On the weekend I drove out to The Niagara Parks botanical gardens to see if there was anything of interest in early March and I was surprised by the variety of plants still in leaf after a cold winter. The bamboo (phyllostachys) is still mostly green.

A beautiful Ilex (not sure which one) is just one of many in the garden. (Click on pictures for a better look.)

This Daphne didn't seem to have suffered in the winter.

A beautiful Pieris looks like it's ready to start blooming.

This Viburnum rhytidophyllum is how my little plant might look one day.

I checked on the Monkey Puzzle tree in Niagara on the Lake and it seems to be doing fine.

This gorgeous Magnolia grandiflora (I presume Edith Bogue) is one of two growing in front of a house in Niagara on the Lake.

This little windmill palm (in Grimsby, ON) is protected only with Freeze Pruf which the manufacturer claims buys about a half a hardiness zone. So far this palm has seen a low of -14.7 C. I'll post updates as I know more.




This Aucuba in my own garden is doing well despite being completely exposed. The one in the background is in a more ideal, sheltered location. (All pictures taken today)










The Fargesia robusta has not lost any foliage yet.








Viburnum rhytidophyllum.
I saw a nice 9-10 foot specimen in a local garden this week, but I didn't have my camera with me.






The Heather is still blooming. It is a strange winter again.








Hebe sutherlandii has not been bothered by the long stretch of freezing temperatures with lows near -15C.






I wish I could say the same for the Agave. If anyone has any thoughts on whether this will survive I would love to hear them.

Just a few pictures taken around the garden today. The hardy cacti and broad-leaved evergreens are looking great. The plant I'm most curious about (Agave paryii) is buried under snow. I thought I should leave it that way.

Today the temperature dropped to 8 degrees Celius below zero as witnessed by the ice covered sedge beside the fountain.







The Arbutus blossoms are frozen solid, but still looking ok for now.









I took this picture of Abelia Ed Goucher a few days ago. It has been in bloom all summer. I checked them again today but the flowers have disappeared.






Another amazing bloomer is Campanula Blue Waterfall. It has also been in bloom all summer and this picture was also taken a few days ago. The blooms are still there today, but a little more shriveled than they appear here.



The cylindropuntia (foreground), pencil cholla (centre left) Agave (centre right) and Yucca gloriosa (behind agave) seem unfazed by the cold.

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.