"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Not bad for the end of November!

I've always said I love gardening in the Pacific Northwest. We are very lucky to have a fairly long growing season. While in the early spring it sometimes feels like it's taking forever for much to happen, it's the late fall and early winter time that I realize just how much will still grow and bloom here into November and December. I think many gardeners around here garden almost year round. Except for the days that we have some very cold weather or snow, there's almost always something I can find to do outside. I once read that if the ground isn't frozen you can still move plants around here, and believe me I do.
So when I saw that it wasn't raining outside today and we had no other plans I of course decided to do a little cleanup and take a look around the yard.
These are some of the buds and blooms I found in the front yard today:

An 'Endless Summer' bloom that's still hasn't changed to pink like the rest of the flowers on the shrub.

Rose 'Kimberlina' has had this bud for awhile, but it's just decided to bloom. There are several other buds as well.

An unknown pink Pentstemon. This plant died all the way to the ground this past winter which is unusual for them in my garden. It will probably bloom until the first hard freeze.

The $2 Penstemon 'Raven' has the most gorgeous deep purple blooms. The camera really didn't capture the color very well.

If you want an easy rose that blooms forever and has the glossiest green leaves then Flower Carpet Roses are a great choice. It is loaded with buds and flowers and I think it will also bloom until the temperatures drop into the freezing range.

No flowers here, but look at the vibrant color of Bloody Dock (Rumex sanguineus). I planted this months ago but the surrounding plants covered it and I forgot all about it until today. It's hardy in zone 6a - 8b so it should overwinter here. If it survives it will get moved to a much better place.

Rudbeckia hirta 'Rustic Colors' is still managing a few little flowers.

Hellebores (H. orientalis) all seem to be pushing their buds up almost a month early. These are one of my favorites. I remember buying these many years ago and my husband being shocked at the price. They've been worth every cent and I've gotten quite a few seedlings which have been moved into my backyard.

And last is the cute little Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium). It was plopped in this spot at the end of summer after not looking too happy in the pot I had it in. It seems to like where it is now, I was surprised to see blooms on it now.

What a nice way to finish off a busy weekend to see so much color outside.
Pin It

32 comments:

  1. I love it in your part of the country. Your garden is still beautiful...

    www.alwayslingerawhile.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely....still so much beauty to enjoy..wonderful capture of color and light...gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't know Bloody Dock, but after seeing this photo, I would like to have some. It would have to be grown as an annual here in zone 4.

    It was a dreary weather day here and with no snow on the ground, all I could see was the dreaded brown.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ok...now I have to go out there and poke around for some pics.

    Your pics/garden are cheery...even looks like it's warm there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm blocking on the name in your above photo now, but the second word of the name was "dock." Sorry, menopausal brain. Anyway, I have something that looks remarkably like that in my pond in a pot. And I was so excited when I saw your Hellebores! I bought a couple last spring. (Never had one before this.) Then in between the two still-hugging-the-dirt original plants suddenly in the past weeks springs forth this strange looking plant that looks like yours. So that's the new life on the Hellebores! I thought it was never going to do anything. I wonder why the two original plants just sit there looking like they did when I planted them? And this thing in the center is popping up by the day bigger and bigger? Enlighten me if you know!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's so wonderful to have a long growing season. Looks mighty great there indeed. I just adore the roses.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What nice things to have outside at this dreary time of year!

    ReplyDelete
  8. How beautiful! I see that also from you they are still there a lot of flowerings despite both the end of November.
    Compliments, Catherine, always very interesting your plants.
    I have discovered only this year the Penstemons and I have purchased kind different of it.
    An embrace!
    Tiziana

    ReplyDelete
  9. Brenda - The outer leaves don't get much bigger, in fact mine just stay green all summer but not really any new growth happens. During winter all the new growth comes up from the center and I usually cut off the old leaves as the buds and new leaves are up about 6 - 12 inches. My brand new ones sound the same as how you describe yours.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I just discovered your blog! I, too, winced at the price of hellebores but have been so pleased with them. This year I had about a dozen babies to transplant, so I got my money's worth. Thanks for the post - I will visit you again.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You really do have a lot blooming right now and they look so great for this time of year. I went out the other day and took pictures - I actually had things blooming too. I guess I could go ahead and show them since Fertilizer Friday was cancelled. But then nothing for next Friday. O'well. My Snapdragons are still going strong - ya really appreciate them when not much else is blooming.
    Wasn't today beautiful?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Catherine, Everything is so pretty. I especially love the Rumex - I am not familiar with that but I think it is a real stand out. I love all your sweet roses too. I have a few small buds beginning to open and they still smell heavenly even though the surroundings are bleak to say the least! What a fabulous blog you have created, keeping track of what blooms when etc. I know you devote a lot of expertise to both gardening, photography and your blog but WE certainly do enjoy your hard work! Hope you have more pretty days to get out in the yard this week.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Must be exciting to discover these lovely blooms, and your plants are still thriving.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Catherine,
    I can't hardly wait to see your hellebores in bloom. Please do not forget to post them! Pretty excited about our mystery hellebores here too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Still so much loveliness in your garden!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. You have more blooming than we do here, that's for sure! I love those beautiful Penstemons.

    ReplyDelete
  17. You have some lovely blooms yet. I like the penstemons. I am excited about the hellebores, too. Some of mine probably aren't getting enough moisture, but hopefully they'll bloom. I just got them planted this past spring and summer. Yours are coming up really thick. Don't forget to post them when they bloom.

    A friend gave me some of the rumex a couple years ago, and it came up again this spring. It's in a spot where it gets hidden by taller plants, too. I am planning to move most of the plants in that bed in the spring, so will fix that, too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Catherine~~ Yesterday was sunny but today FOG--not exactly my weather preference but it beats the cold. Like you, I'm also amazed at what is still in bloom. I agree that we are so incredibly lucky to live here. I believe there is no greater place on earth be a plant collector!

    ReplyDelete
  19. My goodness. I feel like we garden in totally different worlds Catherine! My season has been over for almost two months now and you haven't even had a hard frost! Makes me want to move. I can't believe what all you still have blooming (I think I've said that many times the past couple months). It's so refreshing to see outdoor blooms. I bought four hellebores this spring so I'm looking forward to seeing them flower. You're right about how expensive they are but if they bloom when everything else is brown, it's worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. How nice to see that you still have all those flowers in your garden. We did get an (way to early) early frost in october and that ended most flowering around here. Atherwise we have about the same climate as you I think and I would be abel to do the same thing if it wasn't for the very wet soil we have. It's clay and after all the rain... no, I'll better wait for spring before I start to move around the plants (again)

    ReplyDelete
  21. My husband too blanched at the sight of a delivery note for a box fill of Helborus oritenalis..LOL You'd think he'd be used to it after all this time...My Helleborus corsicus and foetida are in bloom now, its perishingly cold here in England.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow! I'm impressed with all your blooms at the end of November! That's amazing.
    Very pretty too.
    The bloody dock overwinters here for me, so you should be seeing it next year.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Catherine your garden never ceases to amaze me. You always have something that looks great!

    We sold Bloody Dock at work this year and unfortunately I didn't get any. I think it is so pretty so I'll definitely be on the look out for it next year.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I have lots of hellebores, but don't think any of them have any buds yet. I love them! Especially amongst a whole bunch of crocus in early spring. I scored a double at a 1/2 off sale at the end of October, and can't wait to see it in bloom!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I have a bit of color left in my yard too but I'm sure they will go soon with this cooler weather ...

    ReplyDelete
  26. I can't wait to see everyone's hellebores! I love them, but unfortunately they won't grow here.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I need to move to a place where I can garden like you do! wow...it all is wonderful

    ReplyDelete
  28. It would be wonderful to have such a long growing season. To still have roses blooming is such a treat.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Catherine

    Not bad considering it's December tomorrow.

    Could that Penstemon be 'Mrs Hindley'?

    ReplyDelete
  30. beautiful flowers especially the rose in the second photo

    ReplyDelete
  31. You still have so much to look at in your garden. I have brown sticks to look at. We're happy with our weather too - 236 days with no snow. Awesome for Buffalo!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I was so inspired by your post that I went out into my own garden and took a look around. I also got busy clearing out the pond plants finally. They were still hanging on! Everytime I see your hydrangea I start chomping at the bit for spring when I plan to buy a few for my own garden. I don't have any and they always look so lovely when you show them. Of course I will be whining that it is taking them too long to look like yours. heheh.
    I truly appreciate so much of what you say here on your blog. It mirrors my own thoughts so often and I just love seeing what you are doing in your garden. :-)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. I try my very best to answer any questions you may have, but usually don't have time to respond to each comment. Please leave a link to your blog so I can visit you in return.