patterns – Gardens Eye View

November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.
– Elizabeth Coatsworth

This poem says it all for my November garden on this Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day@ May Dreams Gardens. We had our first dusting of snow. It was cold, raw, wet. The temps didn’t get above 40. But this was just one day. A preview of what is to come. Last year the first dusting was 2 weeks later at the end of November. Of course the snow kept going into December and didn’t let up until March. I am hoping for a continuation of warm weather (warm for us is 50) and sun with few days as pictured above.

Because of all the frosts, freezes and now wet snow, there is little blooming in the garden. But I have lots to show you especially given that it is also Word for Wednesday at Garden Walk, Garden Talk. The word for this week is Pattern and Texture. Just the perfect words to describe what I see in November in my garden. Weather patterns shift daily almost hourly sometimes. Waking up in a deep freeze, the temps can soar to 70. Or as the picture above shows, rain changes to snow and all is laid low by the heavy accumulation.

With frost in the garden, you can’t help but get patterns and texture; a natural or chance marking, configuration or design. And once a garden is subjected to a deep freeze (it was 25 degrees overnight), the patterns of leaves are outlined in a coating of white; the textures of the garden suddenly different. As the sun rises, the early morning light gives everything a warm sparkling glow, making it tricky to capture images before they melt.

The pond froze for the first time last week. Even the bright green algae is still alive and suspended in the ice. I love the pattern the ice makes as if the rippling water were flash frozen. There was still one large dragonfly hanging around the pond but other than that it was silent. All life buried in the mud and leaves on the bottom asleep until spring.

The roses were also encased in ice as if they has been left in a freezer too long. The delicate petals dried and papery encrusted, sparkling.

Even the long ago dried blooms of this hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ weren’t spared. Every little petal wearing layers of ice looking like a dusting of snow.

The long blooming white gaura couldn’t escape the icy coating. The flower was frozen, the ice just beginning to grow on it like a sparkling fungus. Once warmed, the petals become lifeless, drooping.

Flaming sedum heads now freezer burned waiting for the sun to release them from this icy capture.

This lavender looks like coral deep beneath the sea. Its fuzzy foliage now sprinkled with ice deep in shade waiting for the sun to rescue it.

The lemon thyme looks like it has been dipped in a sugar. Ice almost growing as each layer is forming thick on the leaves.

And what of the hostas? Those closest to the house in shade slowly were fading. With the flash freeze, they look like lettuce that has been frozen. The exotic leaves once suple now frozen from the inside out, and with the thaw water logged, fading fast.

Even the meadow plants were not spared. Already dried and lifeless, they are given a coating of white looking as if snow had dusted their heads revealed only in the morning light. Was nothing spared this icy doom? A few surprises caught my eye.

The ornamental grass that grows on the corner of the patio has the softest flowers. They feel silky to the touch and wave in the wind. Close up they sparkle in the early fall light as if they were an icy confection. Still dry and silky they were spared a frosty doom.

This New England Aster is situated against the house in the walled rain garden. It would seem there is an insulated microclimate here. The blooms remain bright and vibrant even though the foliage is encrusted in ice.

Clematis ‘Belle of Woking’ finally put out one more bloom despite the freeze and snow. It is a hardy variety that is a joy to see among the brown all around it. This plant is in the front garden and rests against the cement porch.

This buttery yellow scabiosa is still blooming in the front garden. This is one of a few blossoms that refuses to quit. I have never really investigated the microclimates of my garden. I would surmise there are patterns with the spring, summer and fall blooms in these microclimates. I know plants that are closest to the house or situated against warmed stone/cement will bloom sooner and longer. But what other interesting patterns might emerge?

In next week’s post, I will highlight the native plants, some still blooming, and the wonderful native foliage starring in my November garden.

Linking in to the German version at Seepferds Garten for Blogger Blüten in November. I am linking in to Pam@Digging with her Foliage Follow Up on the 16th. Perfect time to flaunt the foliage in the garden. Since I don’t have time for more than one post this week, I hope she doesn’t mind I am combining my foliage and flowers.

I have also not had a chance all season to link in to Katarina@Roses and Stuff and her wonderful meme Blooming Friday. This week’s theme is “On My Wishing List”. Here is my wish. To see more gorgeous blooms from this Veronica (Speedwell) continue into December. The longer the warm days linger, the more likely I will get my wish.

Pleasure is the flower that passes; remembrance, the lasting perfume. ~Jean de Boufflers