Show Us Your Landscape/Gardens - A Photo Thread - January 2020
Comments (21)
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years agoNice to “see” you again, Molie. Right now everything here is under a layer of messy, icy crust and so isn’t very photogenic. I am not sure how safe walking out in the woods or fields would be either with it so icy, so I haven’t spent much time outside. I did take a photo of the sunrise this morning.
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Show us Your Landscape - A photo thread - January 2012
Comments (29)Ann, my understanding of the zones, from an article I read years ago, is that they really only take into account the lowest probable temperature that one might encounter during the course of the winter. It went on to say that this does'nt mean that it's the lowest POSSIBLE temperature, since we obviously get the occasional night or two when it goes below the "zone low" temp. It also mentions that not every night during winter will go down to the temperature range for the zone (for example here in zone 6, not every night will be between 0 and -10). It would be considered normal for zone 6 to get no more than perhaps 10 - 12 nights during one winter where it will get down to those temperatures, but if those 10 - 15 nights occurred consecutively, that would be considered not normal. And the main problem with the zone approach is that it doesn't take into account how long the temperature remains at these lows, nor how it recovers by day, which really makes all the difference. We've had a very mild winter so far, and if I went strictly by overnight lows, then I'm in zone 8 (!) but the daytime highs here, although very pleasant, are nowhere near as warm as a true zone 8 would be. And a low of 24 for instance here can last many, many hours, while in a true zone 8 it may only last for a couple of hours before dawn, and then the daytime temperature may climb to the 50's or 60's, whereas here the daytime high may slowly climb to the upper 30's. Just and example, but I think you can see what I mean. But, having said all this, I always remember that plants can't read zone maps (!) so if I think something I like has a chance, even if I have to site it, protect and pamper it, then I'll give it a try. Why not? Makes interesting gardening and maybe I'll discover that the books were wrong about a plant's zone rating. That's what happened with Clerodendron trichotomum. I always see it rated for zone 7, but mine has been growing and blooming happily here for over 20 years, and it's at the windy, northwest corner of (but not close to) the house....See MoreShow Us Your Landscape/Gardens - A Photo Thread - March 2020
Comments (19)Claire, Very smart, I should have taken more photos of the daffs before the rain we are expecting today. Mine are really just opening up. I hadn't heard of 'Karenoma' and it's nice. I like the long cup. And they are nice and erect. 'Toby the First' is a cute name. I have tried to buy bulbs known for naturalizing, but my soil is on the heavy side which I imagine doesn't help. I have 'Flower Record' and 'Ice Follies' both are said to be good naturalizes and for me, they do always come back and sometimes in larger patches, but what I've found in the past 5 years, is that when I have dug up spots that I wanted to move to another location, that there are a lot of bulbs and I have had the opportunity to increase the amount in the garden, by dividing and potting them up in the spring right after bloom and then planting them in a new spot in the fall. I have had disappointments, because my expectation is that once planted, the bulbs are going to expand in size and number of blooms, similar to a perennial, so that by year 3, I'd expect them to have a footprint 3x larger than the first year of bloom. I have a couple of spots that seem to be the same size with no more blooms than the 1st year, which surprises me. I plan on doing more digging and moving this spring and fall and order more bulbs in the fall as well. I've also decided to buy late blooming daffodils over the very early ones, just because of the variability in the weather. I just hate seeing them come up and bloom and then get hit by cold weather or snow and then look awful the rest of the season. Along the lines of how I feel about Peonies, when it rains the first few days after the blossoms open. [g]...See MoreShow Us Your Landscape and Gardens - A Photo Thread - May & June 2020
Comments (129)Sue, i love how the lime hydrangea leaves contrast with the house. I'm currently really interested in the designing something that contrasts well with my house. Yours look fantastic. And the containers is beautiful! It's amazing how many beautiful gardens are on this forum. Thyme, the deer ate my rhododendron buds, not squirrels. Thank goodness squirrels leave them alone! Usually by now something has eaten my astilbe buds, as well, but so far I'm in for 100% flowering this year. Unbelievable! Was considering removing them if all I ever saw were munched stems. I agree with you on the Mt Laurel. Good thing you already have a husband, or surely some single gardener would agree and woo you just to get to see that every other year! Does you husband ever get jealous of the laurel? ;-) Again, so many beautiful roses. Claire, I'm always amazed at what you've managed to fit into your property. Not only is it amazing diversity, but it ll looks like every single plant is in the perfect spot. NHBabs, you have the patience of Job with your voles. I thought I had tons of voles but i've come to find out i have far more moles. I am glad as it seems they are not doing the damage voles would! There are some voles, but I don't have the damage you and others have. I wish the dianthus has lived for you. Always a delight to see your many clematis! prairiemoon, i LOVE fragrance. i have about twelve peonies planted together, and in that mass they create good fragrance. mock orange is going on the list to plant so i can enjoy the smell. After about three days of good rain, I expect my soil is rejuvenated quite deeply now. We had rain on May 18, and one downpour in early June of which I am sure some just ran off and didn't soak in, but I was still grateful. This long soaking rain was beautiful to see. Everybody I met here talked about how happy they were to see rain! Welcome, July!...See MoreShow Us Your Landscape and Gardens - A Photo Thread - September 2020
Comments (58)Looks like it's time to start October. :-) Deanna - I love 'Alma Potschke' and wish I had planted it sooner. I'm trying to figure a way to add more. I did frame them with a 'Little Lime' Hydrangea and a Hardy Hibiscus which hide the 'bare knees', trying to blend it into the rest of the bed. It is taller than everything else there at this time. I expect both shrubs to grow taller and I have roses that should be taller in later seasons. The larger grass looks great with it and I'm wondering if I should have planted that closer. Any way you use it, it is an enjoyable plant. Vigorous, needs little attention beyond cutting back in spring. Very sturdy. I may try to buy another one looking for a more pink version. As for sedum, I've always grown it. If you are trying to have a low maintenance garden, it's hard to beat sedum. They bloom late, but they look fresh and clean all season and provide a large flower head even when they are green. They stay in one place and gradually spread. Mine will split and flop if they get too large. I've tried putting a peony ring on them to prevent that and it works. But at that point I will usually divide them. This year I experimented. Someone suggested deadheading the sedum to prevent the flopping. So I did that to just one plant. I also was hoping by doing that, to extend the bloom to give the bees a longer time to harvest them. It was a smaller plant anyway and I wasn't expecting it to flop, which it didn't. But I won't deadhead them again. It produces smaller flower heads and I really like the large heads that contrast with so many smaller flowers in my bed. And actually it barely extended the bloom. It bloomed less than a week after those I didn't deadhead. I love the rosy color when they are at their peak, but I don't really enjoy the rusty color they turn after that. But the plant has so many great attributes, that I can live with that, especially at a time of year when the season is winding down. As for the alyssum, in areas where I want to have a lot of alyssum, I don't mulch. And I used about 4 packets of seed about four years ago and I got a LOT of reseeding every year until this spring. I think the dry winter with no snow cover may have been the reason. But I'm planning on getting some packets of seed now and just scatter them where I want them this fall. I think I will wait until it is too cold for them to sprout. Another experiment. I don't see why they shouldn't sprout next spring, since they naturally drop seed that sprouts for me in the spring any way. Great observation about the pots. I love solid color pots too because as you said they are a better complement to the plants. Sometimes a little texture. Sue's blue pots are great. Love the very saturated blue colors. Since they are ceramic I imagine they all have to be brought inside for the winter? I would have a ton more pots like that if they could stay in place all year. I have a few, but I've also been buying more weather resistant that can stay out all season....See MoreNHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoThis evening a set of several snow squalls passed through, leaving everything from the door swags to the front garden coated with thick snow. We got 5” in less than 2 hours. The front shrubs aren’t very ornamental except for the rhododendron because last Monday’s several inches of mixed ice, sleet and freezing rain flattened the Spiraeas and Annabelle hydrangea.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agoNow those are reasonable New England winter pictures, NHBabs! What we have here in southeast coastal MA is less decorative.
There was a lackluster snowfall a few days ago, much less than an inch, and yesterday I did see some snow out of the windows.
That "snow" is mostly gone now. In times like this I rely on red bows etc. to give me cheer when I look out the windows (there's also a blue jay on the wisteria which gives me cheer too).
About the only frozen water outside is ice I knocked out of the unheated birdbaths.
Claire
NHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked claireplymouth z6b coastal MANHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years ago
Sue W (CT zone 6a)
4 years agoI only have one witch hazelhazel-Aurora. It was planted last season and is still very small. Good idea to check for potential flower buds.
We only got three inches out of this storm and temps are already in the mid 30 range. Still, the cats are less than thrilled :).
NHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked Sue W (CT zone 6a)NHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agoThanks, NHBabs.
No snow here, and the temperatures hit the mid-forties today. It sure doesn't feel like the end of January.
The bay is an ever-changing sight. This was the view from my house this morning as the sun came up.
Not a dramatic sunrise but the quiet beauty pleased me.
Claire
NHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked claireplymouth z6b coastal MANHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agoMy Arnold Promise witch hazel is definitely beginning to bloom.
Winter Champagne's buds are maybe swelling a bit, but not opening. This is its first year here so I don't know what to expect.
Like Sue, I have snowdrops beginning to sprout, but they're not really blooming yet.
It feels almost like Spring, but I'm very suspicious of February and March.
Claire
NHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked claireplymouth z6b coastal MANHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years agoHere the air feels somewhat springlike, but the ground still looks like winter, though not a typical January. If anything is sprouting, it isn’t visible under the snow yet.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
4 years agoYour field looks cold but beautiful, NHBabs!
Another good sunrise this morning, enhanced by low tide which gives more interesting reflections of the light.
View from my living room across the deck:
Closer view from another window with sandbars and rocks:
It almost looked as if the sunlight was pouring into a pool.
Claire
NHBabs z4b-5a NH thanked claireplymouth z6b coastal MANHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years ago
Sue W (CT zone 6a)