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

Friday, December 9, 2011

Frosty and Foggy Days.

 Today is the first time I've seen sun in days.  It's been very cold and very foggy lately.  The sun finally got a chance to break through today and it's so nice to see blue skies.  The sun has tried to come out for days, just breaking through the fog around 4:15 as it was setting.  It did give us some beautiful sunsets though!  And the moon at night was extra bright.
Earlier today I went out to look at the garden and how pretty it looked frosty with the haze of fog around everything.  I've seen so busy I haven't had a chance to enjoy how pretty things look covered in frost.  Even the spider's silk that draped from branch to branch looked like it had been dipped in white paint and made the delicate silk look much thicker than it is.  The winter light, even in the fog, is my favorite.  All the colors seem so much deeper.

 The butterfly garden covered in frost.  There are still two different Erysimums blooming!

 Abelia, to the right, starts blooming late and is mostly evergreen, unless we get many days in a row below freezing.

 In one of the raised beds there is chard, beets and kale growing here.  Since this the first winter growing them I'm not sure if this is the end for them or if they will bounce back.

 The driveway bed that I worked on earlier in fall still has lots of interest.  The Ninebark hasn't lost any leaves yet.  The bright green in front is an evergreen called False Holly (Osmanthus) 'Goshiki'.

 A frosted unknown pink rose.

 Frosty 'Lady Emma Hamilton'.

 We put garland and lights up on the picket fence, something I've always wanted to have.  It looks so pretty all lit up at night.

 The front of the house through the fog.  You can see what a slope our yard is on in this picture.

 The pond had no ice, although the birdbaths all do.  After 8 years of having the pond I came up with a good way to clean the pump when it's cold.  It was quite dirty and needed a final cleaning for the year.  Instead of dealing with cold hose water.  I filled a bucket with warm water from the house and took the filter and pump apart and cleaned them in the warm bucket water.  Cleaner than usual and no numb hands!  Why it took me so long to figure this out I'll never know.

 I haven't adjusted the color in any of these pictures, it's just this vibrant looking right now in the garden.  Maybe it's the cold or maybe it's the fog?  Do you see our neighbor cat on the fence?  He and his brother are friends with Gracie.  They have been sleeping on our back deck the last few days, seems like a cold place to sleep, but I think they are waiting for Gracie to come out and play in the mornings.

 The bright red apples just pop against the bare branches.  They are too high to reach and so the squirrels are mostly enjoying them now.

Down the path you can see how colorful the Oakleaf Hydrangea is.  This has been it's best year ever.

I'll be interested to see how our winter goes.  Typically we've seen a dusting of snow by now, or at least a few flakes.  I've found myself hoping for some, maybe during the school break?
It's been very busy here so far we've had a choir concert, a choir field trip (the kids got to sing in the State Capitol), seen Arthur Christmas with preschool friends (very cute movie), gone Christmas shopping and seen Santa.  We've still got to get our tree, make candy, finish shopping, more basketball games and a Christmas ballet recital.  As busy as it all is, I'm enjoying this Christmas season more than ever.  But, I know that once it's over I'll be impatiently waiting for spring gardening! 
All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress. Pin It

33 comments:

  1. These photos do more than anything else I've seen so far this year to put me in the holiday spirit. Thanks!

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  2. How wonderful to still see blooms in your butterfly garden. I just love the frosty Roses too. Your picket fence must look so festive when it's lit up at night! Have a very happy holiday season.

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  3. Catherine, one of my favorite things about your gardens is the cottage stone path. It's beautiful. I love your frosty rose pics! You captured that so nicely! I'm glad the fog lifted enough for you to grab some pics. Your gardens are vibrant year round. Happy Holidays, Jenni

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  4. We had our first dusting of snow last night, quite late for us. Your pond and that path always captivate me. I know you are in a much more temperate climate but am always amazed how much you are like us to a certain point, like we are going down to 10 degrees tonight.

    Eileen

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  5. I SO want a white picket fence in my front yard! I just adore yours. And I'd like to see another pond in my future. Have to update the electricity before I can do that however.
    Brenda

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  6. Catherine, the garden looks so pretty with the frosty flowers and foggy vistas. We still have geraniums blooming on the back porch, even though we have had ice in the bird baths. I think this is the last week for them, though. Supposed to be in the teens soon. I'm with you. As soon as the holidays are over, I want spring! :) Have a wonderful and joy-full Christmas! ~~Rhonda

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  7. I love the foggy pictures...and frost is so interesting as it forms on the different blooms. Great pics Catherine, very interesting lighting and coloring.

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  8. The drab background of the foggy mornings seems to make the colors pop out in contrast. I don't know that I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, but if i comes I'll enjoy it. Seems to be cold enough for it these days.

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  9. Hi Catherine,
    Your place looks beautiful in the frost and fall colors. My two favorite photos from this group are the first one, and the one with the neighbor cat.

    We plan to decorate our Christmas tree tomorrow with our grandsons.

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  10. I love the photos it reminds me of the cold winters i used to have.

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  11. Good morning,
    What a lovely vieuw over your garden in the fog. The frozen roses lookes beautiful. And I agree the colors of nature are fantastic at this time of the year.
    Have a lovely weekend
    Marijke

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  12. Dear Catherine ~ What a delight to see your gardens in their frosty, foggy state. I always think your gardens are lovely any time of the year. I love your sugar coated pink rose, and your picket fence with the decorations is wonderful.

    Have a lovely Christmas season.

    FlowerLady

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  15. Just love the frosty shots...so beautiful...don't you just love Erysimum...they are such troopers!

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  16. Sugar kissed frosty plants are beautiful as are all your gardens in decline...lovely!!

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  17. Your white picket fence looks so pretty Catherine dressed up for Christmas.
    The frost roses look so beautiful all frosty. Like they are frozen in time.
    Have wonderful and I hope sunny weekend.

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  18. Isn't it great to see some sunshine and interesting vegetation this time of year. My erysimums have been flowering since March and show no sign of abating.

    No looking forward to hellebores.

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  19. Hi,

    Lovely photos; still waiting for a harsh frost like that here so I can take photos! We've had some frost on the grass but nothing really on the plants yet.

    The Erysimum is very nice; mine are also still blooming. I'm hoping I don't lose them over winter, they've been such fantastic plants blooming for months now.

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  20. Great photos. I love how you decorated the fence. Very festive. Your place is beautiful. The fog provides such a beautiful canvas. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. Great photos. I love how you decorated the fence. Very festive. Your place is beautiful. The fog provides such a beautiful canvas. Thanks for sharing.

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  22. I love your fog photos! Your garden looks so pretty no matter what time of year! I can't wait til we move there in the spring!

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  23. It looks wonderful. I love your picket fence with the lighted garland and that frosty pink rose is gorgeous! How come your garden looks attractive in winter and mine just looks.. dead? Waaaaaah!

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  24. Beautiful photos of this phase of your garden. It's always interesting when you haven't seen what the new portions are going to do and what is coming next. Hey, the warm water was a brilliant idea even if it was a little late. :)) Love your Christmas-y picket fence. Your dream come true.

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  25. Even in Winter and the misty fog your garden looks lovely. Sounds like a very busy December, sounds wonderful! Enjoy.

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  26. It all looks so magical in the mist and covered in frosty crystals. Really so very lovely indeed! Your garden is good in all its seasons, Catherine! I'm so glad you found time to get these wonderful pictures :)

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  27. I do like the atmosphere of the foggy garden and I do like how you have decorated your picket fence. I would like a picket fence but we arent allowed to fence in our front gardens.

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  28. Love the garland on your fence, Catherine. Sorry I've been away so long. Your foggy, chilly weather is about the same as here. My sister in Eastern Oregon has sunny weather. I'm jealous. :) Love the kitty on the fence and the "sugar coated" rose. Sounds like you're having a wonderful season.

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  29. I'm rather partial to white picket fences and raised beds ;-). It was just a delight to walk through your garden today. Haven't made time to blogsurf lately, but glad I did this morning. Love your wreath on the gate. Happy Holidays.

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  30. Catherine, those frosted roses are gorgeous, and I love the apples, they look like little red ornaments. I'm so far behind on Christmas preparations this year. Between our wind storm, a terrible cold, and jury duty, the holidays seem to be on hold this year!

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  31. love the greenery on your picket fence!

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  32. Thank you for posting a beautiful picture of your picket fence. I am in the process of building a short section in my front yard and was stumped about what to do with the slope. I found your picture and will now feel confident following the slope because yours looks great!

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