Well, we've hit -18F here near Milwaukee and I can't remember when we were last above freezing. About 10 or so inches above normal snowfall this season but mostly in 2-3 inch events.

My "Thinkin' Spring" pick me up.

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tj

This post was edited by tsugajunkie on Fri, Jan 31, 14 at 19:40

Dave, I've been getting rid of grass too. Moles, not space, is what's driving me. At least I can work almost all winter long. Transplanting and pruning have taken up most of my time this winter. Oh, and firewood. I work a chainsaw more than a shovel and pruners combined. The older I get, the older it gets. Transplanting and pruning never get old though. It's the creative process that gets me going.
Mike...taking a break from the rain.
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Resin

tjâ¦â¦I loved your Thinking Spring "pick me up" photo.
Can you write the name of the pine? Looks like a Pinus parvifloraâ¦..??cultivar??? Thanks

A little shot of springs past! Nice thread, and fantastic photos.
* Nucon, I think tj is showing 'Bergman'. Hopefully he will look back in.
Al

nuconiferlvr- It is indeed a P. parviflora 'Bergman'. Mine is kinda scrawny. Look for a pic of one from dansgrdn here. He has a very nice one.

tj

I'll play along, I know this is waiting under the foot of snow on the ground. Been a long winter in South Dakota, but spring is right around the corner

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And here's my spring fling. Reports for another cold spell this week in the Pacific NW. Wishing you all the best.

WOW, Zephyrgal, that's nice. I'll take a stab at the three that I think makes it pop: flowering cherry, Nootka Cypress, and weeping Norway spruce? It's all good, and the Alberta Spruce (?) is nice, but those three do it for me. I suspect this picture will change dramatically over the next several years.

Great idea Dave, also great photos everybody. I always like seeing other gardens. Its been a brown winter until last night we got a little more than a inch of the white stuff. Harv, have you noticed any wind up your way?LOL!
Rob

Foggy October Morning:
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Sunflower Heads Feeder in Conifer Collection: November
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Great pictures, everybody. Spring will be especially welcome this year after the coldest winter in recent memory. A real test to the recent USDA zonal upgrade.

If you look closely, you can see my daughter hidden away in the corner of this spring photo...

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Alex

This post was edited by maple_grove on Sun, Feb 2, 14 at 10:26

Harv, I like your picture.
What are the names of the groundcovers you're using?
I see you have a couple of pink flamingos. I had two also.
They followed my kids all over the garden. I never knew where they were going to be next. I even had names for them. They finally died of old age and went to recycle heaven. RIP Tongue and Cheek
Mike

one from last spring..seems so long ago. going to be a busy week for storms- weather says three are coming this week, can hardly wait. not! c'mon spring.
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[IMG]http://i57.tinypic.com/swbm7b.jpg[/IMG]

Where's the winter fast forward button? I can't find it anywhere...

Malus 'Prairie Fire'

And 'Magyar' opened up

Last one "Prostrate Beauty' just after it was planted. It's brownish green now. Hope it's OK

Always a winter welcome sight:
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Dax

Here's a pic of Larix laricina from this past fall. One is nice, but a pure stand such as this is...golden.

Very nice, Basic! A grand species indeed, right here at home!

+oM

+oM, I agree completely. We've got a few up here that make the cold almost bearable. Almost...

Why is this winter has to be extra early, record low temperature, worst ice storm etc. when I finally get hold of a real Cedrus deodara to try....These may be the last shots that they still look green:
Cedrus deodara 'Eiswinter':
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Pinus wallichiana 'Frosty' (in its 3rd year):
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A newly discovered 20 years old Picea pungens "Horizontalis" soon to be renamed Picea pungens "Deadis":
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Hmm...I didn't know wallichiana could survive such cold temps.

My gardens are young, and when we moved here not quite five years ago, no one had lived here for 10-15 years, so first couple of years were strictly clean-up and trying to do some fixing in the house. The was nary a trace of any plantings that had ever been done on this 100+ year old farm. The only conifers of any size were a couple of native thuja occidentalis at the corner of the house of all places, and some young ones springing up beside the pond and drive. Thankfully, across the fence at the side of our yard, on the neighbour's property, nothing is done with it as it gets swampy, but it is filled with native thuja, pinous resinosa, and larix laricina. It helps with the white world outside!
Garcan, I love your tongue in cheek picea pungens!

Thank you for this thread.

wannabegardner...thank you.

Hopefully we are not done. I know there are a lot more great photos out there and I want to thank everybody that has responded so far. Beautiful gardens.

Dave

Dave, since you asked....
View from bedroom.
Mike
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That's an enchanting view: rich in plantings and yet one can feel the space, order and not chaos, just enough colours to fire up lasting spirit.

I took this picture of some wild yarrow growing at my house. It has been my laptop background since =)

That sure is nice, j0nd03.
My garden could use some Yarrow.
I had some colored ones for awhile, but they disappeared.
Probably drowned. ;-)
Mike

"Probably drowned"

Such is the misery of drought loving plants living in your otherwise pristine gardening oasis hahaha

How do you keep all that sedum alive? ;-)

Remember I said February is our snow month.

My friend the southern jet stream which brings all the snow storms to the Midwest finally kicked in.

12" on the flat. Much neded moisture for sure.

That's 'Chief Joseph' sticking his head out of the snow to get some air and show off.

Dave

This post was edited by Davesconifers on Fri, Feb 7, 14 at 14:04

I hate to be a jerk here but I need to collect a few of these before spring gets here. The Chief Joseph looks great Dave. Great photos everyone else! I got to get me a few Larix laricina.

Certainly a brutal winter in which spring can't get here soon enough. Coldest Winter since 81'/82' with 32 days below zero and counting.

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