In Search Of Spring

I have often wondered what it would be like to live in a more temperate climate where winter was fleeting and the lines were blurred between the seasons.  Well, this year in the Chicago area so far it is the winter that isn't, virtually no snow, above average temperatures and crunchy dirt but not a hard freeze.

My Pink Meidiland roses and the grass have stayed green.

Uncovered Italian Parsley

The Carex Ice Mountains is sprouting on the north side.

I am really getting excited that this might be spring coming early.  However, getting back to reality I know that winter has barely begun.  We were told early on that the worst winter, blizzards, etc., was expected.  It is January and we are in the fifties!!!

This hellebore doesn't know any better and it is slowly poking through the soil.

My Dinosaur Fern, also on the north side, had laid down for a rest but it is still green and has not disappeared as it usually does.

The Autumn Fern has been fooled into thinking it is still autumn.

Euphorbia Blackbeard

Becky Shasta Daisy

Geranium Karmina

I am really liking this green winter so much life visible even though I know the season has changed.  It wouldn't be hard for me to get used to this type of climate!  I recently read that our zones are changing with mine going from a solid zone five to a five/six zone for the Chicago area with the five designation for the northern areas.  This change has been tracked from 1990 up until 2010 and just think of all the additional plants I can grow in zone 6.

I know this is a warmer zone on the south side of my house, daffodils up with buds showing.

Muscari never did die back this year on the south side.

Snapdragons manytimes come back after a cold winter, but these have never left!

Usually my Miscanthus Udine is under the snow by now, glad I did not cut it down this year!

This could all be under the snow in the near future but it has been great to experience living in another zone even if just for a little while.

Making A List

The past two days have been very much like a real winter in the Chicago area, high winds and snow, not much, bringing along with it very low overnight temperatures.  We are expected to warm up into the forties again by late in the week.  This type of weather is not good for plants freezing and warming without the snow for protection.

It has been a good time to look at the catalogs I have received and dream of growing the perfect plants in 2012.  Isn't is great to be a gardener and be able to assist the life cycle each year hoping for the perfect outcome?  It doesn't always happen but it sure is an adventure!

My tomatoes have not always been a success, oh I do get a crop, but I also seem to get diseases along with them.  This year I am going to try a new introduction from the Burpee Catalog called Big Daddy.  It is bred from Big Boy and supposedly has a better taste and better disease resistance.

If you are really into tomatoes, Tomato Growers Supply Company has a great catalog with lots of varieties listed that you will never find at the local nursery, even tomatoes without names just letters and numbers!

Big Daddy Tomato

I have to grow a Yugoslavian Red Butterhead Lettuce (an heirloom variety) from The Cook's Garden catalog and Navara Red Oakleaf.  The colors of both of these lettuces stunning!

Yugoslavian Butterhead Lettuce

Navara Oakleaf Lettuce

My favorite pepper is also from Burpee, Mariachi Hybrid an All America Winner.  I have grown it the past two seasons and it is very prolific, medium hot.

Mariachi Pepper

Burpee has a new Echinacea called Warm Summer that blooms June through August, think I will try this one.  Pow Wow was an expensive potted Echinacea that I tried last summer without much success.  I was not impressed by it especially when it succumbed to the heat and humidity.

Warm Summer Echinacea

The Zahara Double Fire Zinnia was a winner last year along the south side and would look great with Burpee's new introduction zinnia called Pop Art Red and Yellow (says they love heat and strong sun).

Zinnia Zahara Double Fire

Zinnia Pop Art and Red

I am not quite sure yet what I am going to do about planting under my Ninebarks with Tidal Wave Silver Petunia.  It was quite a wonderful groundcover, sprawling and about two feet high.  The color was quite soft and I am wondering if I should go with something more striking like Shockwave Petunia Coral.  Park Seeds market the Tidal Wave and I have not yet received their catalog.

Tidal Wave Silver Petunia

Petunia Shockwave Coral Crush

Introduced by Ball Horticultural

I never thought I would be into seed starting again, but I am really enjoying the thought of doing it on a small scale with my four-tiered plant lights.  It is tucked into a corner in my basement utility room and am looking forward to filling it up this year!

Plant Of The Year

The 2012 plant of the year is Jack Frost Brunnera.  It has been marketed since the year 2000 so it has had plenty of time to prove itself.

Brunnera Jack Frost in my summer garden

It is not inexpensive and unless you order it online it most likely will be in the double digits, worth the price because it looks fantastic for at least three seasons.

Three others received honorable mention this year including my favorite grass, Panicum Northwind, which I would call a four season grass.

Panicum Northwind

Panicum Northwind in its winter color in the alley garden

Heuchera Carmel also received honorable mention and I also have this one in my garden.

Heuchera Carmel is a tight leaved variety and looks good all summer and fall.

Heuchera Carmel is hardly a vision of itself in the winter, not sure I would have given this one an honorable mention.  However, I am judging them on looking good in all seasons maybe not the criteria for the Perennial Plant Association.

 Heuchera Peach Flambe certainly looks great at the end of December!

Heuchera Autumn Leaves

Heuchera Pistache

Heuchera Southern Comfort (shadier area)

Heuchera Southern Comfort (sun)

Southern Comfort is one of my favorites because of its coloration throughout the winter even in the snow.  Snow, what is that, we really haven't had any yet, hard to believe with the new year approaching.

The last honorable mention for plant of the year was Chelone lyognii Hot Lips.  I do not have this one but would certainly consider it for my shadier moist area.

Chelone Hot Lips

As you can see I do not totally agree with the heuchera choice, but that's okay I'll just keep trying the new ones that come out each year, if I can find a space for them!

The Night Before

Have a wonderful holiday everyone!

Visions Of Sugarplums

It is difficult to be a gardener this time of year but our efforts in the colder climates need to move indoors.  I have never done as well with indoor plants and assume that they just don't like me!

I brought the dracena in from the patio this fall because I love the magenta stripes in the leaves.  So far it seems to be thriving.

I can't count how many indoor plants I have lost from too little or too much water or maybe too much or too little fertilizer.

The Ziva Paperwhites are pretty foolproof and never disappoint.

I am never going to plant the amaryllis again in the water and colored beads, potting soil it is from now on.  The water developed a major odor and I had to dismantle everything and wash the beads and the glass container, don't remember this being a problem last year.

Candy Floss Amaryllis is ready to open after changing the water.

Red Lion Amaryllis

My little birds are already nestled between the faux greens on the dining room table.

Vintage mirror adorned in the corner

Cyclamen still alive and flourishing

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!