
It was inevitable, I know. The snow, I’m talking about. It is Canada. It is November. Still… We had flurries this past Tuesday, and again yesterday afternoon, and tomorrow the forecast is for about five cm with low enough temperatures to have it stick around for a few days. Winter is coming! Right now it’s time for Six on Saturday – six interesting things in the garden, a blog theme hosted by The Propagator. Be sure to visit his site if you’re interested in seeing late November gardens from around the world!
I’m pretty lax about cutting back perennial flower stalks in the fall, even for plants considered weedy by some. It’s partly because at this time of year I’m tired; at this time of the year it’s cold outside and I’m not overly keen on mucking about the yard; but mostly it’s because I know that dead flower stalks provide habitat for overwintering beneficial bugs and also provide food for birds. This last point was made evident to me yesterday morning as I was entertained by a half dozen small birds flitting amongst goldenrod seed heads left standing on the other side of the dining room window. They were pecking away, looking for the tiny seeds that would help them stay alive over the long winter ahead.





And finally, the view looking north down the back part of the driveway, the part we don’t use. Now that most of the oak leaves have fallen, I’ll be mowing this stretch and using the shredded leaves in the garden. This will prevent the moss growing on the driveway from being smothered over the winter. Have a great weekend everyone, stay warm (if you’re anywhere near the snowbelt!) and stay safe as this new Covid variant spreads.
We had a few flurries last night, a snow shower it was called, but nothing stuck. We could get as much as an inch tomorrow night. The snow blower is ready but that sounds more like shovel snow.
I love finding Christmas Ferns in the snow. In winter anything green is cheery.
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We must have the same weather systems! Happily it’s bright and sunny today, perfect for final raking this afternoon and some wood chopping.
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I leave the perennials left unchopped over the winter too for the same reason. Many like your Goldenrod and Echinacea look rather nice over the winter too, especially when frosty.
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One of my favourite winter perennials are the large Sedums – I’ve never seed birds on them, though.
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I canโt wait for the snow photos next week! ? ( my calendulas are quite hardy here too, a little frost and snow donโt seem to bother them)
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Five cm forecast for tomorrow, but then warmer temperatures all week…There will be many snow photos in the next few months!
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It’s interesting that the leaves could smother the moss. That may help to explain the scattered patches of green and brown moss I’ve found in the east Texas woods much later in the year. I’ll have to take a better look, and see if there might be a correlation. Hooray for you, for leaving plants for the insects, birds, small mammals and such. Besides, I rather enjoy the sight of the seed heads.
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I’ve found that in years when I haven’t cleared the leaves the driveway is just dirt (or mud, after a rain) the following spring. The moss comes back, but it takes time…
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A lovely view of your driveway and the seedheads still standing. I have also had more birds this autumn feeding on Echinacea seeds and seeking out insects hiding in stalks. We have had some snowflakes already, and more forecast, but I think it will turn to rain. Hope your snow is not too much and is followed by sunshine!
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It was a lovely, sunny and chilly day today; it was perfect to get the last of the raking done! (Although there was still patches of snow in shady areas…) More snow tomorrow! ๐๐๐จโ
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Love the photos and I leave seedheads (probably too long) as well. I am about to start cutting the Salvias back (lots of seed here) beautiful fall scenery..
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It’s a snow day today…that mass of Echinacea is going to look gorgeous in a few hours!
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I love that you leave plants for the critters. I really like seeing the snow caught in the brushy growth and like you, am pleased to see the birds foraging amongst them.
It has become rather cold and blustery with flurries here, too. Stay warm!
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I love our wood stove, it keeps the whole house quite toasty. I even don’t mind the 4 a.m. feeding it needs. ๐๐๐
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Oh, same here, love that heat!
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“Stay warm.”? Seriously?! I expect to. You know though, some of the trees here are as bare as yours are. There are not as many deciduous trees here, and the deciduous cottonwoods are only turning yellowish green, but seriously, it must have been getting cool at night. I will not complain though. It may be boring, but . . . I suspect that I would not like such cool weather for as long as it happens there.
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What’s snow? ๐ด๐
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๐๐๐
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