Captured all in one photo, three of my winter favorites:  witchhazel, daphne, and lenten roses.

 

 Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) have separate fertile fronds that ripen in the fall to a pretty chocolate or cinnamon brown and persist through the winter to provide winter interest.  With snow on the ground, they definitely make a statement!

Hamamelis vernalis 'Quasimodo' is a dwarf cultivar.  It is compact and grows 3-4 feet high, and is a perfect choice for the small garden.   

No, witchhazel 'Quasimodo' does NOT grow Wheaten Terriers!

The lenten roses are beginning to bloom, and I am busy removing the old foliage in order for the blooms to stand out and really shine.  This has typically been a job I do in February, but everything seems to be early this year.  It is certainly not required to do this, but I've been doing it for several years now, and really prefer to clean up the hellebores and the nearby areas.  

Just finished the hellebore pruning along the steps going up to the upper garden.  This is just the beginning as there are several more areas to complete.

                                                                                         

The much needed recent rain has greened up our moss garden in the front yard.

I like the contrast of the moss and the dwarf mondo.

The moss is sneaking into the dwarf mondo, but that is fine with me!  Can't have too much moss!

The fall color of our blueberry bushes is a nice surprise!

 

The bulbs I had ordered in early September arrived in November:  

100 Crocus flavus 'Golden Yellow'

500 Tulip clusiana 'Cynthia'

225 Ipheion uniforum 'Wisley Blue'

Crocus flavus 'Golden Yellow'

Tulip clusiana 'Cynthia'

Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue'

The crocus and tulips were added to areas in our front yard where we already had some planted.  The ipheion will be dotted around on all three properties.  My hope is that all of these will naturalize ... if the critters don't dig them up first!!

The brown crispy leaves of Magnolia macrophylla (Big Leaf Magnolia) are a special fall treat for our bunnies.  

Peppercorn (left) and Butter (right) live outside in the garden in what Tom refers to as the "Taj ma Hutch"

  

Parsley is our indoor bunny who lives in our sunroom.  We didn't expect to have an indoor bunny, but after losing her mate (Basil), Parsley just would not accept another bunny (and we tried several) even though we went by the book in making introductions.    She would chase them, pull out their hair, and just terrorize them.  Parsley just wasn't interested in anyone except her Basil (which is kind of sweet actually).  So-o-o, we brought Parsley in the house where she is Queen Bee.   She likes to sit with Tom and watch Carolina and NC State football and basketball.

I have been busy cleaning up the garden and cutting back peonies, asters, salvia, angel trumpets, elephant ears, and various other perennials.  Next, I'll give them a good covering of leaves and put them to bed for the winter.  Good night and sweet dreams!

 

I was just reading that freezing temperatures don't do much in altering the slug population ...  I was so in hopes!  The slugs were unusually busy in our garden this spring.   I am definitely aware of how much they enjoy the tender shoots of hostas, but this year I was surprised that they seemed to enjoy the heuchera leaves (as well as many others!)

The Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' with its bright yellow daisy-like blooms is doing well along the street in the upper garden.