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September Surprises

It is always a thrill to stumble across a plant that I may have forgotten about or one that does something unexpected. That has happened several times over the past weeks.  First, the vine pictured above is the Eastern Prince Schisandra vine ( Schinensis chinensis ), also known as "Magnolia Vine".  I purchased it in May of 2023 from One Green World in Portland. I don't know what attracted me to it, other than the fact that I'd never heard of it before and the description sounded nice.  I didn't forget about this plant; in fact, it has grown quite vigorously up an archway at the entrance to our woodland path. It shares space alongside the rose 'Lamarque'.  I did forget that it produces berries, so I was surprised when I looked up and saw them dangling over the top of the arbor.  The berries are used in Chinese medicine. They are called the "Five Flavor Berry" and said to have five flavors in one - sweet, salty, bitter, tangy and sour.  Chinese le...
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Time to Cover Plants & Bring in the Hummingbird Feeders Again


After an extended stretch of mild weather, we have two nights of sub-freezing temperatures. No snow or ice, just cold, in the mid twenties tonight and teens tomorrow night.

I cover three or four plants including the loquat and a eucalyptus that was planted late last season.



We usually bring in a few of the hummingbird feeders and put them back out early in the morning. 

For the other birds, I have a heating device inside the urn fountain. I recently received this little heated bird bath that you just plug into the wall. This is the first time I've used it. I'm not crazy about the color but if it works, that is all that matters.




In the meantime, much interest is to be found -


Cotoneaster dammeri - either 'Lowfast' or 'Mooncreeper' - anyone know the difference?


Euphorbia characieas wulfenii


Camellia 'Nuccio Bella Rosa'

Heather (Calluna vulgaris 'Firefly' and 'Multicolor')


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

Vinca minor 'Illumination' (Periwinkle)



Asian Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Ogon Nishiki')


Pieris 'Little Heath'

Stay warm!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonJanuary 28, 2023 at 8:20 PM

    That's a very pretty Cotoneaster! You've got a lot of nice color ro see you through your cold snap.

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  2. Anna KJanuary 30, 2023 at 6:23 AM

    Not familiar with 'Mooncreeper' but I know 'Lowfast' is really what its name indicates - very low unless you give it something to climb on - in which case it will totally head upwards. It's probably fast, too. Those heathers look so good with the river rocks - yummy!

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