The leaves have all fallen but here and there the tops of the Aspen trees are covered in cocoons, like so many Christmas decorations, made by tent caterpillars earlier this year. The ground is a carpet of yellow and red,shades of brown and black. Every morning shiny ice crystals and the glittering rime left by plunging overnight temperatures remind me that soon the snow will come, layer upon layer, every month until April or May.
I don’t mind winter but some years when it won’t go away I wish I lived in a warmer climate, a dry dessert like Spain or southern California or a lush, humid, tropical place like Queensland Australia or Malaysia. If I lived in one of these places I would revel in the chance to grow native plants or ones totally suited to the climate. I could plant my potted rosemary bush outside in the soil consider growing all manner of spicy peppers, eggplants, giant indeterminate tomatoes, orchids, a mango tree, passion vine, or Hibiscus. And a whole lot more I don’t know about.
The photo is Hibiscus schizopetalus, taken at the Real Jardin Botanico in Madrid. The plant was growing inside the hot house. Thinking of it now reminds me of how cozy and warm the place was.
Ah, zone envy. We all have it! I don't know if you go back and check comments you've made on blogs, so I wanted to let you know I responded to yours about kinnikinnik --- it is, in fact, hardy in your zone. It is Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and is supposed to be hardy to zone 3. It's a pretty remarkable plant and some say they did not get it to grow well (it wants dry infertile soil like heathers). But mine are completely no fuss. If you ever do try it, post and let us know if it grows as well for you!
ReplyDeleteLaurrie- Well I really must look for it. Thanks for its botanical name. I will have to prepare a dry infertile spot, not an easy matter because I garden in clay. I've just been googling around and found out it grows wild around here, obviously not on my property. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful flower! I need all four seasons and would probably go crazy in the tropics. I used to live in North Dakota, though, and can relate to getting tired of cold and snow. :o)
ReplyDeleteHello Melanie, thanks for commenting in my post i was able to see yours and the excellent photos here. I browsed on old posts and still reading. I smiled at this post today. We from the tropics despite our all year blooms and gardens still try hard to acclimatize temperate plants. It is amazing how people really always crave for the plants not their own. Just like me i long for crocus, snowdrops and pansies which are totally temperate crops! And you are now wanting to have those tropical plants in yours. Maybe we should switch places for a while, so I can experience Autumn and Winter, at least! hahaha! My few travels abroad were time on spring so the only snow i experienced is at the snowparks, which i visited in Dubai, imagine that of all places Snow in the Desert!
ReplyDeleteAndrea It's great that you are enjoying my blog. I spent 4 years in Malaysia as a teenager. I'm awed when I remember how fast everything grows. Northern BC is also like a desert in winter, the ground is frozen solid and covered in snow. The landscape is white, brown, branches of deciduous trees or dark green needles of Picea and Pinus trees.
ReplyDeleteYou'll at least have these great memories of Spain during the long nights of winter.
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