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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Getting ready for winter, Part Four of Four... (finished unless an arctic blast is in the forecast)

We've had such a mild autumn that my winterizing series has stretched on much longer than I intended it to. Currently a period of dry, sunny, days is upon us, which means we're looking at the possibility of a real frost...unless the insane east wind (flowing through the Columbia River Gorge) keeps things stirred up, in which case my garden might pass another week, or more, without a freeze.

Because I can't resist sharing a bit of weather trivia: "the last time we saw 7 consecutive dry days in December was 4 years ago (2013). Back in December 2011 we went 9 consecutive days without rain so it’s a rare event but it DOES happen." Taking it even further... "Let’s assume we go 10 days without rain (a relatively big assumption at this point). That has only happened in 7 Decembers out of around 80 years of records at PDX. We had 11 consecutive dry days in 2009, and 14 in 2005 and 12 in 1989." (source) So this really is remarkable weather for us, sadly it's also part of the same system that's causing the firestorms in Southern California.

So, back to the subject at hand...the garden and getting ready for winter. The final step in my process is to pull the things that (likely) wouldn't live though the winter in the ground. The Agaves below are some non-hardy pups from my brother in Phoenix. They are treated as annual "colorspots" (my version) and go in where I want a little drama in the garden. You also see the Passiflora 'Sunburst' leaves climbing up the tree trunk on the left. If I want to save that it's gotta get pulled and potted up.

A few more Agaves and some random succulents.

I could go either way with these Sedum nussbaumerianum. Take cuttings, or let them freeze. Dunno.

This blue Agave of unknown linaiage was just a wee thing when my brother gave it to me. It's gone in the ground every summer since and then been pulled in the winter.

These all stay in place...they're temperature hardy here and I've worked to be sure they have good drainage (something I don't do for the ones I tuck in randomly). The bottoms of the metal cylinders are all open to the ground beneath so the roots can run deep.

These Agaves stay in place too, but I think I'll just let the random tender succulents that have infiltrated the area go, none of them are looking all that great at this point. There's a few Graptoveria that I've had for years and a sad Aloe on the far right. Of course I say this now but who knows, I may take pity and yank them before they die...

More Agaves that stay, and a Haworthia (far right, bottom) that needs to be lifted. Are you wondering why I put things in the ground that aren't hardy? I like the way they look, or I've been given plants I don't have a place for, or plants pup and make more plants. All sorts of reasons really.

Here are a few Agaves after lifting.

I don't work to hard to get roots, just take what easily comes with.

I literally just grabbed this one by the base and pulled.

I didn't end up with much but it doesn't care, Agaves are tough!

This big guy required a little more than just tugging. I worked the soil around the base with a long screwdriver (yes it's a garden tool).

And then more with the hori hori...

It finally came free.

Just a small root ball really. Oh and there were Aloes under it that I'd forgotten all about. I guess the Agave put on quite a bit of summer growth.

No more Agave...

I decided to let this guy stay. I have no idea what he is, and who knows...he might make it! You've got to experiment every now and then otherwise there are no happy surprises. I like how he looks at the base of the palm, and had a tiny Opuntia of questionable hardiness live through last winter right there — you can see it to the right of the Agave, between two sprigs of Sedum.

So what do I do with all these now bare-root Agaves? They get potted up in the stock tank vegetable garden.

This area stays warmer than other parts of the garden — even in winter — and the soil is very free draining. Hardiness is better for questionable Agaves when they can stay "dry" (drier? not as wet?).

I also create little planting hills for them so the water runs away even faster.

The orange line below is an attempt to highlight one.

Still if things get really cold, like night-time temperatures in the mid to low 20's or staying below freezing day and night, then I can easily pull these and just toss them in nursery flats and take them into the basement to ride out the cold. Last winter was extreme and they were in the basement for a month, maybe longer. None of them minded.

I also have a flat of Aloe maculata (aka Aloe saponaria) pups I cut out of a container. I might try wintering one of them in the stock tanks, but the rest will go into the basement. I may pot them up eventually...or use them in a vase arrangement, or...who knows!

This Aloe distans 'Jeweled Aloe' had also made its way into the ground (a container reject that got too tall and had to be cut off). I pulled it a couple of weeks ago and was bummed to see it hadn't grown any roots. Ah well. Maybe next year.

Do I leave any Aloes in the ground? This A. aristata will be sticking it out.

As well this one...

And this larger leaf version.

Why the torture? Because this one stayed right here all last (nasty) winter and was fine. It's that experimenting thing again.

These Aloe striatula will also stay. I've got more in a protected container and I have had others of this species survive winter in the ground in previous years. They are way more likely (for me at least) to bloom next year if they manage to winter over in the ground.

I'm experimenting by leaving this Begonia 'Little Brother Montgomery' in place, because I've got another one in a container that I can protect. It's been mulched very well.

I did dig the Passiflora and pot it up. It's gotten this treatment for the last three years and done just fine.

Of course there's also the insurance of the magical baby plant that comes back from the roots every year. It's a piece I (unknowingly) left behind in the first place I planted the Passiflora. It's in a crazy micro-climate right up against the house and by a window.

It may be too late but I grabbed these and put them in the basement.

I haven't pulled the Mangave 'Inkblot' yet though. It's right outside the front door so I might just leave them to be rescued at the last minute, should arctic air descend.

The are looking really fabulous...and wouldn't it be nice if they overwintered right here? (dreamer, I really am a dreamer).

I moved the Dicksonia Antarctica and Bocconia frutescens into position right by the back door. If temps drop they can be moved to the basement and then back out again when they rise.

The Dicksonia Antarctica was our Christmas tree one year, it did not like being indoors that long.

The Cyathea cooperii 'Brentwood' (aka Australian tree fern) will get the same indoor/outdoor treatment.

As will the Grevillea 'Ned Kelly'.

The Protea cynaroides will spend more time in the basement than the others, being less hardy. I will take it outside when the temperatures rise though. Protea do not like being indoors, I've learned that the hard way.

Naturally I caved and cut the Sedum (and pulled the Haworthia). Who knows when/if I'll get around to doing anything with them, they'll be okay though.

So there's been lots talk of taking things into the basement. Last "getting ready for winter" post I was frustrated by large hole at the bottom of the stairs. That's been taken care of...yay! (that black pipe — which looks like a can — will be cut off flush with the floor, when the plumbers are here next).

The plastic walls are down and the Bromeliads have been allowed to stretch out and get some better light.

It's kind of jungley down here!

One last picture. I moved the final few things into the Shade Pavilion Greenhouse and got the heater and timer set-up working. Just in case. So far no need but I'm ready!

The other posts in this series are here:
Getting ready for winter, Part One of Four
Getting ready for winter, Part Two of Four
Getting ready for winter, Part Three of Four

Weather Diary, Dec 06: Hi 52, Low 38/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.