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