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

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Still frozen.

We've continued to have below normal temperatures here. Last night was down into the teens which is very unusual for this time of year. The freezing weather has pretty much finished off any remaining blooms and buds on the few plants that normally would be blooming. The hardy fuchsias and roses will usually bloom through December, but not this year. I was hoping to have a few flowers for bloom day next week, I think maybe the Daphne 'Summer Ice' may be about it.

I was able to get more good pictures yesterday of the Anna's hummingbird that has been visiting. She's been either in the apple tree or the feeder all day yesterday and today. Another one has tried to join her, but she isn't feeling in the sharing mood I guess. I did some reading on how Hummingbirds survive in freezing temperatures on this website. Apparently the hummingbirds perch on a branch at night and fluff up their wings and lower their body temperature from about 102F degrees to 54F degrees. They appear dead while they are sleeping, but as they wake up their body starts shivering to raise their body temperature back up. I also found that this process is called noctivation.

'Gold Cone' Juniper was planted about a month ago, I was hoping it would get some more time to settle in before the really cold weather got here, but it looks good. I noticed some new blue-green growth on the tips recently.

The Sarcococca ruscifolia doesn't seem the least bit affected by the freezing weather. It's flower buds continue to grow alongside some berries left from the Spring.

It hasn't drooped or had it's leaves curl like the rhodies and Camellias have.

The Corsican Hellebore is the only Hellebore that's not lying flat on the ground. The rest (H. orientalis) had started to send flowers up, but they look like they need a little warmth to perk them back up.

The pond and waterfall are mostly frozen still. The fish aren't moving much, but every so often one takes a very slow swim across the bottom of the pond. I tried to upload a video of one of the fish swimming, but it was taking much longer than usual so I finally gave up.

This little Chickadee was walking across the ice this morning while the Juncos figured out that standing on the waterfall rocks was an easier way to find unfrozen water to drink. The weather is supposed to get a little warmer, up to 40 degrees!

We've been really busy lately getting ready for Christmas. I've been trying to do as much blog visiting as I can work in around shopping, decorating and baking along with the usual things going on around here. I love seeing what's happening in everyone's gardens now that it's winter. It's fun seeing the variety of weather going on now too. Some parts of the world are getting to see Spring flowers while many of us have seen cold weather and snow. So I may be slow to get around to visit, but I'll be there. I hate to miss anything.
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30 comments:

  1. Catherine,
    Now tow hummers, around here the birders would be excited! If you ever have baby Corsican Hellebores I want some! I saw them at Duke Gardens in a 4x6 ft mass awesome!

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  2. Hi Catherine, I love that hummingbird photo and the Juniper is so pretty. Georgia had strong wind today but the temps were almost spring like! Enjoy the special spirit of Christmas with your family and visit with us all when you can. This is such a special time with your daughters. Enjoy!

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  3. Hi Catherine~~ It is freaking cold, isn't it? The weather folks keep pushing out the warm-up, have you noticed? At the beginning of the week it was Thursday. Now they're saying Sunday. Who knows? I have been posting more summer photos on my blog. More for psychological reasons than anything. I must say, however that I love your winter photos. Your nearly iced-over pond and the crystaline icicles on the rocks, dazzling. And your hummer photos are outstanding. And I love how the patina on your fence meshes with the foliage of the Juniper. My Sarcococa is impervious to the chill too. Amazing, isn't it?

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  4. Sorry Catherine that is so cold, thats not good either. I love those pics of your yard, specially the pond. THANK YOU!

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  5. Hi Catherine,

    How fascinating how hummingbirds get through cold temperatures. I did not know that. I love the birds walking across the ice on your pond. Like you, I am trying to fit my blogging in between shopping, wrapping gifts and attending my children's holiday programs at school. But, I can't completely give it up....

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  6. Hi Catherine, Its really freezing in California too, and we don't used to it. All viens in my garden are in trouble. Love your post,
    Dee

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  7. It is cold here too. I didn't know that hummingbirds could survive in such cold temperatures.

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  8. I cannot believe it is so cold there suddenly that the pond froze and is staying frozen! Weirdly, the rest of your yard doesn't look so cold!

    It's really cute how the birds fluff up in the cold weather. Or maybe they're just well-fed at your house?!

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  9. I love the shot of the fluffed-out hummingbird. I did not know about the daily turpor; our Ruby-Throats head to Mexico and S. American when the weather turns cold here. The ice skating chickadee is too cute!

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  10. I'm glad to hear I'm not freezing by myself. I feel like it's taking forever to warm up in Colorado too. Now I think Saturday we're supposed to reach freezing. I never thought I'd think that was so warm!
    Your new hummingbird photo is outstanding. Truly. I am going to go back and click on your link because I kept thinking about how it survived long after I left your blog.
    Your pond looks so icy and cold. The de-icer has kept mine completely open (even with minus zero temps) but you know I have those ugly greenhouse panels over it too. I'm thinking I may take those off?
    It looks so "green" to me in your garden but I've been looking at "white" for a long time now! or at least it feels that way.

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  11. oooh - the chickadee is so cute!! We are having the opposite here - above average temperatures. Its so hot, over 35C and humid. My garden is looking very wilted :-(

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  12. I enjoyed your post. I wonder if other birds do the same thing with their temperatures. I didn't know about that. That's another awesome photo of the hummingbird!

    I'm thinking you took photos from different parts of your property than usual. I enjoyed the different angles and views. That's a nice looking hellebore. Most of mine are the orientalis kind, but I did find some others last year. I am so excited to see when and how much they will bloom late winter or early spring.

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  13. It's good to know the hummers have an instinct that takes over their tiny bodies during the cold.

    We've actually had good weather today but it's going down to 29 tonight. Brrrh!! I think I need to move to Fl. The older I get the less I'm a fan of cold weather.

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  14. Will the hummingbirds stay all winter? The ruby throated hummingbirds we have here have all flown to Central America for the winter. Our temps have been moderate, but are suppose to dip into the 20's by end of week. This was a great post - thanks!

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  15. This is really an interesting post. It's almost like the hummingbirds go into a suspended state. Mother nature never fails to amaze me!

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  16. Your search on the resistance of hummingbirds at low temperatures is very instructive. I love the photo of the little bird that walks on the ice, I would like to get my slippers!
    I have no children to look after, my son has become my garden, and every little spare time I dedicate to her friends to blog, to come and see your gardens even virtually. It's 'a way to approach and share the emotions, is not it? ;)
    Good day!
    Tiziana

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  17. I would be delighted to come here daily just to see your header photo Catherine. We do not get the Anna's only the Ruby-throated hummers visit the northeast. Your first photograph is wonderful! I love the light throughout and seeing all the green in your garden. It looks like you have a large tree there on the right in your fourth photo. Sweet capture of the chickadee. Very interesting and beautiful post. Carol

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  18. I would be delighted to come here daily just to see your header photo Catherine. We do not get the Anna's only the Ruby-throated hummers visit the northeast. Your first photograph is wonderful! I love the light throughout and seeing all the green in your garden. It looks like you have a large tree there on the right in your fourth photo. Sweet capture of the chickadee. Very interesting and beautiful post. Carol

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  19. Catherine that is so interesting about how the hummingbirds survive the cold weather. I didn't know any of that - heck, I didn't even know we had one that wintered here until you mentioned it.
    Your berry pictures are beautiful - they still look good enough to eat!

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  20. I was wondering how your pond was doing. Mine is frozen at least three inches down. I have been going out each day, melting and cracking the ice. I turned the pump off because I was certain the water would freeze in the lines on the way up.
    I have to say your stuff looks like it did pretty well with the temps. I am ashamed to admit that while I remember to feed the birds extra on these days I forgot all about them getting water. Oops!

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  21. Catherine,
    I love your hummingbird photos. I wasn't aware that they could survive freezing temperatures. Very intersting, the noctivation process. Thank you for sharing the information!
    I like the texture of your 'Gold Cone' Juniper.

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  22. Catherine my goodness it is such a study of contrasts in your garden .. when I saw that gorgeous hummingbird it seemed so summer like .. then BANG a frozen pond etc .. wow .. I think my brain would explode with such opposites glaring at me ! LOL
    Beautiful pictures .. that sweet hummingbird .. hope he keeps warm : )

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  23. Hi everyone, thanks for stopping by to comment. It's still well below freezing here, the pond and waterfall are even more frozen than yesterday.

    I'd always wondered how the hummingbirds survived and was glad to finally take the time to learn how. Nature is amazing!

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  24. This weather is so crazy! It has been in the 40s & 50s here, then yesterday it was 70+. This morning it was 43! I am beginning to get a cold! The erratic weather here makes everyone sick!

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  25. I'm still waiting for anything other than rain to happen here!
    Can you adopt hummingbirds?!

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  26. Whoo it looks cold there...I really didn't know that you guys got that cold, being coastal & all. Your garden still lokks pretty with the ice. We are cold here too, but nothing like you guys, the snow & ice stay up in the mountains.

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  27. Oh, Catherine your pond keeps freezing more. Nasty old weather.

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  28. beautiful picturization of a garden in the winter season

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  29. How I envy you having humming birds in the garden - I've never even seen one apart from in zoos. Also had no idea that they could cope with cold weather - assumed they migrated south.

    No snow here and, to be honest, rarely get any at Christmas. But we always reckon to east coast America's cold weather about six weeks later. Then, if we get 2 inches of snow the country grinds to a halt!

    Lovely photos. Have a great Christmas. Johnson

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  30. You take the most amazing hummingbird photos! They're so cute all fluffed up against the cold.

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