Hits of green (and tan) in the winter garden
This post is for Linda and Mark of Each Little World, who are blanketed under their third snowstorm of the week in Madison, Wisconsin, and who asked for “hits of green” from southern bloggers.
A twilight stroll reveals soft blue-greens amid the leafy exposed limestone in my winter garden: Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis var. argentea); red dragon knotweed (Persicaria microcephala), on the left; central Texas native heartleaf skullcap (Scutellaria ovata), which is coming back after summer dormancy; and, in front, lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina ‘Big Ears’).
Lipstick tubes of orange hang onto the withered stems of Cuphea ignea ‘David Verity.’ The watercolor effect was achieved by shooting through stems in the foreground with my long lens.
In the stock-tank pond, dwarf papyrus (Cyperus papyrus ‘Nanus’) adds sparklers of green.
Up on the deck, a potted pet porcupine: Agave leopoldii provides spikes of green surmounted with curly white filaments.
Blue-green swords of softleaf yucca (Yucca recurvifolia) are the southwest’s answer to the rounded evergreen shrubs of the east coast.
The curled, ivory-and-tan seedheads of Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’ sway in the chill wind. Or warm breeze. It varies from day to day in Austin’s changeable winter.
All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Lots of green here in North Central Texas still, too. That will likely end tonight, as it is supposed to get down to 17 degrees F. Brrr! That pretty much spells an end to the outdoor gardening for the season.
Brr indeed! Time to focus on indoor gardening, I suppose. —Pam
My mother’s childhood home was in Platteville, Wisconsin, not far from Madison. I think I am glad I don’t live there. No offense meant, of course; Wisconsin is a beautiful state. I have just viewed my friends’ snow covered property in Wisconsin, and it made me shiver. Guess I have just been a Texas girl for way too long! Our greens are about to be reduced here in Fort Worth, though. We are headed for our first hard freeze (in the cities) tonight. Thank you, Pam, for the lovely photos. I really enjoyed seeing you this season in Central Texas Gardener.
Thank you, Suzanne! It was a wonderful opportunity for me. —Pam
Thanks, Pam!
What a lot of interesting greens still thriving in your garden. It is currently 12 degrees and tomorrow’s high is expected to hit 8 degrees with an overnight low of -7! So I’m just sitting in front of the fireplace, ignoring the weather outside and enjoying your garden.
Stay warm, Linda. I will look for beautiful snowy pics from Mark soon. —Pam
Quite average low 50’s here today, but the breeze was still cold; moderating tonight. Such weather suggests ALL places with some winter, but lacking persistent snow cover all winter (even my former home of Denver), can benefit much from green plant structure. It is even more sad for places much milder (like Abq) to not embrace all of our choices for winter and summer dormant season interest, including green & blue-green foliage.
If plants are mere icing on the cake of a good overall design w/ hardscape, may I suggest that flowers are merely the sprinkles on the icing? Important, but not all.
You’re making me hungry, David. Hmm, time to browse the pantry. —Pam
I am glad to see that you have something for her to see. We don’t have as much snow here but it is all white this morning. The real temp is 12. Brrrrr Just seeing those little red blooms makes me feel warmer.
Today’s post has blazing reds and oranges to warm you up, Lisa. —Pam
Green, tan and don’t forget the blue.
I love the blues! —Pam
I like your images today.Very textural. Congrats on your magazine article. I just saw it. Lovely.
Thanks, Donna! —Pam