The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

 Everyday for the past few weeks I've fielded some kind of question about the abysmal state of the pansies and other winter weary botanical beings in our area. For the landscaper in me, this harsh winter is sure to guarantee lots of work for the spring and summer. But for the home gardener in me, a walk around my little acre (and I'm not referring to Kylee Baumlee's place) revealed the good, the bad, and the ugly.

           

Pieris japonica only intensified in beauty with all the cold weather

Full of buds ready to break open into rosy strands of flower bells

This heuchera 'Silver Scrolls' never faltered.

Red twig dogwood always is a winner in winter

But my hellebores took a beating!

As did my Loropedulum 'Suzanne'

I've never seen my ivy turn this dark maroon

This once always faithful and beautiful Ephorbia 'Blackbird' might have finally bit the dust.

I haven't given up hope on my new baby camellias, but it isn't looking too hopeful

Yea for the buds on my flowering quince!

 And daffodils are exploding through the ground.

This bridal veil spirea will be stunning in a few weeks

 Even my sycamore tree takes on a majestic look this time of year.

 The flowers on my Tulip polar tree are delightful in the late afternoon sun.

 And I am crazy about this Nandina 'Obsession'

My Mahonia 'Soft Caress', which I adore, has lasted 3 years here. Really wondering if it's really gone.

 There are signs of hope among the hellebores!

 And nothing like a little witchhazel to cheer my winter blues

Naked ladies! Or otherwise known as Lycoris, starting to make their clothed appearance, then they will die to the ground and return mid-summer to earn their moniker.

 Magonia "Elizabeth" buds are well protected for the next cold snap this week.

Never knock junipers if you've haven't tried 'Saybrook Gold' - a stunny look in the winter!

 Chinese Snowball Viburnum buds - one of my favorite spring displays

 And signs of blueberries to come...

 There is definately the bad from this winter - like this Mediteranean Heather (Erica) that I'd had for almost 10 years which looks like it may be toast,

But there is plenty of good to enjoy!
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One Hot Heuchera of Blackberry Ice

Along with most of the rest of the country, middle Tennessee has been deep in the throws of one of the coldest winters in many a year. We've seen days of temps down to 3 degrees at my house, with the following days never breaking the thirties. 

 I just took this photo a few days ago after weeks of sub-freezing weather. The day I took this photo it was in the lower forties - a heat wave for this January. This Proven Winners Dolce Blackberry Ice must have ice in it's veins because it has not flenched in the cold. I planted it last April and watched it thrive in the heat of summer, but it's winter performance has me singing it's praises. This will be my new go-to Heuchera for winter containers!

This Heuchera grows up to 12 inches and spreads to 22 inches. Mine has thrived in it's part sun, North-facing location.

The Last Frost of Spring

When I looked out my window last Saturday morning, the freshly blooming spring was coated with a layer of glistening frost. 

Pieris Japonica - an late winter bloomer - seemed unscathed by the frosty touch. 

Solomon Seal and Azaleas pressed on in their glory

My hellebores kept their little heads down as usual as if to say, "Oh dear, here we go again." 

 My Japanese maples were glorious with their glitzy foliage in the early morning light.

Japanese double kerria 

Have you ever wondered how the tulip magnolias got their name? One look gives it away. 

 Kwanzan cherry with virburnam/

 I LOVE this heuchera called 'Electric Lime'

 Erica or Mediterranean heather still blooming after 3 months finally gets usurped by the blooming azaleas.

Fothergilla is a very under-rated 3 season beauty in the garden. 

 This Golden Shadow red twig dogwood is one of my favorites and echoes the colors of the Euphorbia 'Blackbird' blossoms seen the photo below that are about 3 feet away from it.

Chinese Snowball viburnam - blooms again in the fall but is audaciously stunning each spring. 

 Variegated Solomon Seal is almost other-worldly as it rises up from the ground each spring

A freshly frosted tulip 

Muscari

Mable has just about figured out how to get out of our old fence. Peonies ready to bust open.