And Now It's December

Swoosh.  Just like that.  One month down.  The next one here.  I've been working on a couple of newsletters - my husband's real estate newsletter (am through the numbers component, so all that's to be done is the writing now) and one for the Oakville Horticultural Society - should you wish to take a diversionary gander - http://www.oakvillehort.org/sOHSNews12_2012Dec_w.pdf.  I had a blank slate when I first started in October, which made it both a challenge and bit of fun.  My goal is to get as many members involved as possible.  Nothing better than going through a newsletter to see who's pictured this month and what they're up to.

Well, it was bound to happen sooner rather than later - and so, on November 30th, we got our first snow.   And as usual, happy little Canadians drove around like they'd never seen the stuff before, causing all sorts of little smicksmacks here and there.  Kevin and I sat watching this corner with our wine last night watching several people come close to a a good kabang - we're so easily amused.

Here's what it looks like this a.m.

And going back just 10 days.

I've left the Nicandra seed heads.  With any luck I'll have lots of volunteers next year.  The original seed was from Gardens North called Splash of Cream.  It was a rather unfortunate plant - very little cream-splash - very few flowers.  But those reseeds have been marvellous.  So far, no white on the leaves, but the flowers were so pretty, and the seed heads so cool, I really didn't care about missing the leaf markings.

 A Berberis thunbergii from Lost Horizons that I got many years ago.  One of the best fall-coloured woodies in the whole garden.

Really too hot and dry for most of the ferns this year.  Very proud of little Athyrium 'Ghost' putting on a show in November - reminding us it's never too late to shine.

We took advantage of some of the lovely weekend weather to visit the trail at the Royal Botanical Gardens.  Wonderful to see so many families out and about too.

Lemme go!!!!!!!

Just so beautiful.

On a morning walk, found these Anemone blooming away in a private garden.  They live on the other side of Lakeshore Road (closer to the lake), and it's just close enough to extend garden by several weeks compared with mine.

I'm glad they left their hanging baskets through November - amazing how large the plants had become.

My #1 favourite - practically impossible to find in the trade Spirea thunbergii 'Ogon'.  Pretty in the spring/summer/fall - one of the last to lose its needle-like leaves - why it isn't more popular - who knows?

Favourite Beech hedge - looking and sounding like fall.  The leaves have such a good dry rattle.

The light in November, was beyond odd - and with the camera on automatic doing its own crazy thing. Kind of weird what happened.

 

How's this for a nice winter arrangement?  (yes, it's one of two....and there are even more, and bigger and better inside the gates....)

Low water levels on Lake Ontario.  Isn't that sunshine divine?

And, the first of the season's BURLAP CRIMES.  This coven of burlapped evergreens has gathered to protect the service and utility boxes.  Notice how each bush has been carefully measured for her b'lap cloak.  Yes folks, no wrapping and staking for these fancy woodies, each b'lap confection has been sewn - not French seams, but the rough edges have been folded under before they were sewn through the seam allowance.  Just imagine, somewhere in Oakville, there's a dressmaker's Judy of some sturdy little bushes....