedly different December

Seems like everyone in blogland has gone out to report on what's happening in their gardens this month with odd December weather happening in many parts of the world. We've been above normal in temps and rainfall and below normal in snowfall.

When you live someplace that gets quite cold and snowy every winter, a break like this is a pleasant respite. So nice not to have to shovel snow or drive on slippery streets.

From a gardening standpoint, however, it is a mixed blessing. I love looking out and seeing the green foliage of ferns, Hellebores (above) and Epimediums (top photo). But I am getting nervous about some of the other sights I am discovering in my garden. Here's a late December update from Zone 5 in Wisconsin.

We did have one heavy, wet snowfall of about five inches in late November. The weight of it flattened lots of things that are still green, but some like Carex sylvatica (above) and Lizula sylvatica 'Aurea' (below) continue to maintain their mounded silhouette.

A number of ferns are still standing but none look as fresh and sprightly as this ruffled hart's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium angustifolium). This has been growing in fairly dry shade for seven years but looks as happy as the ones I have growing in a much boggier spot.

This maidenhair fern (Adiantum venustum) looks as good in December as it has all year. So delicate looking and so tough in reality.

Arum italicum 'Ghost' goes dormant in the summer so spring and fall are its seasons. But I rarely get to see it like this: a clump full of marbled leaves and not hidden by other plants in the garden. 

Heuchera villosa 'Caramel' just keeps on cookin'. I'm still picking Heuchera and Heucherella leaves for small foliage bouquets.

Now for the December down side: Newly planted Grape hyacinths and year-old 'Magnet' snowdrops (below) are visibly pushing up.Since these are early bulbs I am hoping it all works out. 

Both my newest and oldest Hellebores have big buds fully above ground. They seem to be waiting to see what happens next and I am doing the same!

Comments

[rusty duck]

There are colder temperatures appearing in the forecasts here now.. I dread to think what impact they will have on plants that seem to believe it is March already. New shoots are swelling everywhere.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

This is one December for the record books. It will be interesting to see what happens. My poor lilac has big fat buds on it. I am almost afraid to look around any more. We will have to wait to see what will transpire.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Lisa and Jessica — ​We probably won't lose the plants but we may lose a lot of spring flowers. I guess that is the price we pay for the nice weather we've had.

[Beth @ PlantPostings]

Yes, indeed. I'm having similar feelings, experiences, and concerns. I imagine there are many more spring-blooming plants than I'm even aware of pushing through the soil--growth that isn't readily available because of a heavy mulch of Oak leaves. The mulch should help to keep the temperatures more moderate and consistent. I'll wait to peek until after this next cold snap ... and then I'll cover them again. Wishing us both garden luck in the weeks ahead!

[Les]

As much as I despise winter and the cold, I do wish we would have some. It is supposed to be in the 70's again today. We have had one light frost that knocked down the truly tropical, but only put most other plants into a sort of purgatory. Now the plants that normally bloom in late winter are either budded or blooming. I feel like a passenger in the front seat looking for a brake that isn't there.