Garden Plans for 2011 - Even On a 12 Degree Day

There is a charming blog, My Little Garden in Japan, that is taking the Blogosphere by storm.  The blog owner, Fer~, recently created a meme:  World Garden Blog Carnival.

Visit New Year Gardening Resolutions Blog Carnival

at my little garden in japan

His 'call out' this time around is - "Gardening for the New Year".  I'm a little late to the party - his invitation came out for January 17th, but I've been thinking about just what I want to accomplish......

(from Microsoft free clipart)

My 'theme' this year is going to be "BAM! Yes, I meant to do that!".

This will be 'Season #3' of recreating the landscape from scratch, after our home renovation.  Last year was a banner year of accomplishment - roughing out the main gardens in the back, while continuing to add perennials through-out the landscape.  In the Fall, I even posted on future plants I'm mulling over.....  As I look out the windows today, Spring feels very far away.  My poor PJM Rhododendron (Rododendro P.J.M.) looks like it wants to curl up into itself!  Like it just can't get small enough to protect itself from the cold.

Will it ever be Spring?
(Notice - the ever present bunny tracks)

The Vicary Golden Privet (Ligustrum x vicaryi) and Dappled Willow (Salix integra 'Hakura Nisbiki') stand stoic - frozen in time and place by wind and snow.

I realize that connecting with other garden bloggers has helped me learn more in almost one year (soon to be my 'Blogoversary'), then I've learned in 6 years of gardening.  Garden blog Ink & Penstemon had an interesting post lately about blogging, blogs linked to Facebook and gardening (it's thought-provoking, you should check it out).  There was a debate about 'garden blogging' versus getting off the computer and get out to garden...  Well I, for one, hope the garden bloggers that I follow - never stop blogging!!  You are my virtual garden mentors and Mensas -- my garden design and inspiration would be greatly diminished without you.  (So don't get any crazy ideas!)

Paprika Yarrow and Moonbeam Coreopsis

Persian Shield - 2011 'compost'

Sedum - looking a bit like Nick Nolte's mug shot?

...you be the judge....

So as I look at the frozen "Tundra", and iced plant remnants from 2010, I start looking forward.  Two, OK three prevailing areas loom in my head.

Area #1:  (plant a lot, plant fast growing and plant often!!; and maybe it would make a great "moon garden"?)

Area #2:  (Plant more perennials, extend the 'Shade Garden' along the fence line)

Area #3:  (What's next? ...extend a shade garden under the bay window?.. additional garden(s) framing the driveway?  Hummmm....time to get out the colored pencils and graph paper.)

And finally - because I needed hope for Spring - a snapshot of the Summer of 2010:

"Sweet Dreams" Threadleaf Coreopsis
(Coreopsis rosea) 

Happy garden planning in 2011!
(Thanks for the motivation:  "My Little Garden in Japan" blog)