Our area of northwestern Virginia was spared the worst of the weekend storm. The snowfall was at the low end of predictions, but followed by hours of sleet. This was also fortunate, as the sleet did not adhere to branches of trees and evergreens. I’m just getting out to roam the garden to assess damage,…

With inches of snow and several nights of subzero temperatures forecast for this week, I am most concerned that the precious, silvery flower buds of my favorite paperbushes (Edgeworthia chrysantha, below) will be damaged. The snow should be of little consequence, and possibly could be beneficial insulating plants beneath its cover, but if the freezes…

Temperatures are forecast to possibly fall below ten degrees (Fahrenheit) this week, maybe even closer to zero. This shouldn’t be a big deal, but in recent years near zero degree temperatures are unusual that once were routine. In this garden, the problem is that a number of marginally cold hardy plants are in the ground…

I often overlook magnolias when listing the various collections of trees in the garden. No doubt, Japanese maples, redbuds, and dogwoods are favored but I suspect the number of magnolias, both deciduous and evergreen, are in the range most folks would consider fanatical. I’m certain I could not resist purchasing a six foot Siebold’s magnolia…

Presumably, I would survive a winter without flowers. But why? Little sacrifice is made to allocate a portion of the garden to winter blooms, and while most are as unremarkable as any other plant past bloom, their contributions are considerable. No inch of ground covered by hellebores or winter flowering bulbs is regretted. With layers…

I mention this as a consequence of recent hikes in nearby forests on chilly days with little green in evidence besides scattered American hollies (Ilex opaca) and Virginia junipers (Eastern redcedar, Juniperus virginiana). The forest floor is blanketed with assorted fallen leaves, mostly maples, oaks, beech, and tulip poplar, but occasionally by scattered bits of…

Having survived the first third of the dreary winter months, I will presumably outlast the chill to again greet the splendid blooms of ‘Merrill’  and ‘Royal Star’ magnolias (below) in the early weeks of March. Labor in the garden will not be required until then, though I might gain some steam to brush leaves aside…

In this December that has been quite chilly until the past week, no snowdrops have yet to  poke above ground. A year ago, several flowered in December. Not this year. Recent temperatures in the mid-teens (Fahrenheit) ended the extended period of camellias flowering that began early in October. With milder temperatures this week there’s a…

Sadly, I see that the small Wheel Tree (Trochodendron arailiodes) is suffering. I don’t know if this is a result of the heavy rain in June or the sparse rainfall since. I hope it makes it, but I won’t know until April. Already, I’m overly anxious for spring. Too anxious, with months to go before…

With apologies to Minnesota and North Dakota and other parts that are truly cold, I often must consider the varied conditions for planting within this zone 7 garden in dealing with winter temperatures. Degrees of sun and shade are easy enough, but I am often mystified when considering microclimates that can protect plants that are…

Again I’m baffled, not unusual in the garden where flowers occasionally appear in the wrong season. Plants perish and  mysteriously return to life. There are explanations, not always ones I understand. Of varied volunteer positions to help fill the hours in my retirement, working with the Horticulture Department at the local high school is the…