Dirt Therapy

  Although we've had temperatures in the 40s all week, it is taking a coon's age for the snow to melt. I did some work in the garden today and surveyed the damage. Fortunately there isn't much damage and we were lucky here in Vancouver to not get as much ice as areas south of us. This morning, as I was pulling out of the driveway, I noticed a big limb had broken on the strawberry tree.  Strawberry Tree ( Arbutus )   The  Honey Bush (Melianthus) was laying completely on the ground. I had intended to prune this anyway so I cut it back to the ground.   Honey Bush ( Melianthus major ) Last year, I remembered that the Hebe 'Sunset Boulveard' was damaged badly by the cold so I had covered it before the onslaught last weekend. It looks to be fine - Hebe 'Sunset Boulevard'   The Pieris looks like it isn't fazed at all by any of this -   Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

  I mentioned making brownies in my last post and thought I would post the recipe for safe keeping. This one is a winner. Although, I could just be so sugar deprived that any trace of it would send me into ecstasy. Michael proclaimed them a hit and he is the type that would rather have chips than cake.  I've been on a no-sugar diet since early January and I've only splurged a time or two. This recipe comes from The Gourmet Cookbook . For The Brownie Layer 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, chopped 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped 1 stick (8 tbsp.) unsalted butter, cut into pieces 1 cup brown sugar (light or dark) 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 large eggs For the Caramel-Pecan Layer 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup light corn syrup 3 tablespoons water Pinch of salt 1/3 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups pecans Brownie Layer: Preheat the oven to 350 (use the middle rack). Butter and flour...

We are snowed in with almost a foot a snow (my unofficial measurement was 9 inches). I thought it would be over with today but no, there is a prediction of ice this afternoon. So far, we've been lucky and have not lost our power, unlike many people in Portland. Since it is Valentine's Day and we did not plan in advance, we made our own cards (or I should Michael made them - just watching the videos on doing this gives me a headache but he is really good at it) -  I am also having a splurge day and treating myself to sugar - brownies are in the oven! To take our minds off the weather, here are some roses from last year. Cornelia Darcey Bussell Radway Sunrise Phyllis Bide Dublin Bay   Lady of Shalott   Robin Hood   Alchymist   Westerland   Climbing Pinkie Marchesa Boccella The Impressionist Eden Mary Rose Olivia Rose Happy Valentine's Day!   Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

  The forecasters got it right this time. We got around 2" overnight and it has been steadily snowing this morning. The bulk is supposed to be today and tonight. Last night, I took this shot looking out the bathroom window. It had been snowing all afternoon but very little was sticking.  And that same view this morning - I was out there for about a half hour, refreshing the hummingbird feeders and knocking snow off the branches. The Hinoki cypress was especially concerning - That is a chore that I will have to repeat later in the day if the snow continues. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

  A beautiful sunny day today before the big snow storm we are supposed to get tomorrow. Who knows what will happen - I've learned to not pay too much attention to the weather forecasters. There are so many different regions around us that it is understandable that the weather is hard to predict. So, judging from various reports and what people are saying on social media, it could be anything from 2 - 10 inches. A prolonged period of below freezing temperatures is why most gardeners in the area are biting their nails. Fortunately, they have upped those temps some so hopefully the freeze will not be too bad. I've started pruning the roses and decided to tackle the largest ones first. In the front garden, that would be the David Austin rose 'The Lady of Shalott'. It has taken me all these years to come to the realization that roses need a strong pruning and they should bounce back no matter what you do. Even after moving here, I have been going light on pruning and I coul...

  I usually wait until the end of February to cut back the ornamental grasses and prune the roses but the mild temperatures that we'd had so far this year prompted me to get a head start. Of course, after I begin, we get a threat of real winter weather headed this way later in the week.  I started cutting back some of the ornamental grasses but only finished some of the smaller ones. The largest that I cut back was Miscanthus 'Fire Dragon'. I use a bungee cord to tie around the grass and then use my hedge trimmers to cut them off. It makes it tidier to clean up. Still to go are some of the larger grasses but I will wait a few weeks before tackling those. The biggest grass in the garden is Miscanthus 'Gold Bar'. I think it still looks spectacular. Miscanthus ' Gold Bar' Also Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' is a favorite. There are several of these outside the fence near the street. Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' Miscanthus 'Little Miss...