November beauties

I posted photos of some of these same plants on November first and they were still looking great this weekend. That's after a lot of cold daytime weather, with highs often ten degrees below normal and overnight lows down in the teens. We even had a little snow. But a couple of days that hit 40 degrees F. perked anything right back up that had been starting to languish. 

Rosemary at the top of the wall on the north side of the house.

This Rhododendron yakushimanum 'Yaku Angel' is loaded with buds, the most this shrub has ever had so I am pretty excited. 

This Helleborus niger typically blooms at Thanksgiving, but I think it is too cold for these flowers to actually open up this year. 

The entry for November 25th in my "Year in the Garden" calendar, said that this fern — Dryopteris erythorsora — is a "wintergreen Japanese shield fern." Here it is known as an autumn fern. The idea that there are summergreen and wintergreen ferns is a new one to me. I am guessing that is not the case in Wisconsin, though apparently that is how ferns are regarded in the U.K. 

Arum italicum "Ghost' is always looking its best just before snow arrives. It amazes me to see this come up as the weather cools but then it lasts and lasts. A rare treat for a gardener in my climate and zone.

Comments

[jenny]

It's good to have some green in the winter garden. Like you I was searching for flowers on my hellebore and I think I see some. It's been years since this plant flowered. I have been rather lazy about planting evergreens for winter color, rather depending on our almost endless growing season.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

I will have to go see if our Italicum is up. It grows in a part of the garden that I have to make an effort to go see. I don't walk past on a daily basis. I am surprised the Rosemary grows in your garden. I haven't found a variety that will withstand our winters.

[Peter/Outlaw]

Still looking green and happy! Your rhododendron will look amazing when it blooms.

[Linda Brazill]

Though I get tired of the snow and cold, I must admit I enjoy the break from physical gardening. We do have lots of evergreens but I wished i had planted more with bluish or yellowish winter foliage.

[Linda Brazill]

That rosemary is a temporary fluke. It definitely won't make it through the winter. My Arum is also in an out of the way spot that I have to make a special trip to see. I am attempting to grow a little seedling in a more visible spot. But the original location is more moist and I think that is part of its success.

[Linda Brazill]

That Rhodie is quite old and only blooms every other year and then with not that many flowers. I think I counted 30 buds so you are right; it will be a lovely show.

[Kris P]

All wonderful plants, though the only one that thrives in my climate is rosemary. In fact, mine is a little too vigorous and I spent a good deal of time this past weekend cutting it back. Neighbors across the street planted their entire slope with it and had to call in a crew to prune it. How I wouldn't love to trade some of my rambunctious rosemary for ferns!

[Nell]

Lately have been re-reading Henry Mitchell, who was a big fan of the marbled arum. It thrives in DC's dank yards, which are also free of snow for much of the winter. Has yours been in place long/happily enough to produce the colorful berries?

In the mid-Atlantic states and southward, it really does make sense to start garden design by planning for winter. Evergreen and winter-green foliage cheers up the scene immensely, drawing the gardener outside when conditions rise above miserable. We're not there today, with 20-mph cold winds and grey skies, but it's possible to enjoy the green sweeps of foxglove rosettes from the kitchen window. I know in April I'll have to pull half of them out to keep from crowding the peonies, but that's quick work, and a small price to pay for the winter lift.

[Nell]

Really looking forward to seeing that rhododendron in bloom.

[Erin @ The Impatient Gardener]

These little moments of green in a rapidly graying garden are so wonderful.

[Linda Brazill]

Of course we are all wishing we could grow rosemary in the ground, but your comment makes me realize I would much rather have ferns than herbs if I had to pick one or the other.

[Linda Brazill]

I read a lot of Henry Mitchell when I first started to garden (and Alan Lacy). I always remember Mitchell essentially said it was worth moving to a different planting zone to grow a particular rose he was gushing over.

I've only ever had the red Arum seeds a few times but they were pretty dramatic. I love foxgloves but have never had them be so prolific I had to pull some out.

Early on, Mark and I did a lot of planting and designing based on the fact that we would be inside looking at the garden for as much as 6 months of the year — depending how bad the winter was.

[Beth @ PlantPostings]

Looking good. I noticed the roses perked up with the warmer weather, too. Not for long, but it's still nice to see. It always amazes me how the Hellebores (even the spring-blooming ones) form their flower buds in late fall/early winter. Tough plants!

[Linda Brazill]

I was surprised that a bit of rain and warmer weather seemed to rejuvenate things to the degree it did. Now they are starting to fade again. Wonder if the 38 degrees forecast for Fri. will pump them up again?