What's Left in the Garden

40s, sunny, windy.

It is the day before Thanksgiving, and the wind kicked up last night after a mild couple days.  What is still out there in the garden in the last week in November?

The winterberry hollies are shining with red berries.  Leaves have now dropped, and the berries stand out.  Some nice snow would really set them off, but they tend to get completely stripped before Christmas.

The new 'Ogon' spirea will keep its foliage til Christmas.  Right now it is a bronzy golden and waves nicely in the breezes.

The Callery pear held its leaves until last night.  Golden yellow, but it doesn't get the tinges of burgundy that others get, it's a muddier color.  As of yesterday it lost all its leaves, and is holding little orange fruits.

The new iteas ('Little Sprich') in the front walk still have all their leaves; a deep, deep mahogany color.  The voles have tunneled beneath them and they are tilted and unstable now --- I hope there is something left next spring.

In the Birch Garden the larger iteas ('Henry's Garnet') also are holding their leaves late, and they are deep red, but about half have blown off, so it's a sparser look.  The front walk is more protected from the winds.

The glossy abelia 'Edward Goucher' still keeps its shiny reddish foliage.

The sweetgums held their leaves very late, until last night's wind.  Especially the one at the road cut; that was pretty full until yesterday.

The 'Honeycomb' and 'Blue Chip' butterfly bushes are all green and full; they look like they do in the summer... except you can see them more clearly now with everything around them down.  No damage to the leaves, and no leaf drop at all!

Blue Chip the day before Thanksgiving

The 'Diane' witch hazel still has its leaves, some are tinged with brown but most are still fairly green, and all are still hanging on.

The dappled willows on the east side still have their leaves, a nice golden tan.  With the wind last night they are a little thinner, but still quite full and gracefully waving.

The grasses look lovely: the miscanthus by the garage door is willowy and fluffy and wild looking.  The Hakone grass is golden.

It's the red winterberries that really catch the eye, though!