January is here. Some years it feels like the month
is a long black tunnel. It’s still dark out, the
deciduous trees are still barren, but subtle signs
of change are making its presence known, like a
light at the end of the darkness. The witch hazels
(Hamamelis) are brewing color in the garden,
while the pink flowers of Rhododendron
dauricum, and yellow blossoms of wintersweet
(Chimonanthus praecox) and winter jasmine
(Jasminum nudiflorum) dance across January’s
bleak days. They appear to scoff at the cold. Now
is the time to appreciate the plants that add color
to our winter landscapes.
In the meantime, let’s dream of warmer days and
plants that grow with them.
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A Passion for Heucheras
During many morning walks in summer, I often passed
a dazzling display of dainty, coral-red blossoms in
a garden mass-planted with coral bells
(Heucheras). One early evening I decided to
take a walk past this delightful spot. What a
surprise to see it backlit by a warm, summer sun.
Suspended above the horizon, the sun lit the
translucent, coral-red flowers, giving them a fiery
glow. Humming softly in the background, pollinators
gathered their last load for the day. The sinking
light in front of me revealed the glistening remains
of spider webs, routinely invisible, but now
exposed. The strands weaved through the thin flower
stalks, rich with vibrant blossoms. All swayed in
unison on the slightest breeze.
A hummingbird darted about the garden, its long,
willowy tongue flicking in and out of its beak in
anticipation of the honey-sweet nectar. The
miniature acrobat flew around, occasionally coming
to a standstill in mid air, its wings moving so fast
they disappeared from perception. Cruising around
the inflorescence, it zeroed in on its target—a
bright, elf-size coral bell. The tiny bird
gracefully moved in as its slender beak sank into
the flower. Drawing out a sweet reward, the
hummingbird continued its delightful moves, as it
foraged amongst the flowers. A glimmer of sunlight
sparkled through a drop of nectar that escaped its
beak. This must be ground zero for heaven on earth.
Read entire article....
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Pest Watch
Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Since its introduction to Oregon from its native
Ireland, prior to the turn of the century, gorse
(Ulex europaeus) has proven to be resilient,
prolific and pernicious, as anyone caught in the
unforgiving spines of this primarily coastal
invasive can attest. Brought to this continent as an
ornamental, one can only wonder if the Marquis De
Sade might have suggested this tortuous greenery.
Scotland, long known for the patches of gorse
bounding the rough of its “links” golf courses,
shows one more reason to aggressively eliminate this
non-native pest.
In the 1950’s gorse was estimated to cover 25,000
acres of Oregon’s high rent coastal properties, but
the elevation of the coastal range has, to date,
kept the bulk of the invader out of the interior
valleys of the Northwest. The plant’s dependence on
temperate climes without the extremes of heat or
cold, including frigid winds, and an intolerance of
drought conditions, keeps gorse along a narrow band
from Santa Cruz, California northward.
Find out more....
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Articles by Lisa Albert, Mark McCann and Debra
Teachout-Teashon.
Photos by Debra Teachout-Teashon.
©2006 All rights reserved.
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