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

Sunday, December 19, 2010

The pond in December.

The kids are out on winter break and Christmas is less than a week away.  It seems as if this year has flown by!  We still have some candy making to do and presents to buy, but other than that we're excited and ready for the holidays.
After all the rain we had last week, we've enjoyed some nice dry days, even saw a good amount of sun outside!  It's been feeling cold again lately, although nowhere near as cold as it is in other places.  I planted a few Violas in some containers yesterday and once again my deck is clear of plants waiting to go in the ground.  I wonder how long that will last?  I've also been reading through my seed catalogs, my favorite right now being the Botanical Interests one.  I think I love their artwork on the seed packets as much as the seeds.  (I'm not being paid to mention them, just truly love their products from personal experience.)  I've been circling lots of seeds that I want to try even though last spring I thought I wouldn't be starting much from seeds this year.  It was a wet and frustrating spring and summer and I didn't have much luck.  But, once Christmas is over I will be putting my order in.  There isn't much more rewarding than flowers blooming that were started from seed in your own garden.

There's not much activity in the pond right now, the fish swim around on warmer days, but mostly rest near the bottom.  Little flocks of birds come by to to bathe.  I love watching how some will balance on the edge of one of the submerged pots to get a drink while others like to roll around in the waterfall.

 I'm trying to figure out how to get some more evergreen plants in the pond area.  At the back of the pond and to the left towards the shed there's quite a bit, but from this angle almost everything has died back for winter.  It's difficult to find space because once spring is here, there will be so much filling in.  This might be the year that I redo the right side of the pond and organize it a little better.

 Right now I'm depending on the Heucheras to add color.  This is 'Autumn Bride'.  It takes quite a bit of afternoon sun which surprised me.  Most Heucheras, especially the lighter ones, seem to like part shade for the afternoon.

 Another Heuchera (can't remember it's name now)  which grows in a group with Heuchera 'Petite Pearl Fairy', 'Marmalade' and near Japanese Blood Grass.

 I think this is a tassel fern.  I planted it a long time ago and it does great right by the pond.  The new growth has a fuzzy texture which adds a lot of interest too.

The Littlest Gardener has her winter ballet performance today which we're looking forward to seeing.   She's been my biggest helper with Christmas this year, being only 4 she's just beyond excited about it. 
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24 comments:

  1. love the pond...mine is cover by a foot of snow but your pics will keep the garden alive for me!!

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  2. Even without all the Spring and Summer growth & colour, your pond is lovely. I am looking forward eagerly to seeing next season's pictures!

    Lovely Heucheras and such an interesting fern. I've never seen or heard of a Tassel Fern until now that is ;)

    Hope your little ballerina's concert goes wonderfully wel1!

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  3. Your pond might love to have a fisherman's wand dipping down in a corner...diarama...it is pink and grows well in the Pacific Northwest...I have two healthy clumps...and the hummingbirds love it in the spring.

    Our local hummies are feeding long at the feeder in this cold...
    Enjoy the concert and the Christmas shopping.
    Happy Holidays
    Leslie

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  4. Your heuchera's look good. Mine are now buried under the snow. Those catalogs will be dogeared from looking at them after Christmas here also. Enjoy the littlest gardeners ballet performance.
    Wishing you and your family a Wonderful Christmas Catherine. Hugs, Lona

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  5. No matter what the season I still love the look of your pond.

    And that fern, I am totally enraptured by ferns.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  6. Have a great time at the ballet. What fun it will be! Like you I can't believe this year has flown too. If all us garden bloggers put our heads together can we figure out and maybe slow down next year? Make it last for a while?

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  7. Hi Catherine, I hope you will share some photos from the ballet this afternoon. After Christmas, it will be fun to choose plants for next year's garden. Our Lenten Roses are beginning to look good again. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

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  9. I love your heucheras. Your pond looks a little sad without all the beauty that usually surrounds it. What a joy to see it all come back to life come spring.

    Dear Catherine ~ may you and your family have a lovely Christmas and a wonderful new year.

    Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind comments this year.

    Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

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  10. I had my first seed arrive the other day, just waiting to be read and re-read. My garden is under so much snow and the pond is no where to been seen, just a small hole where the heating is. Take care:)

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  11. I'm going to check out the seed house you mentioned. I always love looking and dreaming. Your pond looks great even with all the weird weather we've been plagued with which is a testament to your great gardening.

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  12. Catherine, your garden still looks alive. For small conifers around the pond check out Larry Conrads site called Conrad Art Glass and Gardens.

    I have been looking for small evergreens also and he was a grea help.

    Eileen

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  13. Catherine dear,

    I too love those Heucheras. I like to shop in the nursery at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden because they have quite an extensive offering of them.

    The pond still looks great! Honestly, our yard is so small (9,000 square feet) and so densely planted now, I don't know where I could put one. I miss my old pond.

    Have you ever looked at the pond pictured inside the Sunset book? I love it. It is on my garden dream list.

    I used to sell Botanical Interest seeds. Those illustrations are a knock out, aren't they? But I like Renee's too.

    Sending love and best wishes across the miles,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  14. It's nice to see your garden again. Beautiful pictures and beautiful plants. Ours is buried under snow, so it's nice to see such lovely pictures. Glad to hear your pond is is doing well with wonderful plants to highlight its beauty. Have a great holiday! - Jen (aka Miss Daisy)

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  15. Good Morning Catherine, Your pond looks inviting and from you description of birds playing in the waterfall, it is an important feature in your garden . . . not just for beauty but for the birds welfare too. I love the coral bells . . . lovely foliage. Sounds sweet to have a Christmas helper like your little angel. Wishing You and Yours a very Happy Christmas and Many Blessings in the New Year! Have fun with your seed order.

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  16. I am really looking forward to settling down with the seed catalogues after Christmas. Heucheras are really good all year round doers ~ must add to the ones I have. Hope that you and your family enjoy Christmas Catherine and wishing you happy gardening in 2011 xxx

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  17. Hi Catherine. Your pond looks great, even in winter! I know about that madness that usually comes around this time of year, that is, seed catalog dementia.

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  18. I agree, this year seems like it's flown by at light speed. I swear I was just transplanting out tomato seedlings...and now it's less than a week to Christmas!? Do Camellias do well where you are? You might be able to espalier one along the fence, so it doesn't take up too much room, but it would give you that evergreen backdrop for winter. Wishing Littlest Gardener all the best for tonight's performance. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  19. I love those Heuchera, they really are little work-horses at this time of year!

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  20. It looks good to me Catherine and even appears to have a lot of green around it (see you just need to look at it from a cold climate perspective!!!) I have a heuchera that I never got planted sitting up next to the house and it's got new growth on it! I was so surprised. They are really hardy aren't they?
    I bet it is so much fun at your house this year with the Littlest Gardener. That is a great age. Have a wonderful holiday!
    ps I'm getting excited about seed ordering too. After Christmas, that's tops on my list!

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