Hangin' on

The temperature hit 40°F. so I decided to take a stroll through the garden to see how it fared after our multiple snowfalls and unseasonably cold temperatures. Most of the snow is gone but a surprising number of deciduous trees and shrubs still have a lot of leaves hanging on, like this Calycanthus 'Hartlage Wine'.

Most of the foliage has fallen from this Hammamelis virginiana so its lush crop of flowers are visible. 

But its nearby partner, Hammamelis vernalis, has all its leaves. This year they turned a rather sickly color rather than their usual attractive yellow. 

Our little larch did finally color up beautifully but it is still holding its needles. 

A branch of Sambucus 'Black Lace' arcs over the Boxwood and Yew spheres. I don't think I've ever seen it with so many clusters of dark dead foliage hanging down like this before. 

This is the only clump of Hakonechloa that is still looking good; all the others were flattened by the snow.

This area of the garden has two stripe-bark maples and a moosewood (Acer pennsylvanicum), all of which have huge leaves. I always rake them off the beds as they will suffocate the spring ephemerals if I don't remove them.

The Stewartia pseudocamellia still has most of its foliage, though the surrounding ground is covered in sodden leaves from nearby trees. 

The leaves of our Korean maples (Acer pseudosieboldiana) do tend to stay on all winter so that's nothing new. But I am going to have to get outdoors and try to clean some of the fallen leaves off the moss, ferns and Carexes that are planted in this area. The foliage on the Physocarpus 'Amber Jubilee' (foreground) doesn't give a clue to how beautiful it is during the growing season. 

Mark captured me trying to take a photo of this fastigiate Oak tree with all of its leaves still on the tree and looking lovely. We walked by it on our way to lunch after our recent museum trip to West Bend. 

We're supposed to have some dry weather with reasonable temperatures for a few days, so I am going to try to do more garden clean up if I can. 

Comments

[Beth@PlantPostings]

It all looks familiar. Weird autumn we're having; I don't remember one anything like this in the several decades I've lived in Madison. Your larch is beautiful!

[Lisa at Greenbow]

Most of our trees did the same things this year. I think it was the flash freeze we had. Things are just off kilter this year. Definitely a fall to remember and not is such a fond way.

[Linda Brazill]

You described it perfectly.

[Kris P]

Despite your bout of nasty weather, I think your garden is looking pretty darn good. Being born and raised in SoCal, I don't think I could cope with a daytime temperature of 40 degrees. Brrr!