Persistent in the Face of Frost

As the cold season tightens its grip on the garden, loosening ever so slightly only to firm up its grasp even more, the final gasps of persistent plants are apparent. Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ stands strong in the face of frost. For now.

Roses, in particular red Rosa ‘Altissimo’ that throws out a late blossom on the ever rarer warm and sunny days become sprinkled in frost.

Confused Dianthus ssp., most of which are volunteer seedlings that arise in the pathways, are caught wearing their colorful dancing dresses.

Evergreen furry foliage of lambs ear, Stachys byzantina is splashed with crystals.

Deciduous foliage of Northern maidenhair fern, Adiantum pedatum that persists on the stem catches the frost and sparkles in the light of the new day.

Even the mosses that become more verdant in the cold are ringed in rime.

The shapes are varied and beautiful of the hoar frost, illustrated by the wild aster against the purple smoke tree, Cotinus coggygria and written about previously here.

Frozen fingers on the shutter of the camera are a small price to pay to be able to capture the magic of persistence in the face of frost. Above: Rosa ‘Touch of Class’

Frances

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~ by fairegarden on November 30, 2012.

Posted in Seasonal Chores, weather

17 Responses to “Persistent in the Face of Frost”

These fearless flowers are what make fall so festive. I love seeing those last blooms in their frosty finery having that last dance. I have a rose on one of the roses on the arbor. This rose normally blooms in spring. What a treat. Have a great weekend.

Good one, Lisa, thanks for joining in here! That last rose on your arbor must be such a joy, covered in frost it becomes even more so, for a while. You too, have a great weekend.
Frances

Lisa at Greenbow said this on November 30, 2012 at 6:08 am | Reply
Your frozen plants are so beautiful as they are preserved….I love the picture of the lambs ear…

Hi Donna, thanks so much. The lambs ear has been spread to the bed behind the four foot tall long wall behind the main house. Easy photography with no bending!
Frances

Donna@Gardens Eye View said this on November 30, 2012 at 7:12 am | Reply
Lovely images! We had our first thick frost this morning which will push some of the remaining herbaceous plants still in leaf into dormancy.

Thanks Mark and Gaz. The frost are coming every night now, but many plants still remain pretty. We have made the effort to find as many low growing evergreens of various hues that will grow here. It makes winter much more interesting.
Frances

Mark and Gaz said this on November 30, 2012 at 7:38 am | Reply
The ever presence of frost is beautiful on the beauties but alas it will be the demise of that beauty. The beauty will return next spring.

The beauty of the rose blooms will indeed diminish, but much remains to be covered in the sparkles and shine on in beauty.
Frances

Lola said this on November 30, 2012 at 8:02 am | Reply
So very lovely! I had to look twice at the Lambs Ear, those little fuzzy hairs look like something else in your macro shot~ so very cool! We have had the perfect combination of warm days followed by cold nights for gorgeous frosty mornings…I have loved seeing the frost crystals when the sun finally makes it past the tree tops here. Thank you for trooping out there in the cold and it has been cold! xoxogail

Thanks Gail. The lambs ear shot was a surprise, a pleasant one. Having them growing up high along the back wall makes taking photos much easier, no bending and better perspective with the light. Last year I could barely find a frosty shot, this year it is, as you say, every morning. Love it!
xoxoxo
Frances

gail said this on November 30, 2012 at 8:36 am | Reply
How low can she go? As I scrolled through your lovely frost-kissed flowers, I was in awe of your ability to get down so low in the cold. I still am, but am relieved that the Lamb’s Ear is more elevated than perhaps the other plants.

HA Barbara, thanks. You are right about the getting low. I still am able, too, but it gets more difficult with the passage of time, and am usually in silky pajamas pants so the knee touching the icy ground makes for some quick clicking. I love that elevated wall bed for many reasons, that being among them. Makes for easy weeding and perusing, as well.
Frances

Barbara H. said this on November 30, 2012 at 9:12 am | Reply
Beautiful, just beautiful.

Thank you, Cindy. It is so beautiful, to me.
Frances

Cindy said this on November 30, 2012 at 9:44 am | Reply
Must be quite a fancy gala going on at Fairegarden since all the attendees have bedecked themselves in their finest diamonds…looking so glittery and festive. However, what we admiring spectators know and they don’t is that the clock is ticking and the gong will soon strike midnight and then …and then…well, I don’t even want to search for the words…let them enjoy their last glamorous dance.

Thanks Michaele. The sparkle is wonderful, my camera and skills cannot capture what the eye really sees. It is a gala. But the ticking clock does not end with the beauty gone, it simply changes to a more subtle beauty. I love it when the tempo slows down, but come late January, I am ready for another party to begin!
Frances

So true about how invigorating a lull can be. I have often said that I am grateful I don’t live in an area that practically demands a full out gardening effort all year round.

Michaele, I have lived two places without real winters, CA and south TX. I could not adpat, I need four distinct seasons for my own growth and happiness.
Frances

michaele anderson (@meander1) said this on November 30, 2012 at 9:48 am | Reply
Hi Frances my friend! Oh, your garden is beautiful even with frost. I´m surprised to see so many plants still in the green and even in bloom there! Here they are all gone but we have had Mr frost visiting a couple of times already. Today we did get the first snow, only a thin layer of dust but still… I hope that´s all we´ll get but probably nobody will listen to that “lol” Lots of Kramar gittan

Dear Gittan, hello! Thank you, we have had several, more that usual for this early in the season, hard frosts here, but no snow. The weather forecasters say this will be a colder, snowier winter than normal. But the question is, what is normal anymore?
Double kram!
Frances

gittan said this on November 30, 2012 at 2:52 pm | Reply
Natures jewels for sure

Thanks Sharon. Nature knows how to dress up the garden, even as winter comes knocking.
Frances

sharon said this on November 30, 2012 at 4:14 pm | Reply
Frost is quite beautiful even if it does mean the demise of flowers. I love a clear, crisp morning, coffee in hand. Don’t you? Lovely.

Hi Layanee, thanks for stopping by. Make that tea, nice and hot, and the crisp, sunny new frosty day with promise of warmth by afternoon for perfect late fall into winter weather. Enjoy every moment!
Frances

Layanee said this on November 30, 2012 at 6:45 pm | Reply
Lovely pictures! I especially like the Agastache which I’m letting stand through the winter in my garden for the first time this year, a decision I’m glad I made.

Hi Garden IAC, thanks. Letting anything stand that CAN stand is sort of a rule of clipping here. Everything gets a chance, for once cut, we cannot glue it back. The Agastache is particularly lovely, especially when frosted.
Frances

gardeninacity said this on November 30, 2012 at 7:17 pm | Reply
Beautiful frosty blooms! No blooms here but some of that warm unusual weather again, around 60 degrees. I’m thinking another hot summer?

Eileen

Hi Eileen, thanks for visiting. Who knows what the weather will bring? It is as it has always been here, up and down and up and down…
Frances

Gatsbys Gardens said this on December 1, 2012 at 10:59 am | Reply
The stachys photo is amazing and so pretty.

Hi Helen, thanks so much. The lambs ear is very photogenic, it seems to always put its best face forward for the camera.
xoxoxo
Frances

patientgardener said this on December 1, 2012 at 12:59 pm | Reply
Yes, we cannot let a little frost stop us, especially this “early” in the winter season.

Hi Carol, thanks for stopping by. It is very early in the winter season and we will have cold, less cold and even warm, which is happening right now. Take advantage of those breaks!
Frances

Carol said this on December 2, 2012 at 10:31 am | Reply
absolutely beautiful photos with the slightest blush of frost!

Thanks Kate. The frost makes the garden glittery!
Frances

kate maryon said this on December 3, 2012 at 3:00 pm | Reply
Chilly looking!

Hi Donna, thanks for visiting. Chilly but lovely. It warmed up quite a bit after that, to the 70s.
Frances

Garden Walk Garden Talk said this on December 3, 2012 at 9:55 pm | Reply

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