A frost hit suddenly. I cannot say 'historically' early, although looking at photos, from past years, I do know we had warm weather much further into Fall. Photos go back to 2004. A good number of plants were unprepared, including the one Camellia with beautiful white flowers. Now the dozens of flowers are brown. Edgeworthia chrysantha may have it leaves turn yellow and fall off. Not this years. They are hanging, and brownish green. The buds are there, so Spring bloom should be normal.
The common Witchhazel, here in the Eastern U.S. is Hamamelis virginiana. Usually blooming in this season, but with the blooms hidden among the leaves. Usually, the leaves are not retained in this clone called 'Harvest Moon', exposing the pale yellow flowers. No detectable odor, for me.
Bordering where we park the vehicles. In fact pruning is required, as these shrubs lean to the light and would brush against vehicles. To the right is Viburnum carlessi 'Compactum', which blooms with a powerful scent in Spring. The next is the huge almost eggplant colored Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'. As mentioned, before, I used to take the time to trim the flowers off. No more.
The green shrub, that until Winter takes the leaves, always seems to have them hanging Grown for the unusual and beautiful odor of the flowers in the dead of Winter. Has hardly bloomed for years, but has some buds now. Chaemonanthus praecox, the Wintersweet. And, to the left is a deciduous Holly called Ilex verticillata , the Winterberry.
A shaft of light is hitting some of the shrubs at the far end of the property, by the bird feeder and little pool. Ilex verticillata 'Sprite' is quite dwarf, and covered well with red berries this year.
Above and taller than Sprite is the unusual yellow berried form of Ilex verticillata called 'Harvest Gold'. Generally the Robins that take just about every red berry before Christmas will leave the yellow berried sort alone. I suppose the yellow signals the berries are not ripe yet. But they are.
Among the crowd of shrubs at the far end of the yard is a colored-barked Dogwood that will show these red twigs all Winter. Behind that is the large Winterberry, Ilex verticellata 'Sparkleberry'. Also of interest would be the quite blue-green evergreen in the center of the photo. It's Cunninghamia lancelata 'Glauca'.
Taken through a window at the front of the house. The red leaved shrub was here when we built the house. Aronia arbutifolia is sold in a number of forms noted for beautiful Fall foliage and even, seemingly in Europe, as fruit. The perfectly white trunk of a European Birch, Betula lenta, contrasts beautifully with the Aronia. A mature Birch leaned so towards the house that I had it removed, but they left this side sprout. Much to my disappointment, it has died and will be removed. The white logs will be used as Christmas decor somewhere. The strangest purchase at the local supermarket, many years ago because they were asking $2.50 for the tiny tree. But I knew it to be a valuable addition, and it was beautiful for over 20 years.
Another photo of Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen' that, accurately, reports the color. Not eggplant colored at all. More mahogany red.
The bank of shrubs and trees by where we park. Cement rubble is the drive material, and it will, gradually, be buried by leaves and weeds if not given constant attention, but it looks good now.
The rather long entry drive to the road. Keeping it clear of leaves and pine needles has been a routine, but I find it pleasant. Especially if I had to do it on this day.
This Fotherilla 'Mt Airey' is an underused native. Odd flowers, each Spring, that smell somewhat like honey, and these fabulously colored Fall leaves. I did have to cut it back, as it leans into where we pass with the vehicles.
A good many of the Winterberry shrubs are, already attacked by the Robins. The Cornus, that has turned so golden, is a problematic choice. Amazingly vigorous and given to sending suckers or sprouts away from the parent. Cornus 'Midwinter Fire', after all the leaves are gone, does light up the landscape, in Winter.
It is good that this form of Arum italicum has returned, but it has never shown the vigor of the form shown below. In two places, with quite a bit of shade, and so if one is lost, I may still have the other. But I am waiting for it to spread.
Supremely vigorous and decorative, Arum italicum will do fine in the worst Winter can throw at it in this 7a zone.
Two species of hardy Cyclamen were put in the little rock garden, with hopes that they will endure. The top one is C. hederacea, but a white-flowered and pure silver leafed clone. This species bloomed in early Fall. The bottom photo shows one form of Cyclamen coem. It should show pinkish flowers in early Spring.
The exit drive again. I am impressed by the huge size of one form of Hydrangea, that smells like Johnson's Baby Powder in Spring. Really fine reddish color in Fall.
A rare shrub, often hard to find in the trade, Rhododendron mucronulatum was among the first plants I hoped to have here, when the notion of Winter blooming plants seemed a good idea. No longer at a daily job, where I would come home to little daylight in Winter, and learning that so many plants bloomed in Winter, I began collecting them. The ethereal, tissue like white flowers of R.m. 'Alba' are often blasted by freezes, but when they do well, the shrub is beautiful beyond description. Growing painfully slow, here, it does show this neat yellow Fall color.
Acer palmatum 'Bihou'. The unique yellow bark will light up the Winter garden. All Summer long the Duckweed covered the little pond, and was scooped out constantly. I wanted it, but not as a solid blanket on the surface. It did keep the water clear of cloudy algae, and may have protected the fish from raids by Raccoons.
Contemplating what sort of permanent, ground hugging plant I can put in the pot with the tree. I had planted the annual,Scarlet Flax. The individual flowers were tiny, but beautiful, but with so much shade, the plants were too leggy. Maybe just the little menace called Lysmacha nummelaria. Known, in some places, as Galloping Charley or Creeping Moneywort. Too easy and invasive, but it may trail over the edges of the pot and look good.
Mahonia 'Winter Sun' may be in full bloom before Christmas. That the plant gets almost day long shade does not seem to inhibit flowering. It is under some Carolina Hemlocks by the little pool.
Really nasty, bitter weather can blast the flowers, but that only happens in some years.
The splendid little patio tree, Pseudocamellia japonica, or Stewartia japonica is beginning to show the peeling, vary-colored bark. Nothing like the amazing Painted Gum Tree of the tropics, but subtle and still of interest. Behind the tree, with total shade, is the Plum Yew, in low growing form.
The American Witch Hazel 'Harvest Moon' is now in finest bloom. And most leaves are shed. Could not ask for more. Most clones hold their leaves, as stated previously, and the blooms are usually rather hidden.
Interesting, while not beautiful, the low growing Barberry, named Berberis 'William Penn', is shedding older leaves as red highlights.
Next to the Barberry, this low growing form of Pieris, P. 'Cavantine' looks like it will be in spectacular white bloom in Spring.
Pieris ''Cavantine'.
12/1
