Winter prep

Though we're still having some warmish days, it's time to bite the bullet and admit that winter is around the corner. That means some easy winter prep for your garden. The first step is to add bark to many of your beds, to both provide a cushion of warmth during the coldest nights and to help retain moisture. Now may also be the time to do some judicious pruning. That would include certain deciduous shrubs like Hydrangeas and Viburnums. Be careful though not to prune Camellias or Rhododendrons this time of year as they are already setting flower buds for late winter blooming. Lastly, don't forget to water your plants even in the colder months, as water actually helps to insulate roots (as long as you don't over water).

One last comment - we are heading into the prime birding season so keep an eye out for new visitors such as robins, warblers, mockingbirds, woodpeckers and Cedar waxwings.

That said, here are this week's garden photos.

Banksia ericifolia. If you look closely, you can see the formation of its first flower cone.

Thunbergia gregorii. This all orange flower is different than the T. alata hybrids that have the dark center. Flowers don't get more orange than this one!

Speaking of orange, Streptosolen, better known as Marmalade bush, gets tons of orange and peach flowers much beloved by hummingbirds.

Stephania rotundifolia. The caudex on this new for 2020 plant doubled in size its first year!

Winter is the season for the 'good' oxalis. Here's a pretty shamrock type with brilliant white flowers.

My Black lotus bush (Lotus jacobeus) blooms nearly year round. From a distance, the flowers appear almost black. Up close they're more of a chocolate color.

A milkweed is a milkweed is a milkweed. At least when it comes to attracting monarch butterflies to lay their eggs on. This is an Asclepias cancellata, sometimes known as Wild Cotton milkweed.

Neoregelia Green Apple x Olens cv Vulcan. One of my favorite bromeliads.

Vriesea guttata. This arrived as just green but is gradually adding the brown spotting that I was hoping for.

Although it's a bit late, my Begonia Nonstop Orange is beginning to flower.

Sometimes for Begonias, it's all about the leaf color or shape. That's true for my B. 'Angel Glow'.

Polystichum variety fern. This evergreen fern has an arching, sprawling habit but has stayed low.

Another of the 'it's the foliage' begonias, my B. Autumn Ember is one lovely plant.

Another begonia! I'm sensing a theme here! This angelwing type is B. 'Fannie Moser.' Lovely!

Neoregelia Predatress x Touchdown. Lovely year round color on this Neo.

Here's proof just how much you can pack into a median strip!!

Good things DO come in small packages with this dwarf pomegranate. It stays small but still flowers and produces fruit.