Apropos of my cynical nature, the first thing my camera and eye lighted on was this unwelcome sight
Garlic Mustard! (I had already noticed it the other day, but I was busy with a project and didn't have time to eradicate it.) I hadn't seen it during the summer and autumn because it was hidden by Forsythia branches and leaves. I can happily report that this is one weed that no longer inhabits my garden.
Nearby is the semi-evergreen foliage of Hepatica americana (pictured at the top of the post), which I understand has been renamed as part of Hepatica nobilis. This is a smaller plant than H. acutiloba, which is in another part of the garden. H. americana's leaves have better winter color, more green and red than the dark burgundy of H. acutiloba.
Scattered throughout the garden are variegated and yellow-foliaged Aquilegia vulgaris seen here with Astible 'Visions' and some creepy Hosta foliage.
Okay, so I'm slightly obsessed with these Columbines. It's not like it's a problem; I can quit collecting and growing them any time I want. Really. But why would I want to, when they have such great foliage that stands out in the winter garden, in addition to such charming, short-spurred flowers. In the background of the photo is visible Lamium maculatum. It still looks good and adds a fresh green to the garden.
The Hellebores are putting out new leaves and even some buds. But these Helleborus x orientalis won't bloom until March, regardless of the weather.The winter foliage of Tiarella 'Iron Butterfly' has so many colors.
It ranges from green, through yellow, orange and into red. That's the ubiquitous Lamium maculatum on the right. I think it might need to be reined in this Spring.
Also providing a range of colors is Heucherella 'Sunspot.' It just amazes me how great Heucherellas, Tiarellas and Heucheras look all Winter and change colors so dramatically.Stylophorum Diphyllum, the Celadine Poppy, has already sent up new leaves.
If it snows before the weather becomes bitterly cold, these leaves will be fine. If not, they will turn an amazing shade of black. No problem anyway, as the plant will just send up more leaves later.
Finally, one very confused Polemium reptans 'Stairway to Heaven.'
I can only hope this plant will not be die when the cold returns.
13 comments:
MMMM...nice to see some colour in your garden (except the garlic mustard, of course). I started to take a few photos outside today, but it was so darn windy, wet, muddy, soggy...that I gave up and went inside. It's supposed to be less windy tomorrow, so I'll head out with tripd and camera to see what I can add to this conversation. I did notice that Euphorbia 'Lacey' was putting up new growth, so I'm also hoping it will be okay.
Thanks for the mention, MMD. You have a good deal going on, and I particularly like the winter color of your 'Iron Butterfly' (and the name). I love columbines too, and mine are nice and green right now, just waiting for spring.
Hmmm, your celandine poppy is sprouting already and I couldn't find mine when I looked earlier in the week. I'm going to go look more closely.
It's nice to see color in the winter garden, and I love your tiarella and heucherella. They don't seem to take to my dry woods very well, but yours are inspiring me to try again.
I too like columbines. They look so delicate and are so tough. I have tried to grow tiarella several times but have not been able to have them anyplace. I might have to try them again after seeing them in your winter garden.
I remember being able to recognize where the microclimates were in our IL garden by noting the places where the leaves kept their color.
The hepatica leaves are beautiful, Mr McGregor's Daughter, and so are the little poppies.
Have you been engaged in an ongoing war against the garlic mustard? It was all over the yard when we bought the last IL house in 1987 - 12 years of constant effort slowed it down but didn't eliminate it.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Jodi - I noticed today that 1 of my Clematis also has sprouted some leaves. Not good. That's why I hate these super-thaws.
Pam - I like 'Iron Butterfly' so much I tried to propagate it. I had 2 divisions, but both died after the squirrels attacked. Maybe I'll try again this Spring.
Entagled - welcome! You should try the Tiarellas, Heuchs & H-ellas again. My soil is very well-drained & dries out so badly it cracks. I have 4 varieties of Heuchs, & 2 varieties of H-ellas & Tiarellas. Amazingly I've never lost 1 (exception discussed below). I wish as much could be said for Campanulas, Corydalis, etc.
Lisa - I lost all of 1 fussy variety of Tiarella. I've had Tiarella 'Oakleaf' & 'Iron Butterfly' for many years. They have survived drought, high heat, cold, & smothering leaves.
Annie - the homeowner's association behind me has allowed Garlic Mustard to gain a foothold. It has also invaded all of the wooded areas around here. I'm on an eradication campaign, going so far as to pull them on the HOA's property. That & Buckthorn are the bane of the area.
The hepatica is lovely. The woodland wildflowers are so sweet, but they do not seem to like my only woodland area, under very large, very old pine trees. Could it be too dry? In another garden in the far northeast corner of TN, where we used to live, naturally occuring wildflowers thived, but that was deciduous woods. Here is the southeast part of the state, we are a zone warmer than the above mentioned garden and enjoy that, but I miss the wildflowers.
Frances - the problem isn't dryness, as my garden is quite dry. I suspect it's lack of sunlight in early Spring. The wildflowers thrive under deciduous trees because they get direct sunlight b4 the trees leaf out. Sorry, but I don't think there's anything you can do short of thining the pines or limbing up the 1s on the edge & planting wildflowers there.
Thank you for the kind mention. I see spring's beginnings in your garden. Doesn't it make you more cheerful to know that the plants are just waiting for that warm weather to come?
What great pictures! I might have to investigate these variegated columbines that you mention... and I love the tiarella and the hepatica.
If it makes you feel better about your polemonium, my 'Brise d'Anjou' was throwing up new foliage last year in January. When the temps dropped, it just kind of went dormant and then it bounced back again in the spring. (We did have good snow cover, though, admittedly.)
Thanks for the reminder on the garlic mustard. I have a place where it likes to grow (on the side of the garage) so I might as well see about pulling it out in the wintertime when it might be growing a little more slowly.
Dee - I guess Spring is a relative concept around here. A native, such as that Polemium reptans, should know better than to be fooled by a mid-winter warmup.
Kim - thanks for the comforting words about the Polemium, especially as I've already killed 3 Brise D'Anjous (they're now banned from the garden). If you want to wait until mid-Summer, I can send you seeds from variegated Columbines. I can't guarantee what the flower color will be, but most of the seedlings will be variegated.
Ah, liverlilies - it was good too see them. Mine will be covered with snow until March or April. You were lucky to get a break and see what's underneath all this white stuff.
I planted a Tiarella this past year and am hoping it survives.
I've got the same thing happening with blue Columbines ... it is an obsession yes.
Kate - thanks for visiting! I can definitely understand an obsession with blue Columbines. Normally, if I have a choice of flower colors, I'll go with blue (blue Brunnera, blue Campanulas). But lately, I've been drawn to the yellow foliaged pink & red flowered Columbines. This madness must stop!! (Or not.)
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