My Ten Favorite Photos from 2016

Happy New Year! I'm stepping forward into 2017 by participating in A Tidewater Gardener's yearly meme, for the fourth year in a row. It's a fun way to see how my photography progresses. This year, I photographed more people than plants, but all the shots in this post were captured in my home garden. 

January 4, 2016

Icy Branch

A chickadee landed on my tripod and kept me company for a few moments while I took this shot of ice melting on a Coral Bark Japanese Maple. 

May 24, 2016

Rainy Magnolia

The Star Magnolia blooms still looked beautiful on a rainy day.

June 10, 2016

Back Patio

Our back yard has become my oasis. This year, we held two open gardens to share our new projects with our garden friends.

July 22, 2016

Hanging On

On a rainy morning, I discovered this sleeping bee hanging upside down and covered in rain drops. I was impressed and amused. 

August 25, 2016

Great Hunter

A tiny crab spider lurked in an artichoke bloom. 

September 6, 2016

Rainy Day Blues

Even white Datura wrightii blooms get the blues on rainy days. 

November 1, 2016

Toadstool

Record rainfalls led to all different kinds of mushrooms in the garden. I managed to take this shot before Mr. Barnaby stepped on it.

November 11, 2016

Blueberry Autumn

When I added blueberries to our new front garden, I was thinking with my appetite. I was surprised by their fall beauty.

December 7, 2016

Sassy Seed Heads

The cape fuchsia seed head look like they're sticking their tongues out at me. So sassy. 

December 7, 2016

Our first frost of the season, sparkled on the Eryngium variifolium seed heads and Anigozanthos flavidus. This is my favorite shot of the year.

So, that's a wrap. Good-bye 2016. Hello 2017! I can't wait to see what the new year brings. I wish you a beautiful year filled with love, laughter, and great plants. Please don't forget to stop by A Tidewater Gardener to see all of his fabulous photos.

The Winter Storm

Smattering of snow in the backyard

Yesterday, the sky darkened and the wind shook the fir trees above me. Snow suddenly appeared flying horizontally past the windows. The promised winter storm arrived. I sipped hot tea and thought/worried about My (poor) Pirate out delivering food in forty five mile-an-hour wind gusts over in Gresham. 

Once the winds settled down, I stepped outside to take a few shots. 

Someone forgot to bring in the hammock for winter...

Schefflera Delavayi sporting some snow

My Pirate arrived home just as the snow shifted to sleet and I could hear the ice covered trees creak as they moved in the breeze. 

This morning, I woke up with a cold and was surprised to see that the ice hadn't started melting yet. The weather men had predicted a quick thaw, but the temperature stuck at 32 and only shifted up to 33 degrees. 

My big loss from the storm is an olive tree. The twine had rotted and didn't hold up the weight, so it snapped. Dammit.

Disporum cantoniense 'Night Heron' coated in ice

Daphne x houtteana 'February Plum' coated in ice

I moved my February Plum Daphne into a new spot and now it has to endure this storm. I hope it survives. It did look pretty fab in the snow. 

My newly planted front and side gardens are currently slumped over under the weight of the ice. It's looking pretty ugly. Here's a few close-ups to distract us from this icy mess. Stay safe out there! 

Poncirus trifoliate 'Flying Dragon'

Shimmering Rugosa Rose hips

Sophia prostrata 'Little Baby'

Wednesday Vignette: Winter Blues

Moroccan Sea Holly, Eryngium variifolium, seed heads and Anigozanthos flavidus covered in frost

As my garden enters winter dormancy, I find myself downshifting with it. In December, my interminable giddiness at life enters hibernation and I console myself that it will return with spring. My sunniness no longer fills rooms and coaxes strangers into laughter. My noisy introverted nature turns silent. I read, research, build classes, sift through the debris of my busy growing season and prepare for the coming year.

Outside, my garden trees and shrubs are busy growing new roots and expanding. Winter is an important time to grow and prepare for spring. A cold quiet season is necessary for both the garden and my soul.

Photographing Snow

Mahonia x media 'Charity' bloom 

Yesterday morning, I found myself standing outside photographing snow. It was falling all around me in huge lazy flakes. The Crony Brothers watched me through their front window while sipping out of coffee cups. I was squatting in the slushy snow with my lens aimed at a flower, holding my breath, squeezing the camera button and then exhaling as I stood. Over and over again.

Being a garden blogger is a crazy thing, if you’d ask my neighbors.  But for me, it is pure joy. 

Savoy cabbage in snow 

I started this blog as a place to practice writing and putting my neck out.  And four years later, my life is so much bigger. I’m teaching gardening courses through the community education department at Clark College. I recently wrapped up my busiest garden season of teaching, volunteering, and garden projects. 

The alpine strawberries have been blooming like crazy. 

I find myself surrounded by the most remarkable people; breathtakingly beautiful wise people that teach me so much everyday. Today, I researched cucumber mosaic virus with a fellow mg volunteer that filled my ears with her stories of world travels and a rough year filled with loss and a stroke.  We’re all in this together.

And I’m so thankful for you. Thank you for being here. 

Meadow rue seedheads

A lone echinacea 

Wednesday Vignette: Hanging On

One rainy July morning, I discovered this bee, covered in rain drops and hanging on for dear life, while sleeping. I was impressed and amused. 

Once the thermometer reached 57 degrees, she was off and away.

Don't forget to stop by my friend, Anna's blog, Flutter and Hum to see the rest of the Wednesday Vignettes!