I've never been so happy to see 40 degrees. My thermometer is my friend, my beacon of hope, reliable as ever, perched on the lattice fence that partitions my courtyard from the world. As I glance up at it, again, [to make sure I'm not hallucinating], I make a mental note that [if this is real] I need to clip back the overly exuberant ivy, a task that one week ago would have been impossible. I would have been cold. To think about it now pains me. Yet a sense of pride prevails for surviving the horror and endless torture that comes with plummeting temperatures. Socks and slippers replaced my icy feet. A real live coat replaced my sweater. Gloves swathed my bare hands as I shivered my way to the mailbox or to get my poor freezing car warmed up. It was terrible with a capital T. So now, thanks to the warm up, it is once again humanly possible to trek out to the compost to offload the heaping bin that dwells under the deep, dark, kitchen sink. Amble as I go, I can check on things. With enthusiasm officially curbed, breath properly bated, wood suitably knocked on, I can report that for the moment it looks as though the cold sensitive plants I've nearly cried over [but my tears would have froze] are going to be fine. And I'm fine too. For now. Alaska, keep your arctic menace to yourself, I say. But contrary to popular belief, my voice doesn't carry that far and the winter is young. So my fingers are agreeably crossed.
Dianthus 'Crimson Treasure' I think. I've got a whopping 17 Dianthus species and cultivars on my plant list. They die, they get moved, they get divided and then it's like, crap which one is this? And this is my predicament with this beaut.
June 2009, a view of my north side arbor. The tall leafy thing is Heptacodium miconioides aka "Seven Son Flower." Its white, fragrant flower clusters begin blooming in August. The variegated plant by Sharon-the-Heron is Cornus alba 'Argenteovariegata' syn. 'Argenteo-marginata.' [My brain hurts.]
Achillea millefolium 'Heidi' really outdid herself last summer. She's partnered with Prunus x cistena or "Purple Leaf Sand Cherry."
The south portion of my garden in June.
Above and below are photos of what I've unofficially dubbed my "Patio Pond." The other pond is what the aforementioned Sharon-the-Heron is looking at in the above photos.
June 2009. Years ago I bought two 4-inch pots of Nepeta x fraassenii 'Walker's Low' aka "catmint." Although I was fooled into believing the "Low" meant "not very tall" this has not been the case. You too? My two plants are now...let's see, ten plants, I think.
Despite my "cramscaping" it doesn't look half bad.
Man I miss summer....
.jpg)
