Early January

January has arrived and with it slightly longer days. Hooray! That is to say the minuscule increase of daylight, no matter how small, is cause for joy for this gardener. Even though there's not much going on in the garden right now, I still enjoy being outside as much as possible. Here's what I am seeing around the property on a cold, early winter day.

 The gravel garden is looking fine. I realize that just about everything I have planted here is evergreen save for a Zauschneria c., Erodium chrysanthum and the odd Nicotiana and Aquilegia seedlings. 


Starting the year off right, I caught a shot of Mount Hood at sunset on New Year's Day. Granted I have to walk to the edge of our property to see this, but I feel incredibly lucky to be able to view it at all. And that I have a great zoom lens on my camera.


Some of the corn we grew last summer was this Oaxacan green corn used for corn meal and special tamales. We shelled the dried corn from the cobs and FM ground it into a fine corn meal. Now to learn how to make tamales!


This second variety, maiz Morado or Kulli corn was also dried and ground for corn meal. In addition, we grew glass gem popcorn and another yellow corn, also ground into corn meal for use in cornbread, pancakes, polenta and the like. It's all so delicious, I doubt we'll ever go back to conventional.  


 New Year's Day turned out foggy. Having just finished the new biography on Edward Gorey received as a Christmas gift, I was immediately drawn to this gloomy ambiance.


I suppose it's not that gloomy. Lovely, though - I always have liked how landscapes look in fog. 


 One of the Japanese maples sporting bright red newer branches.


A favorite Hebe - H. 'Golden Karo Esk'. 


New growth on an Arctostaphylos x densiflora 'Sentinel' 


There is still a lot going on out in the labyrinth garden. While not floriferous, the evergreen shrubs are beginning to fill in while dried grasses and sedums add contrast and texture.


A row of Teucrium chamaedrys or wall germander on the left, there are several others in different parts of the garden. Evergreen shrubs and super easy, these are certainly a staple of the garden here. I will probably cut them back a little in spring. 


The southern edge of the labyrinth garden highlighting evergreen shrubs with an unknown Lavandula stoechas on the left, two different lavender cottons or Santolina sp. in the center; behind them is Ozothamnus 'Sussex Silver'.


Phlomis russeliana dried flowers are still standing and looking fine. The evergreen basal foliage is an added bonus. 


One of the very first things I planted here in January of 2016 were these four Olea e. 'Arbequina' olives which did quite well for me their first year, even producing enough fruit to harvest and salt-cure. The winter of 2016/17 killed them to the ground; fortunately for us, they really want to grow and completely grew back from the roots. This is how they look two years after the fact.


Many call this snowberry or Symphoricarpos alba weedy. For me, it fills space that would otherwise be occupied by weeds and its white fruit stands out this time of year. It is a carefree native, but must be kept in check for it does tend to spread. This area is semi-wooded, the type of landscape it thrives in here in the Pacific Northwest.


Alas, the tall, stately grasses are turned to straw, but the surrounding plants consisting of cistus, creeping thyme and a callistemon are holding it all together in this part of the garden. 


 More of the gravel garden from a different angle. 


Leptospermum lanigerum 'Silver Form', an evergreen shrub also known as wooly tea tree. Fantastic shrub and totally hardy for me. I have two in the garden.


The veggie garden has mostly gone to bed for the winter, but in the background you can see kale, lettuce, broccoli (which I picked small side shoots of yesterday), leeks and other treats. 


The geology of our property is interesting. In certain areas if I dig two or three inches down I find a whole layer of river rocks. This certainly had some water flowing over it at some point, wouldn't you think? At any rate, when I dig them up I save them in little piles all over the garden. I've decided I'm going to put most to use as a very informal edge for the new woodland path. It will take a long time, but that's ok. There's beauty in a slow, meditative process like this. 


I discovered a log covered in fungi, perfect for the shade garden to slowly decompose and add some character to otherwise blank areas of soil. Even better, I made a little critter hole hoping to entice a frog or salamander or some wonderful creature. Calling all frogs: There's a vacancy here.


The rock sculptures gifted to us by our good friend Michi Kosuge were placed in what we think is their permanent home. They remind me of birds or, in my current Gorey-esque frame of mind, creatures of some otherworldly kind, talking to one another.


Those two-plus units of wood chips have been distributed, that task is complete (for now). 


Finally, sunrise on January 2, 2019, with that same fantastic mountain in the distance.

January can often be bleak in the garden, but I am determined to carry on, planting for winter interest and hopefully one day have what I would consider a real winter garden. I enjoy the process of getting there, as there is beauty in every corner of the garden as I see it, no matter the time of year.

I hope that 2019 is off to a fantastic start for you all and that all of your gardening dreams come true this year. Thank you for reading, dear readers, and coming along with us on our journey that is Chickadee Gardens. 

Happy New Year and Happy Gardening, one and all!

Comments

  1. "hopefully one day have what I would consider a real winter garden"...oh Tamara! You do! Now granted, you will make it even better with time but wow, there is so much to see and enjoy right now. Happy New Year!

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    1. Do you really think so, Loree? I'm glad. When you live in it, it can be a challenge to disconnect and see objectively. Happy New Year to you, too!

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  2. I agree with Loree, your garden is fantastic no matter what time of year. You have so much to look at. Happy New Year, I hope your every garden dream comes true.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa. On two acres, there is plenty to look at, for sure! Happy New Year to you and your family! :)

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  3. Your winter garden is already beautiful, Tamara. I love the clear mountain shots. (In contrast, the mountains visible from my own property are generally obscured by a dirty brown blanket of smog.) I also admired your photo of the red stems of the Japanese maple with the Buddha statue visible in the distance - now that speaks of serenity! Best wishes for a happy new year and good luck with the tamales!

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    1. Thank you, Kris. I wish you had clear skies, I really do.

      I'm glad you appreciate the photo of the red stems and Buddha, a subtle but telling photo and you got it.

      Happy New Year to you! Any tamale tips you care to share? :)

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  4. I had to Google Edward Gorey I didn't know who he was or anything about him. I was led to this New Yorker article
    https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/10/edward-goreys-enigmatic-world. This writer didn't particularly like the book you read. I learned about EG. I know the work he did for the Mystery Theatre on PBS. Interesting. One never knows what one will learn on a Garden Blog. I also forgot to mention your beautiful photos of the mountain etc. I love the frog/salamander abode. You will surely get someone moving in.

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    1. Aaaah, yes, Edward Gorey, artist of Mystery! fame. One of my favorites. I read that review and several others with great interest. Despite the complaints and bad review you mention and Dery's rather detailed account of everything he could find on EG, I loved every bit of the book. I'm sure others will too.

      Thanks for your kind words, I am trying to attract frogs and the like to the garden, hopefully they will come!

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  5. Your garden is truly a work of art. If I'm ever in your part of the world, I would love to see it in person. The Mount Hood photos are spectacular, and you are certainly fortunate to have such a fine view of it. The rock sculptures are terrific and I like the river rock edging very much.

    Happy New Year.

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    1. Your words are too kind, Pat! You are most welcome here, if you find yourself in this part of the world. Mount Hood is special, we are very lucky to be able to see it from our property. I'm also glad you like the sculptures and rock edging. Stay tuned as the rock edging project evolves! Happy New Year to you too.

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  6. Barbara H.4:51 PM PST

    I found you just after you had moved and were facing what seemed like an enormous undertaking. I was sorry to see the labyrinth go but you have done a splendid job planning and planting everything. Even in winter your garden is glorious. Thank you.

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    1. Aaah, you remember the labyrinth! While we too enjoyed it, we wanted more greenery on the horizon. We've honored it by keeping the center stone in place and using the rocks from the maze all over the garden, so it's here in spirit.

      Thank you for your kind words, we appreciate it! :)

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  7. Hats off to you Tamara, for having achieved a beautiful winter garden. Not an easy thing to do, as we can't see the result til well after the planting. The challenge for me is deciding when to cut all the grasses and seedheads back-It's almost time here, the spring bulbs will be up soon.

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    1. Thank you!! Indeed, we gardeners must be patient to see our plants fill in, right? Funny because I for one am not a patient person. You?

      Oh, to cut the grasses...yes - you will be getting bulbs up soon, right! I want to cut mine now but they provide cover for birds and have winter interest, so I'll wait as long as I can ;)

      Happy New Year to you!

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  8. Happy New Year Roomie! Your Mt. Hood pics are fantastic. What a gift to have such a few from your garden! I think you already have lovely winter interest. I love the pics where you showcase the spent blooms of the sedums. I find their winter form very romantic. The seed catalogs are arriving and I find the excitment for the new year of gardenign brewing inside me. Big Hug to you!

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    1. Heya, Roomie! Thank you so much! It is an amazing gift, one we don't get to see every day (clouds).

      Those sedums, yes - romantic is a great description.

      Oh boy, what do you have planned for your garden this year? Ordering veg seeds or flowers too?

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  9. Your garden is always stunning. So much to love about the magic you, FM, and nature have worked together to create. Happy new year!

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    1. Oh, Peter, you are too kind! Happy New Year to you, my friend!

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    2. As always your garden is a treat...and the photos of Mt Hood are splendid. Happy New year and happy gardening xogail

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    3. Thank you Gail! Happy new year to you too!! :)

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  10. It is beautiful! I love the photos taken in the fog and the Mt. Hood shots are fantastic. What a great view to have! What are the agave-like plants in the first photo?

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    1. Thank you Phillip! The agave-like plants are Yucca - probably Y. gloriosa variegata...they are several years old and were moved from our old garden 4 years ago.

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