A very few things, like this Oxydendrum arboreum still cling to a few leaves as they flame out in a blaze of glory.
Here the skeletal remains of Phlomus russeliana flower stalks provide the perfect foil for the glowing foliage of the blueberry bushes.
Cold weather brings a blush to always decorative Euonymous ‘Emerald N Gold’.
Unlike the more common Lambs’ Ears, Stachys ‘Helen Von Stein’ holds up pretty well through the winter months.
See what I mean? Here’s Helen’s cousin, S. byzantium, looking a bit under the weather.
Our little grove of giant sequoias is growing up and beginning to fill its role of winter interest.
Another winter charmer is Chamaecyparis ‘Barry’s Silver’, especially when it is spangled with raindrops.
As leaves fall, it becomes easier to notice details like the lichen covering an old fence, here surrounded by the low-growing native salaal.
Or the moss taking up residence in a weathered fencepost. Our neighbor, who likes everything neat and tidy, wanted to replace all of these posts with those bright orange, pressure-treated 4×4 numbers, but we convinced him to spare a few of these. Like some of us, it has taken years for these cedar sentinels to develop this much character.
Every month, you can count on Pam at Digging to provide a portal to other collections of foliar delights.
I have to admit, my favorites in this post are the moss and lichens. That old cedar post is wonderful.
Like Alison, I love the fence post and moss too, but maybe it’s because of your story of saving it. So much character there, and still so much beauty in the quieter winter garden.
I’m with Allison, your moss and lichen pictures are very nice! One nice thing about the rain is how nice and green it makes all of the moss.
The Phlomis with the Blueberry is my hands-down fave…gorgeousness!
Alison~If only I could get Jim (the neighbor, and a very nice man) to read these comments.
Pam~Yes, I love the way subtle players get the attention during these months.
Peter~Rain…I love it, but don’t tell Loree.
Scott~I love that combo too.
Beautiful, your garden looks so green. Guess that’s what actual rain does.
The blueberry leaves turn gorgeous colors.
That kind of moss is not possible here so it’s very special to see it there.
Shirley~You give me cacti, I give you moss…pretty good tradeoff.
Oooo I love ‘Barry’s Silver’, what a pretty color!!!
Janet~And Barry is very well behaved, too.