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Isopogon formosus Calendar

Gardener’s Log March 2022

For the first time in quite a while, a month has been acting like it should. March has been fairly grey, a reasonable amount of rain, lots of sun breaks, most of them fairly short, some warmer days, some colder days and a general improvement as we have gone through the month. Having said that, there have been several frost threats. We only got down to 34°F, but that was close enough given that I have plenty of tender stuff getting hardened off at the moment.

Daffodils are blooming everywhere and for many people they are the real harbinger of Spring. Can you blame them – they are so cheery. Lots of new ones were added to the lower part of the garden this year.

Narcissus – shady mix

Construction Update

While we have not had many dry days in a row, I have been able to make some progress on the construction projects in the garden.

Pot Benches

The second of the benches in the potting area has been completed. This one has the means for quickly covering up plants when frost or heavy rains threaten. It also has a stainless-steel workbench on one end to make potting and plant care a lot easier without forever running in and out of the greenhouse. I have also laid down a pathway from the main entry axis along the benches. As well as being functional, I tried to make it a little more interesting by running the line of red brick through the pavers. I think it works. Now I have to get more gravel to level up the far end a bit.

New area for Pots taking shape

Winter Garden

The other area that has seen a lot of progress is the clearing of the area that will become two garden areas. They are separated by a new rock retaining wall that runs along the contour of the slope. Above the path is an extension of the ‘Upper Woodland’ which will be a Winter Garden. Many of the trees and plants are being selected are particularly showy during the winter months. I have done a separate post on the Winter Garden. Below the path will be a sort of Mediterranean Garden, but I will probably add a few Agaves and other more architectural plants. Lots more clearing to do before planting begins, but it is getting to the point where I should stop in case any birds decide to start nesting in there.

Both gardens will go almost to the property line, but then I have to work out how to create a path down the very steep slope into the Fairy Garden, which has seen no construction this month. The fairies will have to be a little patient with me.

What’s Blooming

It really is all about the daffodils this month. The Anemones are adding a touch of pink and blue in several areas of the garden. I also noticed many seedlings along the path by the Portal. I may have to thin those out a little, or see if I can transplant some. Pulmonaria and Fritillaria are both adding their unique charms.

Sometimes, plants can be real characters. This, believe it or not, is a Fritillaria imperialis ‘Argenteovariegata’. Let’s just say this one is not destined for imperial anything. I think it is rather shy and bowing for acceptance.

A shy Fritillaria imperialis ‘Argenteovariegata’

The Hellebores are almost over at this point and most of the Correa are winding down. The Isopogon is still glorious, and this has made my heart sing after losing so many other Protea over winter. A couple of Grevillea are blooming, none better than G. ‘Poorinda Leane’.

Grevillea ‘Poorinda Leane’

In the greenhouse, one of the Gladiolus carneus I grew from seed is blooming. The flowers are a range of pinks. I love the patterning and the contrast created by the blue anthers.

Gladiolus carneus
Gladiolus carneus

Weather Summary

March 2022 was a warmer month than last year, but also with more rain. On average we were almost 3° warmer and both the high and the low were 5° higher. On the other side, we had 80% more rain. 2021 saw just 6.34″ while this year we soaked up 10.39″. The wind gauge has not been fixed yet, so we are unable to make any comparisons there.

Oceanside Winter Garden Garden Areas

Winter Garden

When most people talk about gardening, they are likely to concentrate on vegetables or flowers, but what about the garden in Winter? Some may talk about it as showing the bones of the garden. The perennials will have disappeared for the season and the leaves have fallen from the deciduous trees; what is left is often the hardscapes. These are a very important element of the garden and one that I have tried to work on, so that the garden takes on a cohesive feel.

But there can be so much more and being in a mild climate means that we really can think about making a region of the garden beautiful over winter. Hats off to the Gardener’s World program produced by the BBC, who showcased a few Winter Gardens and got me thinking about it.

A winter garden exists on several levels, just the same as a garden in any other season. Trees, shrubs, ground cover, accents.

Newly Planted Winter Garden

Trees

Trees can be important in several ways and both deciduous and evergreen have important roles to play. Deciduous trees can provide incredible bark texture and color. A silver birch creates dramatic white lines that reach for the sky. Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ has bright red twigs that add an element of fire to the garden. Acer griseum, the paper bark maple has dramatic brown and red exfoliating bark. There are many other trees that are suitable for all climates that can create that vertical element of drama.

Evergreens add form and structure that is often almost formal. Picea pungens, the blue spruce forms a blue pyramid. Other conifers may be tall and slender. Green, yellow and blue hues predominate.

There are a few trees that also bloom in winter – perhaps the most notable ones being Camelia and Witch Hazels. The latter also adds a wonderful fragrance. Camelias come in a range of styles, colors, and forms.

I have selected Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ (Coral Bark Maple) and two dwarf evergreens, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘treasure Island’ and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Blue Surprise’ as the anchor plants.

Shrubs

There are two ways to look at shrubs – individuals and groups. Groups are often part of hedges that can provide an important backdrop and that in turn can make other aspects of the garden become even more pronounced. Clipped topiaries can also add an important structural element.

Many evergreen shrubs take on winter plumage. Hebe ‘Silver Dollar’ adds bright red to its leaves in winter. Cryptomeria japonica ‘Mushroom’ takes on a bronze coloration.

There are several blooming shrubs that can both add color and fragrance. An example is Daphne, which contributes in many ways. Not only does it bloom, but some, like Daphne retusa have wonderful bark color and form. The winter heather (Calluna) are covered in tiny drooping buds in white through to purple.

We cannot leave out the deciduous shrubs either because they contribute what is perhaps the most famous of all winter garden plants – the shrub dogwoods. These unassuming plants for the rest of the year show off their stem color in winter and these range from yellow to red and every imaginable combination in between. ‘Winter Fire’ is a popular newer cultivar that has both distinct red and yellow coloration.

Many of the plants mentioned have been included. Betula x plettkei ‘Golden Treasure’, also marketed as Cesky Gold and Cornus sanguinea ‘Cato’, also marketed as ‘Arctic Sun’, plus Daphne tangutica (syn. Daphne retusa). The trunk on this is chunky and almost Dr Seuss-like and it almost matches the Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’ (Lion’s Head Maple) growing on the bank above it. It has it trunk exposed in winter, showing the similarities between them. The Dogwood picks up on the color of the Coral Bark Maple. Two heathers have been include Calluna vulgaris ‘Siska’ and Calluna vulgaris ‘Verenka’.

Winter Garden – Similar Trunk shapes

Succulents

Many Aloes bloom during winter and into early spring. One that has just been added to the collection is Aloe striata, The Coral Aloe. It should have multiple, branched clusters of coral red blooms. However, for us, we may need to keep it in a pot because it does not like a lot of winter water. A space to put a pot when it comes into bloom is a good idea.

We have placed a number of Sempervivum ‘Red Beauty’ (Hen and Chicks) into the rock wall, that will not only fill in the gaps but provide a softening of the rock.

Fragrance

I have already mentioned a couple of winter garden genera that are good for scent, Hamamelis and Daphne) but there are many others. And the fragrance doesn’t have to just come from flowers. Lavender and Rosemary both provide plenty of fragrance when brushed against and the rosemary is likely to be in bloom as well, with it blue flowers.

I choose Osmanthus delavayi. It has white fragrant flowers, but I am suspicious that it may have been forced into bloom, and that a more usual bloom time is April. That is somewhat out of the Winter Garden timeframe, but we shall see as it settles down. We do have a Viola odorata ‘Comte de Brazza’ that is adding both a little color and some fragrance.

One I would like to add is Edgeworthia chrysantha. I don’t know what this is not more popular in this country and easier to obtain. It has the most magical yellow, perfumed blossoms that hang down from the branch tips. Before opening each flower in the cluster looks like a fuzzy cats paw. That fuzz then extends to the tips of the petals. While I have located one for sale across the other side of the country, it gets to be quite expensive when shipping is involved.

Early Color

This is one area where we are really lucky. We really do have something in bloom every month of the year and winter is no exception. The Hellebores start in December and go all the way through winter. Whites, reds, purples, yellows and almost black are available these days with many patterns and forms.

Calluna (Heathers) have already been mentioned, and ephemerals like Cyclamen hederifolium ‘Silver and Pink’ add a little bit of a filler color and leaf texture.

Looking farther afield for plant ideas, the Correa have been blooming their hearts out over the past couple of months. Correa ‘Ray’s Tangerine’ was selected because it matches the color of the Coral Bark Maple and the Dogwoods.

By January and through to March, the first of the bulbs are providing intense pops of color. My favorites are the dwarf Iris that come in some stunning blue, yellow and white combinations. These like to remain dry in summer, so I am thinking about planting some in the path itself. I haven’t done that yet, but remains a possibility.

Hardscape colors borrowed in Winter Garden

Further Expansion

The top portion of the garden has a dwarf Birch Hedge, which over time should hide the heat pumps a little. I selected Betula x plettkei ‘Golden Treasure’ which should only get to be 4′ tall and wide. That still leaves room for filler plants around the stepping stones and at the far end, where construction is not yet finished.

The deer have already found the garden. Last night they came in and left their mark and decided that they like the Dogwood. The damage was contained to one of them and not too bad, but we may have to give them some protection until they become more established.

Hebe 'Silver Dollar' Calendar

Gardener’s Log – February 2022

February has been both cruel and kind. Let’s start with the kind.

The dry, relatively warm weather has enabled significant progress on three areas of the garden that are under development. The bench/seating area in the fairy garden now has a bench and work is progressing on the slate flooring in there. Black pebbles will fill in the major gaps under and behind the seating, and then Herniaria glabra will be planted in the gaps. A half flat of these has been growing from cuttings in the greenhouse over winter.

The second area is the extension to the upper woodland and surrounding area. I had to start work on this so that there was a temporary place for some of the pots, but more about that in a minute. Along with the clearing, the location for the new path that will go through that part of the garden came into focus. Thanks to a delivery of rock, I was able to start building the retaining walls for this.

Winter Garden

When I started thinking about what plants I had available for that area, I decided that a secondary theme for it should also be a winter garden. I had seen a couple of episodes of Gardener’s World that featured these and decided that it was something I could easily do in that area. The first addition was an Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’, more commonly known as the Coral Bark Maple. Along with plants already in the collection, I will probably also try and acquire one of the more interesting colored twig dogwoods to go in there. Daphne, Hellebore, Winter flowering heaths will join them.

Below the walkway, and along the main pathway will be a Mediterranean garden. This will take on a somewhat pastel color tone and double as a bee/butterfly garden. Along with Lavender, a number of other perennials have been ordered to create a significant splash of muted color. I am planning the build some bug hotels at the bottom of this and in Nature Island – an area of the garden that I am leaving to fully native plantings – just like it was when I started the garden.

Contemporary Garden

The final area under development is in the front of the house and comprises what will become the contemporary garden and the new and improved area for plants in pots. The old Escallonia hedge is now fully removed, stumps out, and the structure for the fence is built. Pickets will be painted and installed as weather permits. The first of the new benches has also been constructed and is now housing plants from the Protea family. A smaller and lower section will be added to the end of it later. I also managed to acquire a stainless-steel bench that will be a small work area in the pots area.

Garden contemporary and pots
Garden contemporary and pots

Cruel Cold

Now on to the cruel. After our lowest recorded temperatures last month, that whacked a few plants, we dipped another 8 degrees colder than that for a couple of nights. We got down to 22F – that is a full 10 degrees below the lowest we have recorded before this year. It broke records in other areas along the coast set back in 1960, so perhaps this is a once in 100 year event, but with global warming, I am getting to think that it just means that both our highs and lows will become more extreme.

With those temperatures, many things have died. It is still not possible to know the full extent of the damage yet, but some major plants appeared to be gone. Like the Echium “Pride of Madeira” was about to come into bloom after growing it from a tiny plant for 3 years. Several Grevilleas, including King’s Fire and Superb look as if there is nothing left. Many other plants look as if the leaves have suffered but will have to see if the crowns survived. I had thought we were a safe 9b or even a 10a with some protection, but after this year 9a is the best we can reliably hope for. That will change some of my plant selections in the future.

February Bloomers

A number of things have been blooming this month. The Hellebores continue with ‘Double Peach Blush’ entering the fray.

Helleborus 'Double Peach Blush'
Helleborus ‘Double Peach Blush’

A number of the Correa are blooming, including Ray’s Tangerine.

Correa 'Ray's Tangerine'
Correa ‘Ray’s Tangerine’

A new little charmer is Viola odorata ‘Comte de Brazza’

Viola odorata 'Comte de Brazza'
Viola odorata ‘Comte de Brazza’

In the Iris collection, Iris histrioides ‘Sheila Ann Germany’ takes over. Isn’t she an absolute charmer. I hope to add more dwarf Iris for next year.

Iris histrioides 'Sheila Ann Germany'
Iris histrioides ‘Sheila Ann Germany’

In the more unusual flower category is Isopogon formosus. Thankfully, it seems to have survived the cold snap.

Isopogon formosus
Isopogon formosus

And Leucadendron salignum ‘Winter Red’

Leucadendron salignum 'Winter Red'
Leucadendron salignum ‘Winter Red’

February Weather

As already stated, February has been a month of extremes. The highs of 72.7 was wonderful, but the lows of 22.5 was not. We also had by far the strongest winds we have ever recorded at 54.6 mph with a gust of 111.8mph. Shortly after this, the anemometer stopped working, so we do not have wind speed for the second half of the month.

Last year, the high was 54.5 and the low was 32.7. Interestingly, the average temperature was almost exactly the same, meaning that this year was lots of extremes on both ends. Rainfall last year was 11.48″ and this year we only managed half of that, coming in at 5.73″ and 3″ of that has been in the last two days.

An interesting evening

After I took the measurements for the month, things got interesting. Not only did we have a lot more rain, at one point, I noticed we were up to more than 4″ for the day, but then the lights started to flicker along with bright flashes in the surrounding hills. Each time the power came back – until it didn’t and was replaced by several fires shouting up into the sky. Thankfully, the rain and our great volunteer fire department took care of everything. Thanks folks.

Isopogon formosus Calendar

Gardener’s Log – January 2022

What a glorious month and perhaps somewhat deserved after a total bust that was fall. It has enabled a very productive gardening month and allowed me to catch up on many of the tasks not completed last year – like doing all of the weeding. It feels good to be on top of them, although I am sure there will be many more spouting as soon as I look away.

Junuary

The month of June is often called January because it can be one of the worst months of the year on the coast. In April and May, spring gets going and the sun gets higher in the sky. Temperatures warm and the rains decrease and then along comes June and the onshore winds kick in. It becomes cold, cloudy, windy and just like we expect January to be.

But this year we have had the opposite. You could be forgiven for forgetting that it is January because it is behaving like a real June. We have been dry for over two weeks. While nighttime temperatures have been cold, the days have hardly had a cloud in the sky. Temperatures between 50 and 60, no wind – absolutely glorious. I don’t think I have even managed to garden as much in a January.

Microclimates

We often here the term microclimate, but rarely do we see it exhibited as much as we have this month. I probably wouldn’t have known if not for the temperatures sensors we have around the house and garden. Our main weather station is on the decking of the main floor of the house. This is a good 20 feet above ground level. We also have a sensor on the Portal, which is probably about 50′ away and 30′ down in elevation.

I always suspected that the Portal would be a degree or two cooler because cold air flows downhill and there is nowhere really for it to go once it gets there. For the past week the air has been very still. While the tops of the tree are moving, the air is completely stagnant down in the lower part of the garden. That has resulted in a continuous temperature differential of between 5 and 10 degrees, both day and night, between those two points. That is basically a whole USDA zone difference.

Escallonia removal

Escallonia is one of those plants that is a deer magnet. We had a whole hedge of it in front of the house. Half of it was removed to make way for the greenhouse. Now it is time to deal with the other side. It is not uncommon to catch the deer munching on the hedge. While I don’t mind, the problem is they trample over my can yard to get to it. Many plants have been crushed, pots broken or tipped over. It is good to be rid of it.

Escallonia be gone

The plan is that this area will become a contemporary garden filled with grasses and display pedestals on which plants of note will be placed. These will be rotational. Plants may find they place here because they are architectural, bizarre, or just looking especially good at that moment.

Next month, the roots will be coming out – hopefully. That means all of the pots that were out front had to be moved. That means I had to clean some other ground and set up a temporary area for some of the pots. It is not ideal that they are in front of the heat pumps, but it should only be for a short time.

Temporary Plant Storage

What’s in Bloom

Some things have certainly been hurried along this month. The first Iris of the year have been blooming, but then they often do start the bloom season. Iris reticulata ‘Katherine’s Gold’ is usually the first followed by ‘Harmony’.

The Hellebore ‘Winter’s Song’ has been blooming all month and certainly brightens up the pathway leading to the Tea House. Up in the pots, a few plants have been putting on a show. First up is Isopogon formosus. The common name for this plant is drumsticks and you can see why from this photo.

Isopogon formosus
Isopogon formosus

Several of the Correa have a few blooms on them right now, but ‘Dawn in Santa Cruz’ is in full bloom. The pink and yellow trumps certainly like to celebrate the new year.

Correa 'Dawn in Santa Cruz'
Correa ‘Dawn in Santa Cruz’

One plant that is not meant to be in bloom at this time of year is the Crowea ‘Poorinda Ecstacy’. It doesn’t have many blooms, but they are still very welcomed.

Weather Summary

Sometimes, averages tell you nothing. When comparing this January against last year using the average figures, you would think that last year was the better of the two. The high temperature last year was 65.3 and only 63 for this year (not that anything over 60 isn’t wonderful in January.) The low last year – 34.2 against 30.6 for this year – the first real frost we have ever had here. It was colder down the bottom of the garden. Rainfall was less this year, clocking in at 14.16 inches versus 19.55″ last year.

Winds were a little higher this year compared to last, the same with the gusts. The big difference comes with how the rain was distributed and you see that long dry spell, starting from the 20th almost to the end of the month. Last year, it dribbled a little bit almost every day, so the skies would have been grey and that also explains the higher average temperatures because we had cloud cover at night.

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