Don't be fooled. Inside this thin coating of sweetness is a fiery core of total insanity.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Bleak House...and Gardens

Apologies to Charles Dickens, for appropriating his title.

The garden is pretty bleak and bare, but there are a few bright spots. The sun is even out right now, but not for long, I'm sure.

Red Twig Dogwood berries and bright red twigs

Red Twig Dogwood berries

Persicaria 'Red Dragon'

Canna planted in the stream, its flower bud poised to open. It survived our recent frost.

Bright gold Hakone grass (most of my others are mushy or brown)

Interesting variation in Cyclamen coum foliage

This bronze Corydalis died back almost immediately after being planted in the shady area of the gravel garden last spring, despite being watered. I'm glad to see it's alive.

Pretty rose-pink fern

Saxifrage with old, black, dead leaves. They make an interesting contrast.

I didn't realize that Tetrapanax foliage turned such interesting colors.



I finally cut back the Mexican feather grass in the culvert planter, which spent most of the summer obscuring the Whale's Tongue Agave that it was planted with. Now that I've cut the grass back, I'm surprised to see how well the Agave is doing.

This is not a good photo, but it gives you some idea how the Whale's Tongue Agave looked back in April when I planted it.


Agave parryi 'J.C. Raulston' and pup

When I first planted it back in April.
 
Grevillea 'Poorinda Leane' bought last spring from The Desert Northwest is doing well, despite all our rain.

I'm really looking forward to seeing it flower! All the branches are just as heavily laden.

And now, as I thought, the sun has gone away, and a light, misty rain is starting. It was nice while it lasted.