The Kuzma/Halme garden in the wintertime

When I pulled up in front of John and Kathleen's garden on January 31st I really wasn't sure what I'd see. I knew John is a master at winter protection, but I wasn't sure how much of that protection goes up preemptively vs on an "as needed" basis. 

Our winter was quite mild this year. Yes, I'm using past tense. It's the first week of March and in Portland that means the door has been slammed shut on any chance we might see serious winter weather. Over the winter that was we experienced a few nights below freezing but no daytime lows below. No arctic blasts, no ice storms, perfectly dreamy.

Of course all that can be said in hindsight. Going into it, you have no idea what Mother Nature has in store, so if you care, you prepare. Ha, ya... I just came up with that as I was typing. Nobody wants to be caught out in sub freezing temperatures trying to do a weeks worth of work in one night. So we do a few things in advance. 

Agave americana 'Yellow Ribbons' (hardy only to 20-25F) is completely covered, staying toasty warm.  

Other agaves have a roof over their heads, keeping them a little drier and making further protection (should it be needed) a little quicker.

Opuntia staying dry under a low cover.

Dicksonia antarctica (tree fern) and Abutilon under cover, power at the ready should heat me needed.

Tree fern fronds gathered up and wrapped, rather than cut off as some do.

Tough as it is Fatsia japonica needs no protection.

Into the back garden...

A young palm, Butia x Jubaea cross, getting a little careful love.

I shared nearly this same shot in Wednesday's post, that was the summer version.

Phormium under wraps.

And looking towards the fountain.

I have no memory of what might be under those covers...

But I do remember this view being a bit of a shock. In the summertime everything is so lush that I've never been able to see an agave in the upper garden from down by the fountain.

Jubaea chilensis growing out of harsh winter ('24) dieback, protection framework in place should it be needed.

I really appreciated being invited over to see this garden in "winter what if" mode. 

I've had more than a few people ask me why I move things in the fall, rather than waiting to see just how long I can leave them in place, before it's move or die. But why not do things in small increments? Rather than risk it?  

I'm sure many of these plants John built covers for would have been fine with no covers at all in this mild winter. But because he had them in place already, that meant he was free to turn his attention to other things IF the weather turned nasty.

Rain cover over agaves...

A much smaller version...

Hemiboea subacaulis var. jiangxiensis looking just fine in January.

Ditto for this oak.

Reward for a wintertime visit, I don't think I've ever seen these bamboo canes glowing....

The greenhouse is full. We were so busy talking I didn't manage an outside shot. Inside you notice the citrus, and up above, various dormant Colocasia.

Tucked in here and there, Agaves, Like this A. 'Blue Glow'...

Since Agaves don't need much (if any) water over the winter months they can be put up in the hard to reach places.

Another shot of the rain cover.

It really was an odd (but uplifting) feeling to be discussing winter protection on a sunny (warmish) January morning. Saxifraga x geum ‘Dentata’...

Fuchsia, blooming in January.

I think there are more Abutilon underneath the coffin cover? No doubt John is already considering the removal and storage these covers, and getting started on another growing season.

What a gift it is to start from where we left off last autumn, rather than having to rebuild from horrific winter damage.

The Bit at the End

Theo Margelony, who some of you know from his website, The Fuchsietum, recently wrote about the tiered shelving he created for use in his greenhouse. As someone who dreams of having a dedicated greenhouse space in her "next garden," I've filed this away under useful ideas for the future, here's the post.

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