Now that the holidays are past and the weather has changed a good deal, I am restarting the Tuesday View, inspired by Cathy's meme at Words and Herbs. While so many gardens lie under ice or snow right now, the small sunny garden is enjoying a desert winter, so it seems like a good time to take a quick look at what is changing.
At first glance, the South Border looks much like it did a month ago, except that the grasses are fading.
But hidden under and behind their stalks, spring is coming.
Many seedlings have sprouted and are growing nicely at last. (I'm not sure whether these are Nigella damascena or German chamomile, as both have ferny foliage and both were growing in this part of the garden last year. Any help with identification would be appreciated!)
I have just planted sweet peas behind the Pennisetum.
And Tulipa saxatalis is poking some leaves up resolutely.
A first glimpse of spring bloom is coming from early flowers on Eremophila maculata "Valentine" at the bottom of the border...
...while Eremophila hygrophana continues to be one of the most beautiful of plants.
And lastly, here is a little vignette from one of the miniature roses, with the blue Eremophila flowers behind it and the sunlight beyond that.
Weather Diary: Partly cloudy; High: 67 F (19 C)/Low: 46 F (8 C); Humidity: 37%-100%
Cathy (Wednesday, 11 January 2017 03:57)
Your grasses still look gorgeous Amy! That last picture is so atmospheric. Would you say you have a 'winter ' season or do you go straight from autumn to spring? I will have to show my view with snow on it! :)
Kris P (Wednesday, 11 January 2017 13:25)
Winter is your season in the desert, I think. I wish my Eremophila hygrophana looked nearly as good as yours.
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 11 January 2017 20:47)
Oh, I hope you will, Cathy - I'd love to see it! For long-term effect, the grasses are fantastic, aren't they? From a gardener's perspective I would say we definitely have a winter though I'm still trying to assess what to do with it. It runs roughly December through January and is a time when killing frosts could occur, so the plants tend to slow down and wait. All the same, for some desert natives this is their main bloom season, and I haven't really maximized that with my planting so far. Improving December bloom is on my list for 2017!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Wednesday, 11 January 2017 20:52)
It's turned into a very pretty winter here, Kris; and as I mentioned to Cathy, I feel I need to do better with planting for this season. Within a month we should have early spring bloom, and that is my favorite time of year.