It's December the 2nd and so far we've had a few light frosts. Many plants are still green and a few are still blooming. Here is Viburnum pragense which will keep its foliage all winter.

(Click on pictures for a better look)

Magnolia grandiflora Victoria, though not the hardiest, has done well for me.

A nice evergeen grouping, Prunus laurocerasus (evergreen cherrylaurel, top) Polystichum (Christmas fern, middle) Aucuba (bottom).

This is the first year for the hardy Cyclamen so I'm not sure if it's evergreen, but it looks good so far.

The flower is out of focus (I need a new camera) but this Lithodora has been in bloom all summer. You can't beat the blue color.

I think the Erica (Heather) thinks it's spring. It doesn't usualy bloom in fall so I wonder if it will still flower in April.

Still one of my favourite perennials, Euphorbia amygdaloides robbeia can't be beat for deep green foliage.

It sometimes looks like a forgotten houseplant, but the spotted Aucuba looks great right through winter.

Farfugium Kaimon Dake is a new addition to the garden. I had a yellow spotted form years ago but it died after about five winters. Maybe this one is stronger.

And the Leucothoe Margie Jenkins is also bracing for it's first Canadian winter. I think it will be fine.

I recently visited a Niagara Falls garden with a great collection on uncommon plants. (Click on pictures for a better look.)

This Magnolia Edith Bogue has done very well since being planted as a small plant five years ago. In front is a Cryptomeria.

A great grouping of broad-leaved evergreens (except the Japanese maple) include Aucuba (left), Ilex (top left)) Mahonia bealei (centre), Viburnum davidii (bottom left), Skimmia (top centre) and Leucothoe scarletta (just visible in the bottom.

I was surprised to hear the Colocasia Pink China survived the winter with no protection. I tried these myself with no luck.

This is a plant I hadn't heard of. Daphniphyllum macropodum is native to Asia but is hardy here.

I will have to try and find these this year.

Another plant on my wish list for 2010 is Hosta Empress Wu. (This one is not in the Niagara Falls garden, I found the picture online).

This great bamboo is Sasa palmata. I wanted to ask for a little piece of it, but I think it is still a fairly young plant. maybe in a few years.

This Clematis rehderiana was planted three years ago and has never bloomed. I was just about ready to replace it when I noticed a few little flowers this week. In spite of the early cold, it has still managed to come into bloom and the flowers are mildly fragrant.
I took the next two pictures at work on containerized plants because my garden specimens will likely never produce flowers or fruit in our climate. The berries (which are toxic) are on an Aucuba serratifolia.
These small flowers are on a Strawberry tree (Arbutus) which we are trying in the display garden at Coles in Grimsby.
There was a very cool, drizzly day last week, and while it wasn't fun to be outside, it created some great effects for photos. The first is Papyrus and the second is a Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla) leaf.

The kids are back in school and summer-like weather is finally upon us. With that, here's a quick look at how things are growing in the garden.

The Agave has grown a new leaf every month since being planted in May (left). I am curious how it will do in winter.

The little cholla cactus has tripled in size since spring. Yet still no blooms. It gets sun from about 2:00 on, so maybe not enough.

What I thought were flower buds on the Echinocereus (left) turned out to be spiny side shoots. The zone 8 Hebe (right) has recovered nicely from the winter damage.

A newly planted Leucothoe Margie Jenkins (left) is doing well. The three year Grimsby Trachycarpus (right, and see earlier post) is looking great, but the owner plans to move it this fall. I will post an update when I know more.

Another new addition is Viburnum rhytidophyllum (left) which will one day grow over the bamboo behind it. And finally the Campylotropsis that mentioned in my "wish list" has produced a flower, but it is not not the blue that I hoped it would be.

Well, summer finaly came to Niagara. We've had a few weeks of hot humid weather forcing many plants into growth and bloom. One of my favourite perennials, Kirengeshoma (Waxbells) came into bloom this week.
(Click on pictures for a better look)


I noticed this impressive Albizia in south end St. Catharines has been in bloom now since mid-July







I've added a few new perennials to my collection. I've always liked Stokesia (Stokes Aster) but have never bought one because of their floppy habit. This new one called Stokesia Peachie's Pick stood out because it is sturdy and upright.



Another new addition is Brunnera Diane's Gold. This shade lover has nicely cupped, yellow foliage which should look great once the little blue flowers open in spring.





Finally I took this picture at work of a bee dangling from a yellow Asclepias.