Sun on the Horizon

After a week of snowfall, with 35 cm the previous weekend and more every day since, adding up to 99 cm (almost a metre) of snow in a week, we are all looking forward to sun with great anticipation!  The forecast calls for highs in the low negative digits, which will make a mess out of our snow congested roadways, but I think not many will complain. 

In the meantime, how about a tour of my winter garden.

 I went around the side of the house to take these photos which meant trudging through snow that was half-way up my thigh.  All these photos were taken mid-week last week and there's been more flurries since.  Above is a weeping juniper, Tolleson's.  These are quite pretty when encrusted in hoar frost.  Each dangling strand of the evergreen foliage covered in white glistening frost. 

 Above, a close-up of the dangling samaras of the Amur Maple.  They too have a bit of snow and hoar frost on them.

 Above, a look at a white pine, up close and personal.

 Cedars are weighed down with mounds of snow beside our deck.  I am so glad we planted these.  They are going to be great for privacy though they grow only a modest 6 or so inches a year.

 A view from the other side of the house.  Above you can see a dried flower from Hydrangea Pink Diamond.  To the side are three cedars and directly in front, in the photo, is the Amur Maple.  In the background you can see the other Tolleson's Weeping Juniper.  I just love this juniper for its unique growth habit.  It is a great focal point in the winter garden when the leaves from the nearby maples have fallen and it stands alone, in full glory, a contrast to the stark white drifts of snow.

 Above and below are two photos of Dwarf Alberta Spruce.  I have three of these in my yard, two in the back garden and one in front.  Because one of the spruce in the back is not very sheltered it has browned a bit over the years.  I am considering removing it altogether.  That means more planting!!  See what I mean about winter being the time for gardening enthusiasts to analyze and plan their garden?

 The above photo shows the hoar frost that delicately coats the needles of the Dwarf Alberta Spruce.

The above photo was taken through my bedroom window, thus the screen effect in the foreground.  This is the far back corner in the garden where a mountain ash stands as an attraction to birds.  We had a visit on Sunday from hundreds of cedar waxwings who love mountain ash berries.  But that is another post, coming soon.  In the foreground is an Alberta Spruce, behind it a topiaried white pine, and, almost buried beyond recognition, another Alberta Spruce.  Left of it is one of my favourite shrubs ever, a Galahad Mock Orange.  I have featured this shrub as part of my "Spotlight on" series.  Its branches are a reddish-brown and stand out in the landscape as does the bark of the mountain ash.

 Here, under the amur maple, sits another topiaried white pine.  The snow here is close to three feet deep.

Last, but not least, is a close-up of the berries of the mountain ash.   This is a European mountain ash.  I learned this second hand from a professor at Olds College who taught that European mountain ash leaves come out in spring in a bud that is rather hairy, before fully emerging.  Yes, that's this tree alright!  Somewhat messy as it drops some of its berries, I don't regret planting it because it is such a feature in the winter garden.  It makes a nice, somewhat dappled shade in the summer and the bark is a gorgeous red-brown.  The birds love it too.

Hope all is warm and sheltered where you are.  If you see the sun, send it our way, won't you?

What I've Been Up To!

My sons had this cedar in a pot on their balcony.  Since it would never survive here in a pot it was brought to our house so I could plant it in the garden.  This beautiful Brandon Cedar is going to make a lovely addition to the yard.

Much too heavy for me to handle on my own, I called my son M (one of the cedar's previous owners) to give me a hand planting it.  Here he is cutting away landscape fabric before digging the hole.

Contemplation....hmmm.....It will have to be a larger hole.   Plus he needs some music to work to!

Huh, you say, looks like M is doing the heavy work.  You're right.  He does have the muscle and aptitude for it.  So, I really couldn't deny him the fun, could I?

Here I am hauling a planter of good soil to the site to add to the hole.

Stitch, my daughter's dog, is supervising.  My daughter, A, is taking the photographs.

Lilo checks out the pond while we are digging and planting.

Removing the cedar from its decorative planter takes two of us. 

It is very heavy and has grown well this summer in its pot.

Here it is, out of the pot and ready to be planted.  You can see its root system looks great.  It was happy in its pot.

The finished product.  The cedar takes up permanent residence amongst the evergreens.  M used the extra soil to build up the side of the hill by the waterfall.  A soaker hose is in place to give it a good slow soaking.  It looks so much better in this spot.  I once had upright junipers here but it is a somewhat shady site and the soil didn't dry out very fast.  Something junipers don't like but cedars do.  Thanks M for all your hard work.  How about some supper?