The Butchart Gardens – Winter High Tea, Greenhouse Tours, Magic of Christmas

The Butchart Gardens – Winter High Tea, Greenhouse Tours, Magic of Christmas.

I need to do this. I always seem to go to Butchart in July to see roses 🙂

Winter Interest

Look outside and what do you see? Fog, gray skies and a few recognizable twigs that may be dead or may have survived the recent cold spell. We will know about that by June. Many folks are in holiday overdrive right now but I prefer the quietness that winter brings. In zone 8, Western Washington, I have Pampas grass waving, Heather blooming and Euphorbia looking good after a week with lows near 20* F. Look closely and enjoy the plants that have winter interest. If you don’t find any, make a plan for your viewing pleasure for December 2014.

Cold enough for you?

The weather forecasters are showing a huge Arctic cold mass descending through Canada into the Northern USA this week. So cold, I can hardly believe that will happen in my garden, not more than 25 ft above sea level but very near the Sound. But zone 8b officially can get down to 10 to 20 degrees F. I just have not experienced that here, yet. Today I went into panic mode and decided that my beloved roses needed some protection, so I bought two 3.2 cubic ft. bales of Black Gold (the regional organic soil amendment) and just got in from mounding three mini/miniflora beds, four standard tree roses plus about four other roses that have only been in the ground since October. I really could have used two more bales but while everyone else was scurrying around Fred Myers with Christmas gifts, I was wrestling with putting two bales of Black Gold in my cart. We all have our priorities.

Late Bloomers During a Welcome Dry Spell

The weather here in the Pacific Northwest USA never ceases to amaze me. Statistically, November is the rainiest month but we are currently in a very welcome dry period. Dry but rather cold at night (26* F so far in my garden.) I am amazed at the plants that are still healthy and blooming!
Camelias naturally bloom at this time of year, but it is still fun to share. Recently I moved the tiny chrysanthemum into the greenhouse. I thought Bacopa was an annual but it is still hanging on. The hardy fuchsias are the stars. I have only known the annual fuchsias in my previous gardens.

Tiny Chrysanthemum moved into greenhouse now.

Tiny hardy fuchsia

Bacopa in a wine barrel garden.

Camelia ‘Yule Tide’

‘Jingle Bells’ hardy fuchsia.

Fresh air, sun breaks and slug patrol

“Rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains” is what is happening today in my weather, so I just could not stay indoors. Yes, even the raised beds are muddy. I went through two pairs of “waterproof” mud gloves before I realized it is just too cool to be enjoyable any longer. But I get a few photos of things growing other than weeds.

Flamingo “Flamingo kale

Lettuce and chard planted Sept 20.

Greenhouse problem solving

I keep what is referred to as a “”cool greenhouse,” meaning no winter heating. That works and is common in this maritime climate of the Pacific Northwest, but is not without potential problems. Last winter I had some stored, potted plants and a few winter vegetables slowly growing, for winter harvest. I also had a fungal attack within the greenhouse, probably something that came in with the potted plants and bloomed in the humid air of our rainy season. This is where the book I referred to yesterday became enormously helpful. Since the greenhouse is such a small in closed space, there is generally no air movement, making a prime environment for insects and fungi. One of the early chapters in “Greenhouse Gardener’s Companion” showed a simple fan set up to provide circulation needed for two reasons: first to foil insects and dry out the area and second to move around CO2 and O2 for improved plant health. Last summer as part of purchasing supplies to repair the greenhouse roof, I did a trip to Charlie’s Greenhouse in Mount Vernon, WA and saw a small fan for $37.00 for greenhouse use. I have been running it for a few hours during the day.

Fan.

There is a chill in the air

Like it or not, it’s time here. The Hood Canal area of the peninsula had a freeze last night. I think my area near Puget Sound got down to 34* or 36*F. Today I started loading my unheated greenhouse with tender plants I want to save. During the past two years The lowest low in January was 26*F on one or two overnights. Plants inside have been safe. I hope we have another of those average winters ahead.

The hardest part of gardening (for me)

Have you ever stopped to think how much you enjoy gardening? But do you really love all parts?
Fresh air and sunshine are two big draws for me. Weeding is in the middle of the pack. It’s a 12 month activity here. But what I really do not like (and I stop short of saying hate) is taking out perfectly growing vegetables (because of limited space for veggies) because it is time for the next season’s planting. I know, you probably think there are bigger problems in the garden, but this is one that gets me procrastinating. I try to tell myself that I just need to harvest whatever is taking the space and move on with the season, but something is blocking my thinking on this. I remember this dilemma during the season change over in past years.

For example, the bed in the photo above has garlic that is ready for harvest and herbs that pretty much stay in the same place every season. Check, no problem. Under the Remay fabric, I have random plants of Kale, Swiss Chard and three small heads of cabbage. I like to harvest these plants right before I need to use them in cooking, but now they are just taking up space that should be getting ready for sugar snap peas. So I think I need to harvest and refrigerate those veggies and make a plan to use them within the week. If anyone is still reading now, thanks for listening to me rambling on over this dilemma. It has been very helpful to think it through in writing.
Cole slaw anyone?

Fall and winter garden time

We just started harvesting the first tomatoes and cukes when it’s time to get ready for the fall and winter garden. This is our dry time of year in Western Washington, I have already drained two rain barrels and I wonder if the additional cost of city water will exceed the value of the veggies it will nurture. Maybe I should not think so deeply…
About four weeks ago I started two flats veggie seeds to transplant around the end of July. Broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts and swiss chard.

I plan to grow the brussel sprouts in the greenhouse bed. That plant gets so tall and would be difficult to cover with Remay fabric later. The greenhouse will keep bugs away. I have had good luck in the greenhouse bed this season. Early lettuce, broccoli, then tomatoes and cucumbers. The photo shows the lemon cukes today. I trained them vertically to save space.

Snow Drops- my first flower of spring!