Signs of Life

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Yesterday, as I read Karensusan’s “Winter Casualties” blog, my heart sank as I imagined what was going on in my own weather-ravaged garden. So this morning I let my dogs out and shuffled over to check on the damage. Not looking good, overall….but there were some pleasant surprises:

Look at the new growth and new leaves on this Acanthus mollis, still green after a winter under a blanket of oak leaves.

Beautiful new buds on the red buckeye…I can’t recall the scientific name at the moment.

Fire pink, Silene virginica, just as fresh and green as it is in May.

I was thrilled to see the celandine poppies, Stylophorum diphyllum, making a solid comeback.

I’ve never seen the fairy wands, Chamaelirium luteum, turn black with the cold…they are evergreen! But look closely – new leaves are forming in the center of the rosette.

Loads of little babies from the showy evening primrose, Oenothera speciosa. Let’s hope it spreads to cover the rocky, literally unplantable spots in my sun garden. There’s solid rock about 5 inches under the soil in some areas, and nothing will survive there.

This Gaura was hacked down last summer by an unknown garden thief, who also assaulted other neighborhood gardens on the same evening. It’s certainly rebounded, and spring hasn’t even come yet!

Chelone lyonii, pink turtlehead, making an early appearance.

Looks like the Aconitum survived….perhaps the garden thief will return and be unlucky enough to pick it.

And, finally, I found this memento of summer under the leaf litter. The day this package arrived was surely a good one.

• 23 Jan, 2011
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