A great way to wind up the gardening year is to return to Six on Saturday, a weekly gardening series The Propagator in the U.K. hosts. I’ve been away for a few months, but this friendly group of gardeners is nothing if not welcoming! Visit his site, and view the comment section for more garden projects worldwide.
ONE – Wind destruction has occurred before at Coppertop taking out some trees, but while I was visiting the east coast on December 14, a massive windstorm wreaked havoc here. The greenhouse was a casualty. Thankfully it was mainly empty, which added to its ability to get airborne and end up in the orchard. It looks like a giant hand spun it like a top. I took the below photo standing on the greenhouses’s gravel pad. We’ve begun the both fun and frustrating job of selecting a new greenhouse.
TWO – I must admit it took me until this week to finish planting all my tulip bulbs for 2019. In these pots and other wine barrels is a riotous, fabulous mix of hundreds of orange and purples, and doubles like white Mt. Tacoma and pink Angelique, plus the AlaSka blend, a Parrot Blend, and the French Blend which are pictured. Oohlala! Every wintery post needs a spot of color. Almost all of my tulips are from Colorblends. I snapped the photo before I finished covering all pots with wire mesh to foil the squirrels.
THREE – An amazing amount of water has been flowing into our pond due to heavy rains. Soon pond grasses and other plants will be cut back in preparation for their late spring emergence. The stream is rushing and its joyful sound accompanies all outdoor, post-storm cleanup.
FOUR – I haven’t mentioned our new rose garden since I first dreamed it up and wrote about it here: New Bed: Stop And Smell The Roses. The turf is removed, and the large bed is dug, amended with many truckloads of compost, almost half planted with nine of the eventual 20 baby bushes and climbers, and mulched. The obelisks have arrived and are awaiting early spring assembly. The bed isn’t very exciting yet, but I have big hopes for this space.
We do have a rose mystery on our hands: One of three Golden Celebration rose bushes has gone missing since planting. Perhaps the winds carried it off into the forest? Well, yesterday I think I saw it uphill in the pond, stuck in the grasses. So weird. Time to rescue and revive it.
FIVE – Germination is the name of the game down in the shed. Lupine have shot up, as lupine do. Joe Pye Weed is currently in last place with nary a sprout in sight, and delphs and salvias are slowing putting on the green.
SIX – I’ll start and end this post with the windstorm, which downed trees and blocked roads all over the area. We lost many branches and small trees, especially in the wild areas of our land. A large hemlock tree landed on our perimeter fence. For the first time, deer have access to my growing zones. Good thing it’s winter and nothing’s too appealing!
May 2019 be the year each of us fulfills a few more of our dreams, be it in the garden, in the community, or in our personal life. See you in the New Year!
Gardens at Coppertop -- March Picker 
What destruction caused by this storm! Fortunately nothing serious for you ….
The future rose garden in front of the house is well placed : I’m envious .
Otherwise, what competition equipment for winter germination : It’s great!
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Yes, it was a whopper storm. The lights and heated mats certainly help with all the growing. Good to see you again, Fred.
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You’ve been busy. Can’t get over the greenhouse – the storm left it totally mangled.
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Mangled is the right word!
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The storm damage is awful, however I think a bit of fun will be picking out a new greenhouse. You probably have ideas of what you would like that is different from the demolished greenhouse. I can’t wait to see all of your tulips blooming. What a sight it will be. May you have a more calm and rewarding 2019.
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The hunt for the right greenhouse has commenced! May your 2019 be full of good things as well, Lisa.
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What an awful storm. I am impressed with all your seed babies.
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Thank you, Chloris!
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March, your spirit is as great and wonderful as your garden. I can only admire! All best wishes for the new year to you, your family, your hens, and your garden (what have I left out?).
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Happy New Year and thank you, Sabine!
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Oh dear, what dreadful damage! You have so much space and, as a result, so much work on your “estate”. Beautiful tulips. I am hoping some of mine will do well this (next!) year. Happy New Year.
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Tulip season will be upon us before we know it. Happy New Year to you as well.
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Gosh bad luck with the greenhouse! I am intrigued by and jealous of your seed starting setup. Fancy!
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Thanks, Mr. P. My set-up is pretty simple actually and I still use fluorescent bulbs — no LEDs yet or new shelving units…
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I’m so sorry for all your loss and destruction. It must have been some storm to wreck such havoc. May this year be better and a new greenhouse is an exciting thing to anticipate.
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Yes, we are thankful good insurance is helping. Happy New Year, Cindy.
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Your garden is wonderful and is exactly the garden I would choose. A shame about the greenhouse, it looks a complete right off!
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Thank you. We love this place. We also loved living in Portugal from 2011-2013, right by Cabo da Roca. You are very fortunate to live there!
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Goodness! I so missed out on everone’s Six on Saturdays! I got dreadfully sick!
That totally sux about the greenhouse! There are greenhouses that I would be pleased to have taken away, but the important ones seem to be those that get damaged. You rose garden actually looks quite exciting to those of us who do not get much of a winter. So much bare space to plant bare root plants is enviable.
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I hope you’re much better. It hit here as well. The greenhouse was a shocker, but I’ve adjusted to the idea of one without poly film! We shall see if the rose garden blooms in 2019. I’d be thrilled.
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What a shame you had so much destruction! I’m loving your garden; it’s stunning,
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Thank you! A joyful 2019 to you and your family.
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Well you do have the storm damage, but the other things! Such healthy seedlings, all the tulips, and that massive rose garden all look so promising. I really can’t wait to see the tulips, that will be as glorious as usual.
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Yes, there is much to be super thankful for. I am definitely not complaining but taking things in stride. As much joy as gardens bring, they still are just “things”. May your 2019 be full and fun, Frank!
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It must be hard work with a garden that size but what a lovely challenge. Have fun choosing your new glasshouse
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Thank you. A joyful 2019 to you!
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Oh my, I almost shed tears looking at your poor greenhouse. Every gardener dreams of a greenhouse and to have the wind take it down – not fair. 😦 I will look forward to seeing your tulips. I can’t grow them because the squirrels just eat them like a salad bar.
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Just seeing this now, Judy, and I know you’re taking a break. Thinking of you!
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