January in my 2021 hosta garden
The hostas are all dormant. I go out every day, weather and work permitting, to check for pest damage. I reset over-turned pots, replace soil that the squirrels have dug away, and cover the crowns with oak leaves. I frequent the online hosta stores, but have not bought any plants yet in 2021. My camellias are young, but provide welcome color to the otherwise drab winter garden. This is a time of waiting. Winter seems darkest in January. In full disclosure, this can be the only full month of the year when I do not have above-ground hosta activity. From late November or early December to mid-February, there is a lot going in the ground as the plants prepare for spring.
Camellia Sadaharu Oh
Disporopsis pernyi Zebra Stripes
Helleborus niger Nell Lewis
Helleborus hybridus Mango Magic
Fallen flower bud from Camellia Katsuya Nomura.
Comments (28)
undertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoAspidistra Nagoya Stars
The main garden minus hostas. The garden's path is a dry creek bed.
Variegated daphne with flower buds.
undertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHellebore Pink Frost
Next 3 are Hellebore Ice 'n Roses Red
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January 2021 Week 2
Comments (56)Nancy, our washer might be the same model as yours. It was the cheapest Whirlpool they had. It was $499. It is even less fancy than the one we purchased 10 years ago....and that one wasn't top-of-the line or anything like that. With this one, it is hard to get used to no time count-down. I don't know how many minutes are left and that isn't a huge deal, but something I had gotten used to. And you just put your soap in the tub of the washer. Our last one had a dispenser (similar to the bleach dispenser). I don't mind putting it in the basin, but I wish it would let me fill it up with water before adding the clothing. But, so far so good with it. I will admit the champagne set is very pretty. It's very mild colored and lovely. But, when I do upgrade (hopefully not for a long time), I'll just get white. Even our "stainless steel" kitchen appliances that are supposed to be smudge proof, still get smudged. We did our grocery shopping this morning. Geez! All of you who are doing grocery "pick up", well, they're not picking up the items from storage...they're going through the stores with these big cart things with large tubs on them. There's multiple ones always in the way...blocking the aisles and shelves. They are doing a good job picking out your items. They carefully inspect each item before putting it in your tub. Those of us standing around waiting just have to be very patient. LOL I might have to start shopping at Crest, though. haha. We start at Natural Grocer, go to Sprouts and then finish at Walmart. We might start finishing at Crest. Nancy, I would be happy to take a few guajillo seeds. You know what's funny, until I made the posole I had never heard of that pepper. It's an interesting dish for sure. Instead of tomatoes, you make a pepper sauce/paste (for those of you who are unfamiliar with the dish). Very interesting about the pee/poop thing. The boys like to pee outside, so I guess I'll just direct them to the garden. And, Amy, that's good to know about medications. I'm dumping the chicken droppings behind the shop, but will probably stop in February so it can break down a bit before I put the roselle and melons there. If I ever get a grandchild, I'll have an excuse to get bunnies to be "their" pets...and that will be great for fertilizing. Maybe a pony too! (I'm joking...no one lecture me, please haha) Danny, how exciting! Pretty! Jen, I still have seed cups and trays if you're interested. Our plan is to clean and organize the shop on Monday, so I can get them to you once I find them all. I'm not sure how I ended up with so many. Maybe HU brought plants over in them. Amy, you have a lot of experience with lettuce and greens. Have you found that red lettuces do better in cold weather? It seems so...at least in my hinged hoop right now. This is the first year I've been able to overwinter lettuce and the reds are looking the best. The reds and the blushing ones....See MoreJanuary 2021 Week 3
Comments (63)Danny, I'm so sorry. I haven't had to deal with this yet....and fortunately (so far) Mom and I get along very well. My Dad died at 53. Mom is 74 now. BUT, I can (sort of) imagine how painful all of this must be for you. And complicated. You're a good son to continue to try to care for him even through all the pain and hurt. Prayers! Around here, I can't seem to get it together. And I can't seem to say no. Next week. Next week is my new year. Fingers crossed. I'm cleaning today. I really, really wish I wasn't one of those annoying people who have to have my physical environment a certain way for me to feel relaxed and creative and settled. HU worked on the GH on Thursday. It's pretty solid. He's doing a great job, but I'll let him tell about it it more when he's ready. I held the hammer a few times. LOL Larry, I think you mentioned something on one of the threads wondering how we all grow everything that we grow...and how you don't have space for it all. I think the deal is that a lot of us only grow a small amount of a particular thing. While you go all in and grow a lot of each thing. That is HU's way too. I'm trying to do a combination this year. I want a LOT of some things--things for canning. Even tomatoes of a particular type. All of this is our survivalist garden. Then, I want to grow one or two of a few other things in the kitchen garden. Certain tomatoes and peppers that I don't need a lot of. The exception is onions. I think they do better in raised beds, so they'll go in the kitchen garden. I'd better stop sitting and get back at it. Alone time at home is a rare and treasured thing, so I need to take advantage of it....See MoreApril 2021 in my hosta garden
Comments (117)utog..another silhouette pic!..this one's great too!.. your garden's looking good!..we had 2 inches of rain Wed night..I had standing water (common in our high water table neighborhood) in my usual spots..so I didn't walk around in back today.. my still unclipped ratty winter foliage on an Autumn fern..they're slow for me.. the Japanese Painted ferns look fresher than the Autumns beside them..maybe because the Japanese Painted ferns die back?.. n2hostas..my green ginger is a good spreader..plant it with some space..but my craziest groundcover is this Lamium galeobdolon..can you see the variegated plant behind this bleeding heart?..that's it.. miles..there was a post a long time ago where someone used a wide shallow container for mini's and had success.. when I clean, weed and top with compost these plants will look prettier.....See MoreMay 2021 in my hosta garden
Comments (82)Yes! I love tarsiers and lorises! Here is an Eastern screen owl. How I wish I had one of these in my yard. They are voracious vole hunters. https://abcbirds.org/bird/eastern-screech-owl/ They have the cutest trill. They shiver while they trill. They are little owls. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADtk37HFmq4...See Moreundertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoCrocus buds already
Bud of Camellia Turandot
Bud of Camellia Hagoromo (Magnoliaeflora)
Helleborus foetidus Chedglow
undertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoEvergreen colors
Camellias with Illicium Florida Sunshine
Illicium Florida Sunshine with red stems.
Hellebore Cherry Blossom
Helleborus Nell Lewis
undertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoBuds of winter flowers
Helleborus Nell Lewis
Camellia Sadaharu Oh
Camellia Sadaharu Oh
Hellebore Cherry Blossom last weekend.
undertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoEvergreens
Japanese holly fern among dormant potted hostas.
Aspidistra, hellebore, and farfugium. Dormant potted hosta.
Aspidistra Stars and Stripes.
Nandina
djacob Z6a SE WI
3 years agoundertheoaksgardener7b
3 years ago
Beth (5b - SE-Michigan)
3 years ago
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
steve duggins(Z6a) - Central Ohio
3 years agoundertheoaksgardener7b
3 years ago
oursteelers 8B PNW
3 years agoundertheoaksgardener7b
3 years ago
sandyslopes z6 n. UT
3 years agoundertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agoundertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agoTonight we may get snow for the first time this winter. And it may even accumulate to...1.6 inches. The kids are super-excited. They are sure school will be canceled, because it always gets canceled when we see any accumulation. They are in virtual school, so we have already warned them that school will go on. Hope springs eternal. Today, just one picture.
Camellia Sadaharu Oh
djacob Z6a SE WI
3 years agoundertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoThe great snowstorm of this winter. School was not canceled, but fun was had before school.
Camellia Sadaharu Oh
The garden you know so well, but different today.
The side garden with snow.
The dogwood. :)
undertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago1/28/21
Liriope
Autumn fern
Stumps and ivy.
For the past few weeks, I have felt like the trees have been yearning for snow, especially at night. Silly, I know. This morning, they seem to be celebrating. I know that I am attributing my feelings to the trees, but there you have it.
miles10612
3 years agodjacob Z6a SE WI
3 years agoundertheoaksgardener7b
3 years agoIllicium, Helleborus foetidus, Helleborus niger, and camellia Sadaharu Oh bud.
n2hostas (Kansas)
3 years ago
undertheoaksgardener7bOriginal Author