A walk.

Kicks ass.

Had a bad day? A walk can help you … walk out of that mood.

Had a great day? A walk can elevate that elatedness (a word?) to the next level.

I highly recommend a walk with your significant other, hand in hand. Corny, yes. But also my favorite thing to do.

Need to plan with a clear head? A walk is the prescription. Like formulating a plan with what to do with a section of garden in full sun, ravaged by deer, that always becomes overrun with weeds by late spring.

That was the purpose of today’s walk along the Delaware River in single digit temps (Fahrenheit that is). I fear nothing.

Crossing from NJ into PA.

Canal is frozen and witnessed kids sledding down a hill and across the ice. No pics in fear of getting arrested for taking pics of said kids.

No formal plan was concocted but I do have some killer ideas.

“Winter interest”.

A thing that factored into much of my garden planning and design but also something I fail to enjoy in person. It’s damn cold out there in our New Jersey winter and I don’t want to feel uncomfortable because I’ve become a weak and uninspired man.

No longer.

I am adding a daily winter garden visit to my repertoire (along with taking Vitamin D, making the bed, eating two Brazil nuts and spending too much time on Twitter). I will view it as a daily cold plunge so it’s also good for my overall health.

I didn’t dot my landscape with so many ornamental grasses to not admire them in winter, when their shape and movement in the wind truly shines.

Here we go winter, here we go.

Here we go winter, here we go.

Sing it with me …

Here we go winter, here we go.

Quick note: I’m unable to send out daily email notifications of new posts so please stop by on the daily even if you don’t receive the email reminder. Thanks.

The freeze hit.

Autumn colors have departed.

In honor of this freeze, let’s look at some “afters” and “befores”.

Joe Pye Weed and Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’

Joe Pye Weed and Panicum ‘Northwind’

Ironweed

Amsonia hubrichtii, Joe Pye Weed and assorted ornamental grasses

As anticipated, the frost hit yesterday and zapped the blooms on the annuals and degraded my cherished fall colors.

Half glass empty: noooooo!!!

Half glass full: the frost can be pretty.

At first glance, my garden looks like it has called it a year, as it slowly collapses on itself.

But upon a closer look, that may not be true.

Here’s what’s going on as we head into December:

Time for the evergreens to shine

As subtle as they may be, the white-tipped stems on Tsuga canadensis (White Canadian Hemlock) ‘Moon Frost’ allow this conifer to stand out, especially right now when everything else around it is brown and dying. The deer do nip it but I have been fighting them off with spray.

Here’s another conifer – Chamaecyparis pisifera (False Cypress) ‘Golden Pincushion’ – that remains hidden through most of the year but is now on full display. This plant may only grow a few inches per year, but I’m doing my best to remain patient and to enjoy the contrast with all of the surrounding perennials. The deer have yet to discover this one. Yes, I just jinxed it.

Another slow growing evergreen that is now standing out in the garden is the Korean boxwood, ‘Wedding Ring’. And yes, the deer ignore it.

I have had this Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae)’Rheingold’ for 10+ years and I love how it transforms from light green/chartreuse in spring/summer to the more buff color it exhibits right now. The deer have never touched this, but honestly, I don’t know why other than the fact that it is close to the garage door.

I don’t know which evergreen shrub this is because I’ve misplaced the tag and I’ve yet to update my plant spreadsheet. Bad me. Here’s hoping this anchors this spot in the garden for years to come.

Yes, Dwarf Alberta Spruce bores me too, but it has persevered for more than a decade and I appreciate the green throughout the fall/winter.

Have I mentioned that I like grasses?

What more is there left to say?

These are mainly Panicum (Switch Grasses).

Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass) ‘Northwind’

Miscanthus sinensis (Maiden Grass) ‘Morning Light’

Miscanthus sinensis (Maiden Grass) ‘Variegatus’

Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass) ‘Heavy Metal’

Bouteloua gracilis (Blue Grama Grass) ‘Blonde Ambition’

Looking good, even while dying

Monarda (Bee Balm) for days. They look even better when covered in frost.

A Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) bloom.

Maybe a bit of a stretch, but aren’t the spent flowers of Amsonia (Bluestar) still pretty cool looking?

Monarda (Bee Balm), Amsonia (Bluestar) and some grass.

Allium (ornamental onion) slowly yellowing.

Staying green

Packera aurea (Golden Ragwort) has been a phenomenal addition to the garden the past two years, even beyond the high flower count in spring. They remain evergreen for most of the winter and you guessed it, the deer haven’t chowed down too much on them.

The only concern is that they might grow out of control over time. I’ll deal with that when it comes.

Another subtle change, but one I am enjoying: Phlox stoloniferous (Creeping Phlox) turning yellow and remaining evergreen all winter. I like.

A closer look

A weed and a powerful one at that, but ain’t this Thistle kind of pretty?

And just like that, the bright, saturated and vivid colors of autumn have disappeared.

We’re now in what I like to call the “Pre-Winter Phase”. And you know what?

It ain’t so bad.