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The 2024 Garden Year

January 19, 2024 January Our year started with snow, ice and frigid temperatures in mid-January. Our temperatures stayed below freezing for almost a week. I think it was the most consistent cold that we've experienced since moving here. Fortunately, it was a dry snow so there wasn't too much damage. Once again, we almost lost the azara and I'm afraid there would have been some breakage if I had not kept knocking the ice off. February 14, 2024 February In past years, it seems that inclement weather seems to hit around Michael's birthday in mid-February. After the January snow and ice, this month was actually quite tame. Nothing exciting to report - mostly birdwatching . Early flowers like hellebores, cyclamen and crocus begin to bloom in mid month. March 3, 2024 March I got into a walking routine which I'm happy to report I am continuing this year. You get to the point where you feel guilty if you miss a day. I do miss days occasionally but I'm learning that ...
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Who Needs Flowers?

Dwarf Birch (Betula 'Trost's Dwarf')
Well, now that I have your attention - taking a look at some of the interesting foliage going on in the garden -


Juniperus conferta 'All Gold'


Chamacyparis O. 'Maiesii'


Variegated Asian Jasmine (Trachelospermum 'Ogon Nishiki')


Orange New Zealand Grass (Carex testacea)


Miscanthus 'Gold Bar'


Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie'


Aralia 'Sun King' and Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' (Snakeroot)


Tatting Fern (Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizellie') 

Fuchsia 'Enstone'


Hypericum inodorum 'Pumpkin' (St. John's Wort)

Ferns and Epimedium



Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise' and Alchemilla (Lady's Mantle)

Picea pungens 'Globosa' (Dwarf Colorado Blue Spruce)


Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' (Purple Fountain Grass) and Bacopa


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. AlisonAugust 6, 2019 at 8:05 AM

    I need flowers! When I first moved here I was so amused by the antics of the hummingbirds in my garden, fighting over the flowers in my garden. Then I bought into the whole "foliage is better" thing and took out a bunch of wonderful flowering plants in favor of foliage in order to be trendy. Guess what happened? No more hummers. Now I'm putting the flowers back. Your photos are lovely, and foliage is nice to look at, but leaves don't feed the birds and bees.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverAugust 6, 2019 at 8:11 AM

      I'm with you 100%! We have more hummingbirds this year than ever before. It is my #1 gardening motivator!

      Delete
  2. Barbara Blossom AshmunAugust 6, 2019 at 8:23 AM

    Ooh, you've created craving again! I need to get that Hypericum 'Pumpkin' very soon. I have one with pinkish fruit that I love, lost the tag, and always on the lookout for others that have staying power.

    ReplyDelete
  3. danger gardenAugust 6, 2019 at 9:02 AM

    Oh that photo of the Aralia 'Sun King' and Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' is to die for!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hoover BooAugust 6, 2019 at 1:40 PM

    I may be a Flower Floozy, but Foliage is Fabulous, too.

    The color of the Picea, the bubbly texture of the Hosta, the gloss of the Acuba, the drama of the Trachelospermum--oooohhh!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. ksAugust 6, 2019 at 5:59 PM

    Oh the foliage ! Love my flowers but foliage carries the day when flowers start to fade. Beautiful photos and combinations every one. The Picea.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lisa at GreenbowAugust 7, 2019 at 4:31 PM

    This time of year the foliage does begin to come into play in a big way. When the drought time descends on our area that is about all you get. I like seeing your foliage. Foliage is what is the backbone of the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  7. chavlinessAugust 8, 2019 at 11:06 AM

    The Dwarf Birch is a riot. That and the 'Ogon Nishiki' call for a little research. I love them both.

    ReplyDelete

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