Extrospection.

Light.

Colour.

Shade.

Just a few pictures taken from inside, looking out.

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly.

The Good.

Cutleaf Weeping Birch (betula pendula). Despite the early snow, it has held up well and is an attractive yellow colour.

The Bad.

The Double Flowering Plum didn't have a chance to change this year. I hope for a mild winter so it can bloom well next spring.

& The Ugly.

My little variegated wiegela looks just plain awful. I hope it overwinters well, I may mulch it.




The Bare. This Pocohontas Lilac had hardly lost a leaf yesterday, and was still green. I was wondering what it would do next. Then the wind came.

I really like this tree which resides in a park nearby. I'm quite sure it's an Amur Maple, although I haven't checked closely.

Winter's over (for now), we're back to fall.

I was so pleased to see that many plants made it through the week of snow & cold relatively unscathed. I can't tell you how happy I am to see green again, and to be out in a t-shirt. The Lamb's ear and Peachleaf Bellflower are absolutely no worse for wear.





In fact, my little cotoneaster hedge is actually showing signs of colour changes, which it hadn't before the snow. It was also completely covered in a profusion of ladybugs.





There are no less than 6 in the picture below (click to enlarge).






PJM Compact is looking much happier and relaxed here, than it did with the leaves tightly curled in the snow.





I'm not sure about the burning bush, it has gone a sickly yellow/gray colour, nothing like the brilliant red I was hoping for again this year. I don't know what it'll do from here, but I suspect the leaves will drop soon.






The leaves on my Mme Lemoine treeform lilac have gone an interesting 2 tone colour after the blast of winter. I think they are very attractive.




And because I can't help but take a picture every time I walk by my Kyushu Hydrangea, here it is again.

This dwarf globe cedar is finally looking like something. When they say these are slow growing, they REALLY mean it. This one is at least 7 years old, and is not much more than an 18 inch ball.

One more new addition, a Blue Muffin Arrowwood Viburnum. I've been interested in these for quite some time, the springtime white flowers are very pretty, the blue berries are unique and attractive and the burgundy colour in the fall is very decorative. My only concern about it is hight & width, although it is marketed as being smaller than most, some reviews say it isn't true. I need to consider this when choosing a location, so if anyone has one, I'd really appreciate any info.

Wordless Wednesday

There's always room for one more.

I just couldn't resist. I had gone houseplant shopping and decided to brave the snow to go and see what was left in the outdoor section. I have been thinking of adding a snowberry for some winter interest, and there were 2 pink ones left. I really liked everything about this individual. Here is my new Coral Berry 'Amethyst' (Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii).

I would like to add a white one, and still might next year. I think this variety has a more compact habit, and doesn't spread as readily as the native one.

Of course, since I'll be digging a new hole anyways (once things thaw a little), why not add a few more tulips at the same time? I think these Flaming Spring Green ones will be stunning.





I was pleasantly surprised by the fall colour of my H.F. Young Clematis, I wasn't expecting this interesting dark purple foliage, but it's lovely, especially against the pale yellow background of the shed.



I've been crazy about my new Kyushu Hydrangea since it was purchased this summer. I like the way it looks now too, the brown colour reminds me of an oak tree.

The snapdragons froze in a beautiful way. The downward turn makes me think of bellflowers.




The Rhododendron PJM Compact is fully in self protection mode. It seems to have set quite a few buds this year, I hope it overwinters well.



This blue spruce is over 35 feet tall, I think the frosting of snow makes the blue colour come out even more.

I've noticed something recently, it seems that yellow/orange flowers are hardier than other colours, and persist the longest. Am I imagining things or is there something to this?

Is it really that time already?

A few days ago, I was finally able to capture a frequent visitor on film. This jay is very camera shy, although if I don't have the camera with me, his favorite spot is sitting on a branch fairly close to my head while squaking loudly.





The weather has gotten considerably worse over the last few days. My beautiful Hemerocalis Bonanza is looking something like a sad, large spider.



Even with a name like 'Summer Sun', there's only so much one can do.



The frog was none too impressed.




The Tiger Eye Gold Rudbeckia, that shone so brightly in my last post, just a few days ago, is succumbing to early winter conditions.



I think the worst part is that the leaves haven't changed colour yet, but are frozen and falling rapidly. Not a hint of colour on my Eunonymus, and with the selective pruning of a large weeping birch nearby, it was probably getting ready to put on a fine show. Same goes for the cotoneaster hedge. It is quite plain all summer, but really lights up the yard in fall. My 2 mature Prunus triolba multiplex (double flowering plum) haven't flowered well due to the buds freezing over the past few years, but are also very attractive in the fall, and are still green. It just feels like it happened too soon, but I suppose we say that every year.

I found this ladybug wandering slowly across my living room floor. I usually put them outside, but at -10 it wasn't an option.

I couldn't resist these cut tulips while out shopping for a turkey early this morning.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

:)
Rebecca

The Pumpkin and The Moon

The Pumpkin...





...and The Moon. Do you think they are distant relatives?





The Tiger Eye Gold Rudbeckia is going strong into the fall. They took a very long time to develop buds, and to finally flower. I considered removing them in August since they are planted in a shady spot and I was ready to give up on them. I'm so glad I left them alone & will plant more next year.





This is the only red leaf I have so far.

Correction. The dwarf cranesbill is also starting to turn for fall. I think it's beautiful.

I really enjoy this Ivory Halo Dogwood, it is about 3 years old. Although it grows well it has yet to produce any flowers or berries, perhaps because of it's shady spot in the backyard. I could be imagining things, but the stems seem to be turning more red with the changing season. I will definitely add another one of these, this time along the front driveway. The variegated leaves are always bright & happy.



My new Unique Hydrangea is turning pink quickly, I like the way it looks with the fall aster behind it.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has visited recently, and left friendly comments & messages. I had no idea that signing up on Blotanical would generate so much traffic. A warm welcome and hello to all.