The snowy garden in February!

Usually, the last ten years or so, the last week in February brings warm spring-like temperatures. But today we awakened to snow! It isn't a heavy snow, just enough to reveal patterns in the garden.

A horizontal line of Ophiopogon 'Nana' and steel set into a linear gravel pathway with steel edging.

Bluestone pavers are revealed while gravel, beneath the snow, is hidden.

Minimal sunlight attempts to break through the 'snow sky'

The snow also highlights patterns in plants.

Trachycarpus fortunei with Anamanthele lessoniana at it's feet.

Corokia cotoneaster with snow covering a tiny contorted branch.

Arctostaphylos 'Austin Griffiths' in bloom with snow.

Eriobotrya japonica in foreground with Cupressus sempervirens in background.

Azara microphylla with Euonymous 'Green Spire' hedge.

A snowy skirt at the base of the apple tree and the crisp lines created by steel edging the planting beds.

The last snow for the old, dying plum tree. It will soon leave the garden - more on that topic later.

Hellebores and Meyer Lemons

Its cocktail time! Helleborus x hybridus cocktails, that is! Yesterday I came to the ugly realization that I'm allergic to Daphne odora and Edgeworthia chrysantha and can't have their lovely blooms in the house. Today while the glorious sun was shining, I cut some Helleborus blooms to enjoy inside. Searching for the perfect vase, I came across these champagne cocktail glasses - perfect! The stem raises the bloom from the table and the varying sizes make a nice arrangement.

And now for the Meyer lemons part of this post...my favorite seasonal cocktail! 

Toss a few ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and add

1 ounce of your favorite vodka

juice from one Meyer lemon

1/2 squeeze light Agave syrup

Shake and pour into a cocktail glass

Lovely!

Steel and Plants that caught my eye...

I attended the Yard, Garden and Patio Show on Friday and Saturday. 

The HPSO display was wonderful as always! Within their mission to educate, they provide tables full of plant cuttings from HPSO member's gardens and nurseries. Each is labeled with pencil and paper provided - I love it! Artists with Cracked Pots were in attendance, such as Ivan McLean whose steel rocking horse

 and enormous daisies caught my eye.

Several large steel urns that artist, Marta Farris creates were displayed with Garden World's 'Curiously Cool Plants' and with other examples of her work in her own booth.

 Also in Garden World's 'Curiously Cool Plant' booth, several evergreen conifers caught my eye.

Pinus mugo 'Ophir'
3'x5-6' mounding shrub with green needles that change to gold.
Very cute...yes, I gave it a little 'pat' on top!

Pinus contorta var. 'Murrayana'
I'm unfamiliar with this conifer but upon a little web search,
Murray lodgepole pine becomes much too large for most gardens.

Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead' 5-6' tall and as broad with time.
In winter the candles grow large and white which stands out against the dark, green foliage.

Yard, Garden and Patio Show!!!

The local and regional gardening shows officially kick off the garden season! This is an exciting time of the year when we 'northwesterners' officially emerge from our winter hibernation. I look forward to the reunion of gardeners as much as the show itself!

Visit the Yard, Garden and Patio Show open today through Sunday at the Portland Convention Center and don't even think about missing the FANTASTIC seminars!

See you at the show!

Winter Fragrance in the Garden

The late winter garden helps to 'break' us out of our winter slumber; awakening all of our senses in what feels like opening the door to the best symphonic performance of your life!

 The birds are singing, squirrels are digging, buds are blooming, the air is warmer (at times) and fragrance fills the air. 

Ah, the delight of it all!

Edgeworthia chrysantha

Edgeworthia chrysantha

Azara microphylla
This one can trick you because the blooms are so small but the fragrance so big - like chocolate cake!

Not quite yet, but when Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata' opens, it'll knock you over with its perfume!