If either Barbara or Traute stumble across this page, I entreat you to quickly leave. It includes something that will make you sad and I humbly ask your forgiveness for even having coming this far. Please go.
The rest of you, proceed with caution
As we entered into winter there were some highlights in the garden. The florescence on the Miscanthus, especially the "Silberfeder", waved in the breeze. I had hoped that this year they would remain upright despite the coming snow load. Light and fluffy snow does not make them bend much. It is the dense, heavy stuff that does them in. Come spring, cutting down the tough stalks to make room for new growth is quite a chore. I have seven groups of various Miscanthus grasses that started with three plants of one type in each group. The first real storm of the season last month had wind gusts exceeding 55 miles per hour and ice and hail preceding the snow. One week after this first photo was taken it flattened the "Gracillimus"and the "Variegatus", bent the "Strictus", but left a few of the "Silberfeder" standing. As if to prove the resilience of nature when given a chance, the "Silberfeder" sprang upright again a week after the storm when the snow melted. How much longer they may survive erect is anyone's guess.
Winter seems to flatten us all
Kay likes to take some samples of the grasses "flowers" for indoor display. It helps to compensate for the dearth of more colorful ones during the winter. She can no longer go outside and collect an armful of flowers this season.
.
.
.
.
Some plants just don't get it. After the first couple of freezes, a few warmer days brought out some blossoms on the Prunis Sargentii "Ecolade". They did the same thing last fall. Flower survival was short lived as winter exacted its price the following week. I do not know why some flora have such warped judgments. Considering what humans do, I guess I can not blame any in the plant kingdom for some minor errors. By the way, don't be fooled by the blue sky. Where I live it is a rarity.
This year I purchased an additional quantity of burlap. I have enclosed and covered a lot of the preferred deer
