signs of life

As a transplanted Westerner, I still have difficulty dealing with dismal, never-ending New England winters. This year, the snow has been relentless. Until this week, our yard has been whited out since December. Now I don’t want to appear overly optimistic but temps are finally rising and, here and there, I spy green.

The first ferns to brave the cold are Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ (Autumn Fern)…

signs of life: dryoperis erythrosora “brilliance”

It doesn’t look like the snow slowed down my two Conradina ‘Snow’ Verticulata (Cumberland Rosemary) at all…

signs of life: white cumberland rosemary | “snow” conradina

The Euphorbia myrsinites (Donkey-tail Spurge) is going strong…

signs of life: donkey-tail spurge | euphorbia myrsinites

In fact, all the succulents look fabulous. The Sedum spurium ‘Voodoo’

signs of life: voodoo sedum

 

The Sedum reflexum ‘Blue Spruce’ (Blue Spruce Stonecrop)…

signs of life: “blue spruce” sedum

And the Sedum rupestra ‘Angelina’ (Angelina Stonecrop) just looks great year-round, that’s all there is to it…

signs of life: sedum “angelina”

Many more sedums around the yard are looking happy right now, just take my word for it. This Sempervivum ‘El Greco’ (hens and chicks), one of many varieties around the yard, is already sprouting…

signs of life: hens and chicks

Even the Agave parryi (Parry’s Century Plant), whose survival was never a sure thing, looks like it weathered 8 weeks  beneath two feet of snow…

signs of life: parry’s century plant | agave parryi

While the standard oregano over in the herb bed is still crunchy, brown and lifeless, my Origanum libanoticum (Cascading Ornamental Oregano) plants are leafing out all over the yard…

signs of life: cascading oregano

The Thymus pseudolanuginosus (Wooly Thyme) has a purplish cast to the edges of its stems but is fairly unaffected by winter…

signs of life: wooly thyme

Over in the veggie beds, I see lettuce starting to poke its head out of the straw. What kind? The delicious kind…

signs of life: lettuce

And my Rubus calycinoides (Creeping or Ornamental Raspberry… why do they call these ornamental? they fruit!) plants are already greening up the hillside…

signs of life: ornamental raspberry | rubus calycinoides

Two surprises, to me anyway. My Akebia Quinata ‘Shirobana’ (White-Flowered Chocolate Vine) is further ahead of the game than I thought it would be…

signs of life: akebia quinata “shirobana”

And that Rubus henryi bambusoides (Bamboo-like Vine) I wasn’t sure would make it through the winter looks awesome — especially for March!

signs of life: rubus bambusoides

So take heart, New Englanders! Spring is imminent! Probably.

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