That Other Season

I can hear the gardener's resolutions for the new year, redo this, move that, pick a theme, use more heat resistant plants, etc., etc.

Amaryllis Picotee began blooming the day after Christmas and because they were large bulbs will bloom for quite a while with more than one stalk.

The large bulbs really pay off in flower production.  The smaller Paperwhite Ziva bloomed very little and for a shorter period of time.

That's about it for my inside garden so it's time to get down to business and plan for a wonderful 2013 garden outside!

My garden is totally exposed this year with just a trace of snow so far.  Without snow a garden shows its bones and without bones and snow a garden can be very boring for almost half the year waiting for spring.

Miscanthus Little Kitten

 

Grasses that you can leave standing add greatly to the fall and winter garden along with Myrtle Blue Dart underneath.

 

Panicum Northwind

 

Pennisetum Hameln
A very short grass but pops back up as the snow melts

 

The above grasses even look good in the snow and will not flop until around March.

 

Miscanthus Udine

This is a beautiful four-season grass, however, a heavy snow will topple it.

 

Panicum Shenandoah

This is a smaller upright grass but will have trouble standing in a heavy snow.

 

Azalea Karen

I would plant more of these if I had the room!  The leaves are a rich burgundy all winter and do not curl in the cold like the Rhodies.

 

Heuchera Southern Comfort is sleeping in the cold but will perk up quickly when the temps are above freezing.

 

I am glad I left more flowerheads on Limelight Hydrangea this year, still had plenty for spraying and using dried indoors.

 

Liriope

A great groundcover especially when there is little snow, stays green until early spring

 

 

Will this be the winter without snow?  Probably not, but I am planning my garden to look more interesting even if it is bare down to the grass, groundcovers and mulch for that other season!

Duffy
He's getting bigger (almost ten pounds now) but that tongue is on everything!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Holidays!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paperwhites

It is time to plant Paperwhites for Holiday bloom.

Duffy has kept me from blogging, baking, cleaning, shopping, etc., but he is cute isn't he?

Paperwhite Ziva

The larger bulbs will bring more flowers.  This variety is more fragrant and floriferous than other varieties.

 

Smaller Ziva Bulbs will not have as many flowers.

 

I planted the smaller ones in a glass container with glass marbles.

 

I put put in some more marbles to top it off.

 

I love this container, bought it last year at West Elm.

Water was added to cover the bulbs two thirds up.

 

 

 

The large ziva bulbs were planted in soil.

 

These will definitely have more flowers than the smaller bulbs.

 

I had to buy a Poinsettia grown at our local nursery.

 

I gave in again this year and bought two cyclamen, smaller variety with variegated leaves.

 

The pup got out of his contained area and bit off one of the flower buds!