| The temperature may have dropped to about 18 degrees just five days ago, but today it was rainy, misty, and closer to 50 degrees. A great day to look at the structure--both of the woody plants and the Gardens. |
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In this view northwest across the pond and on to the distant hills, a bit of the Metasequoia grove can be seen on the very left.
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| A grove of about 25 Dawn Redwoods planted only 14 years ago stands out across the pond to the left of the 'Flintstone' bridge. The ground beneath the grove is tinted with the color of the recently fallen needles of this Chinese native which is the only species of the genus and can grow to 115 feet! | ||||
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The formal structure of the Metasequoias in the background with their straight trunks and precise branches contrasts with the curving informal structure of the Japanese Maple--Acer Palmatum--in the foreground.
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| The view north across the face of the Cliff Garden softened by a December fog. | ||||
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Most of the Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion' plants have lost their purple berries, but not this one! The berries on this plant look as fresh as they did in October.
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| Rain drops catch the light on the red twigs of this Cornus. | ||||
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Here is a preview of the northwest facing hillside planted with a large selection of Gustav Mehlquist's early-flowering Rhododendron hybrids in all shades of pink and white. Check back in the spring to see the Rhododendrons in bloom.
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| Although the plum colored leaves shown on November 8 are gone, the structure of the remnants of the flower stalk has changed and we can now see the black seeds in addition to the light brown bracts. | ||||
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The box is now closed for the winter and one more element of protection has been added--a very thick blanket of wood chips has been placed against the lower third of the box as an additional mulch. In this climate it is not easy growing a Gunnera as extraordinary as this one is every summer.
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| A perennial with distinctively veined leaves in the level area at the top of the Cliff Garden. | ||||
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A large planting of Helleborus foetidus lines a path in the Woodland Garden. We will show them again as soon as they bloom.
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| A close-up of a stalk of Helleborus foetidus getting closer to blooming. | ||||
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A variegated Yucca in the flat area at the top of the cliff Garden.
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| The white margins on the Sasa veitchii might be a bit wider than they were on November 8. We will keep watching them! |
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