Hello again! Three weeks have flown by since I wrote about what’s happening at Coppertop. Along with many other folks, we are in another round of time spent at home due to COVID-19. Washington State’s numbers haven’t been the worst by any means, but our rural county has seen a rapid rise in cases this week. Social distancing, masks, and proper hygiene can help us get to a better place again — and THANK GOD vaccines are on the horizon.
I’ve been working on some indoor projects, which is just as well, since rain has made the garden soil too saturated to be stepping on or working in. The stream is raging, and the pond is filled to the brim.
ONE – Starting at the bottom of the hill, two-thirds of the way through November the veggie garden is still producing loads, despite plenty of frosts. Some beds thrive beneath their mini hoop houses. Various kales, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, and carrots are welcome, nutritious meal additions. The Brussels sprouts are painfully slow to gain mass, but I’ve harvested some already.
TWO – As I head uphill, I stop to admire the last maple to shed its leaves. All the bigleaf maples, alders, and most other trees are naked now. Although it’s located down near the pond, the top of this maple is viewable from the house, which we appreciate!
THREE – Walking up to the perennial beds (squish squash), this young Cornus ‘Kousa’ dogwood is still beautiful in its autumn attire. The Rosa rugosa beneath it has gone yellow.
FOUR – The perennial beds are bordered on one edge by native plants and tress, including sword ferns, salal, Ribes sanguineum (redcurrant), and Symphoricarpos albus (snowberry). Below is a photo of part of a snowberry thicket the birds adore and glimpses of the non-native, pink Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry) also at Coppertop. It’s a pretty time of year for these Symphoricarpos.
FIVE – Along the north side of the house, an area of healthy shrubs tops a rock wall. This week a smoketree (Cotinus) and viburnum offer great color.
SIX – And this area is my Saturday project! These full-shade, northern beds contain hostas, astilbe, and hellebores that all require cutting back for a great show in 2021.
Let’s be safe. Let’s be kind. Let’s safely visit The Propagator in the U.K. for links to dozens of Six on Saturdays posted by gardeners around the world.
The rain has let up, so I’ll be on the deck enjoying the view.
Gardens at Coppertop 
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