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

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Not too shabby for mid November!

Well, I finally accept the fact that winter is around the corner.  We had an amazingly beautiful fall right up until about week or so ago.  It seemed to have been making up for our less than amazing spring and summer.  But after a few frosts, we finally had a pretty good freeze last night with temperatures down in the mid 20's.  So, that means it's perfect weather to get up really early and go watch a soccer game!  Sweet Pea's soccer team played today, unfortunately they lost by one goal, but it was a great close game.  Her team ended up first in their league and second in their division, pretty exciting for her.  Anyway, a good thing about getting up that early on a weekend meant there was lots of the day left to get other things done.  Even though birdbaths were still frozen I decided to go out and do more  fall clean up.  There is still quite a bit more to do, but now I know I have to take advantage of the dry days, cold or not, to finish.  Once I get moving I forget about how cold it is anyway.

This planter just looks better and better.  I love how it's filling in.

A newer evergreen shrub in my garden, which is supposed to do well in the Pacific Northwest, is False Holly (Osmanthus heterophyllus) 'Goshiki'.

This Aster is one of the few things left blooming in the garden.  Wallflower, Erysimums and Daphne 'Summer Ice' are about it for now.

The shed garden looking pretty good for the middle of November.

There are still quite a few apples left on the tree.  I can't reach them and need to remember to have my husband get some down.  They have been so good this year.  I recently chopped some up to cook with a really good maple glazed pork tenderloin the other day.

I have filled many bags with leaves and pine needles from the path.  It gets so matted and wet that our dog won't go outside.

Sarcococca ruscifolia is already full of buds.  It blooms in late winter with the best smelling flowers.  It does great in dry shade and is evergreen, I love it.

The pond had a layer of ice on it this morning.  The fish are hiding at the bottom and there are still lots of leaves to scoop out.  The Water Hawthorn is just starting to bloom, it actually prefers the cooler weather and blooms into winter.

The window boxes outside our dining room window are doing great.  The Littlest Gardener chose the colors of Violas.  They are bright and cheerful!

Overall it's still looking pretty good outside, I do miss not seeing many flowers though.  
Hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving!  My sister and her family are driving from Idaho to join us,  we're excited to see them and hope they have a safe drive especially since it sounds like there are several storms predicted.
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

30 comments:

  1. Your garden looks great, really like your stone path :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. The littlest gardener has superb taste in her choice of colors for violas.

    Your blue garden shed is still an eye-catcher. I've missed seeing it, which means I need to get to your blog more often.

    The house across the street....maybe zombies are moving in. lol

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

    donna

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Catherine ~ I LOVE seeing your gardens any time of year. How neat to grow your own apples. Your path looks really nice and it's hard to believe your pond is iced over. Your blue shed is sweet.

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

    FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  4. Looking good, especially all those apples. Get them picked, and make apple pies with them for Thanksgiving! Hope you have a good holiday. I do like the Littlest Gardener's taste in flower colors. My sweetbox has lots of buds too, I'm looking forward to smelling them.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your garden looks wonderful still, especially compared to a zone 6 garden! I love the 'Goshiki' and the aster. I think I might have the same aster if it is 'Prince.' The blue shed garden looks so refreshing yet Fallish at the same time. Love it! Have a Happy Holiday!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Catherine, your garden looks very nice even in fall. I especially love the first picture of the container with the roses still blooming in the background and the window boxes with the violas. In my garden there are also not that many blooms to see anymore and I miss them, too, so I went to the nursery today and got some pansies to help me out a bit! Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
    Christina

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your garden looks lovely, and the pansies are so colorful. I'm one of those who is having some difficulties with winter coming also. I guess it's just part of being a gardener.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

    ReplyDelete
  8. So pretty! Everything looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So pretty! Everything looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I SO wish I had you here this spring to help at the little blue house yard!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Catherine, Your garden looks amazing. You can sure tell you've been working in it. Your Osmanthus looks wonderful and the pansies are adorable. I'll have to take a look at my Sarcococca. We still haven't had a serious frost yet but it's only about 39 degrees outside tonight. Brrr... Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope your relatives make it okay. We'll have a houseful too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Catherine, everything is beautiful! Wow, that aster is beautiful! Gloria

    ReplyDelete
  13. The cold helps you keep moving when you do the fall clean up. We've had a really great fall with everything lasting longer than normal! Have a great thanksgiving.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Not shabby at all! Your garden's bones are showing, and they are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Catherine the bones of your garden have a nice flow and everything looks ready for winter...the pond is so serene...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Mmmm! Maple glazed pork tenderloin!! Oh yes, that's right ... your garden is looking quite lovely, lol! The planter is indeed starting to look fabulous. The combination of plants makes it very interesting. Love the Aster and your gorgeous blue garden shed. Congratulations to Sweet Pea's team for ending up first in their league! Congratulations Mum for getting up really early on rather cold mornings to go and watch the games.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Darn right it looks good for mid November! I don't recall seeing violas that shade of pink, very pretty combo Littlest Gardener. I do pray traveling mercies for your famiy and a wonderful time visiting with them over the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  18. It seemed like I lost my last comment so I will try again! As usual, the path and the pond are my favorites but I am also really liking that new fenced in front area. The planter is certainly impressive as is that variegated holly. Fall has certainly set in with winter fast approaching.

    Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  19. I really like the foliage of your False Holly. Your Pansies are looking so pretty. Sweet Pea has had a wonderful soccer season. Your all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Early fall was lovely here too, much more pleasant and sunny than most of summer!

    Your garden still looks lovely, even in mid-late November. I had Sarcococca planted in a garden years ago, but I never, ever, saw it bloom. I knew it was supposed to, but I think it was in too shady a spot.

    Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Think your home gardens always look good/great. And you even have lots of colors.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Catherine. I had some free time today and decided I would use some of it ti visit blogs.

    Your garden is always a Joy to visit because I learn something new from it when I visit. I did some research on your Sarcococca ruscifolia also called Sweet box and learned that it's an evergreen that also bears red or black fruit. I have got to find out if it is grown in the south because I will certanily but it on my future garden list.

    Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Your garden appears lovely to me, no matter the season. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'll say your garden looks great...it looks wonderful! I love your pond...just looks so peaceful :-)

    ReplyDelete
  25. The temps are dropping, but you still have a lot of garden interest. Much more than here and we have not been in the mid 20's yet. The Osmanthus is a pretty shrub.

    ReplyDelete
  26. catherine girl
    I haven't made it to your place in ages .. red faced !
    Your garden is looking perfect for this time of year .. I envy your pond and that stone path is my ideal example of what kind of path I want leading from front garden to back garden : )
    Hope all goes well with the travelling .. some times the weather people are wrong ? LOL
    Joy

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your yard looks beautiful all year long, and that takes a lot of dedication and work. I especially like the area with the rustic bird house.

    ReplyDelete
  28. What a lovely garden! I'm new to your blog and I'm looking forward to seeing it through the seasons. I love your garden shed.

    ReplyDelete
  29. It looks wonderful Catherine. Even with winter coming on, you have lots of interesting stuff. I love that false holly - very attractive.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I really enjoy seeing your backyard area. You have really created a great space back there. It does look great for November.

    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.