I've been trying to extend my seasons as far as possible. I started with a red twig dogwood - looks great in the winter, thankfully, 'cause it sure looks awful during the summer.

Now I have some Hellebores (yay!) that I have to get into the ground.

I want to find a Camelia that is hardy in this area, but that might be tough.

Anyone else investing in cold weather plants?

Not here. After all nothing likes to grow in frozen ground.

Huh... I think you're in the same zone I am, Lucy....?

6a But much further north so when things freeze they are apt to alternate freezing & thawing, but the ground isn't workable.

It's much the same here. By this time of year, the weather is cold and the days are short. Nothing much is left in my yard. Perennials were all going dormant and have been cut back. Annuals have been yanked. I've declared this garden season over. After all, current temp is 28°.

Not like living in the south. We can only extend garden season so far. Then Mother Nature zaps all.

Karen

OK, don't tell me they had the Hellebores co-op and I missed it???

No, that one cancelled, but I think Mamajack has some - I'll ask her.

This is what she has:
pink frost
winter thrillers
ivory prince (Walhelvor)
green gambler
spring party
there are others..........?

I think all the pics/ descriptions are here:
http://www.perennialresource.c...

I'd better go over there and check out her co-ops too. I forget to check from time to time. Thanks. Did you get all of those?

I had Red Stick at the old house. It can get crazy and spread.

Red Stick.... I'll have to check that one out.

I got those except for Green Gambler, but I had one other, Pink Parasols, that she didn't list this time.

I c-mailed her for that list, I'm not sure if they're even listed on a co-op...? Maybe under Walters.

sheryl said:I've been trying to extend my seasons as far as possible.

Anyone else investing in cold weather plants?

I've added more evergreen shrubs and some late-winter, earliest spring blooming shrubs; spicebush, witch hazel, black pussy willow, pieris and a pair of white fringe trees. I've also added more shrubs with colorful fall berries that also feed the birds.

I've found it to be much less of a toe-tapping, waiting-for-spring, winter wait if there are some occasionally snow-bare and attractive plants to look at. The movement and glowing grace of the plume grasses really helps as well. They're tall enough and slender enough to show regardless of snowfall.

The shorter perennial (cold weather) flowers don't seem to bloom for me. They must have snow cover too late into the season, perhaps?

I planted Fothergilla gardenii this year and it has excellent Fall color and interesting stem structure when the leaves are gone. I also have numerous "berry" plants, chokeberry, elderberry, and recently planted purple beautyberry. My pink pussy willow starts to develop its catkins in the Fall and those are of interest through the winter when there are no leaves on it. I enjoy watching them develop.

One of my faves for year-round interest is the evergreen hollies. Dark green color all year and the female plants have lovely red berries through much, if not all, of the winter. I like the conical shapes as well as the other various shapes.

>taking notes.... < ...

We have bayberry & viburnum. Also a crabapple which the robins like to raid in the winter.

It seems like it's going t be a lean winter for the birds. The Mountain Ash's berries are usually left 'til the Spring migration, same with the Staghorn Sumac berries; most were cleaned up during the Southern migration this year. All of my coneflowers and sunflowers have already been picked clean as well. I began putting supplemental food out for them today.

Mt Ashes here are dying some green beetle.

I'm starting to fill my feeders again today or tomorrow.

Mine get emptied in 4 days. I might need to slow down on the