As hard as we try to get out every weekend to work on the garden as winter winds down and spring beckons, I had not been able to for several weeks so, when the predicted rain/snow mix was instead partly sunny skies -- albeit chilly -- I made a break for the outdoors.
Was I ever shocked.
Sure, I was amazed at how much Marcia had accomplished in the last week, getting out for an hour here, two hours there, as the weather permitted.
And yes, I was blown away by all the new growth, from the yellow of the forsythia to the tiniest of green leaves on a gardenia we both assumed had fallen victim to a particularly nasty winter.
I was even knocked back on my heels a bit -- as I imagine many are right about now -- at how much remains to be done to get our garden into shape for enjoying in the spring and summer.
As surprising perhaps as those were, they are not what shocked me.
No, what shocked me was cutting through an electrical cord instead of a plant stalk.
Really shocked me.
But once the shock wore off -- it wasn't that big a one -- I returned to the reason I was out there to begin with, which was cutting back our Viburnum davidii, a one-time wonderful plant that has taken over too large a part of our garden. Truth be told, it was exhilarating being outdoors working in the garden, where I intend to spend time every weekend from now until November.
Electrifying, even.
And if being in the garden again wasn't reminder enough that it's time to drop the indoor projects and pick up the outdoor projects, seeing the amazing plants at Plant Nerd Night and sharing tales of cabin fever with those in attendance made it crystal clear:
Get thee out of doors. Now.
I know. Not the most shocking advice.
Marcia:
My favorite season of the year is garden season, which for me isn't one season but several.
It's bookended in early March by Plant Nerd Night and just the faintest whiff of spring that brings the promise of longer days, budding flowers, warm summer nights and eternal hope ... and ends with death.
OK, not actual death, just the hibernation that goes with late fall and early winter.
Don't get me wrong; fall and winter have their own beauty, but garden season fertilizes my inner plant nerd and makes me very happy.
For the last 16 years, Mike Darcy has hosted Plant Nerd Night and I try to never miss it. He brings in top nurseries and plant geeks from around the Pacific Northwest to speak about the latest, greatest and must-have plants.
And if that isn't enough, they raffle off and sell them, too!
If you missed Plant Nerd Night, we'll announce it in our column next year and you can mark it on your calendar. It's usually the first or second Friday in March.
The Nerdy Dozen
Here, in no particular order, are some of the latest, greatest and nerdiest plants from this year's Plant Nerd Night's participating nurseries: Dancing Oaks Nursery (dancingoaks.com), Sebright Gardens (sebrightgardens.com/hostas.aspx), Far Reaches Farm (farreachesfarm.com), Windcliff Nursery (danielj.hinkley.com/plants/), Sedum Chicks (sedumchicks.com) and the Rogerson Clematis Collection (rogersonclematiscollection.org). Keep in mind that not all are open to the public, so make sure to check their web sites for more details.
1. Cercis 'Don Egolf' (Sebright): This 10-foot x 10-foot red bud has prolific fuchsia-colored blossoms and needs full sun.
2. Abutilon 'Mobile Pink' (Sebright): This tender shrub would not have survived our last winter, but makes a great container plant.
3. Ligularia japonica (Sebright): Great for a moist, partially shaded corner of the garden.
4. Impatiens omeiana (Sebright): Grows 15-inches tall and will slowly spread in the shade.
5. Fritillaria verticillata (Dancing Oaks): Sun to part shade, with delicate spring blooms.
6. Corydalis 'Beth Evans' (Dancing Oaks): Plant in mostly sun to mostly shade. Flowers in spring and is summer dormant.
7. Trillium Kurabayashii (Dancing Oaks): Prefers dappled shade and dry summers.
8. Polygala chamaebuxus (Dancing Oaks): Well-drained soil and sun to part shade will keep this early blooming sub-alpine happy.
9. Clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom' (Rogerson): This early blooming evergreen clematis has pink and white vanilla-scented blossoms.
10. Hepatica transsilvanica 'Elison Spence' (Far Reaches): Give this rare plant part shade to shade and it will form a beautiful clump.
11. Pachysandra axillaris 'Windcliff' (Windcliff): At six-inches tall, this highly fragrant plant will slowly spread in the shade garden.
12. Ypsilandra thibetica (Windcliff, Far Reaches): An early bloomer in the shade garden.
You didn't really think I'd stop at a dozen, did you?
13. Rose 'Coral Cove' (many retailers): This small, disease-resistant rose has beautiful orange blossoms in full sun.
14. Soldanella alpina (Far Reaches): This April bloomer loves part sun to part shade.
15. Helonias bullata (Far Reaches): This rare plant has the most unusual pink, bottle-brush blooms studded with blue anthers and crazy orange winter foliage.
16. Heloniopsis orientalis (Far Reaches): This unusual plant forms evergreen clumps in the shade garden.
17. Glaucium grandiflorum (Far Reaches): This beautiful poppy flowers in full sun from late spring into summer with bright orange flowers.
Marcia Westcott Peck is a landscape designer (pecklandscape.tumblr.com) and Dennis Peck is a senior editor at The Oregonian/OregonLive.