Updue Overdate

North by northeast. The rains came, but the drought holds. Which leaves me indecisive about what to do now. It's time to start planting stuff, but I want to avoid things that need water. Maybe I'll just concentrate on climbers, on covering the fence.

South by southwest. The weeds, sticky little buggers have taken over, smothering most of the stuff I've planted. After I took this picture, I dragged the rake over them, trying to flatten them out for a wholesale weeding. But in a couple of months they'll be dead anyway. The morning glory (next to the gate) continues its slow climb, as does the bower vine at the left. I have hopes for them. I wish I had photographed the daphne (upper right, by the fence) when it was in full bloom, but the nicest thing about it was the smell. Truth be told, I've been lazy.

Four Months' Worth

South by southwest, Sept. 10, 2013

North by northeast, Sept. 10, 2013

North by northeast, Oct. 10, 2013

South by southwest, Oct. 10, 2013

North by northeast, Nov. 10, 2013

South by southwest, Nov. 10, 2013

North by northeast, Dec. 10, 2013

South by southwest, Dec. 10, 2013

North by northeast, today

South by southwest, today

Happy New Year!

North by northeast. Been neglecting things over the holidays and hoping it was benign neglect. One of our neighbors says this is the coldest, driest winter she's seen in ... well, forever. I don't think it's been all that cold except for one week, but it certainly has been dry. You can see the clump of jonquils or daffodils or whatever they are getting taller up in front of the crawl access. Lots of green (weed) ground cover up at the top. It seems to have choked out most of the thyme, as I discovered when I went out to pick some for a recipe. The cilantro is flourishing, and the oregano looks okay. The basil is kaput, however. 

South by southwest.

Solstice

North northeast. The shortest day, the longest night. 

South southwest. 

Winter daphne is budding. Guess that's why they call it "winter." 

Another Month

North by northeast three months ago

South by southwest three months ago

North by northeast two months ago

South by southwest two months ago

North by northeast one month ago

South by southwest one month ago

North by northeast today

South by southwest today

Winter Casualty Report

Miss 'otis regrets ... she's unable to thrive in sub-freezing weather. It's been down in the low 30s/high 20s, and there was frost one morning. It rained last night, so the weeds are thriving, and most of the rest of the plants look okay. But I fear that the stephanotis won't make it. The basil has pretty much had it, too, but I trimmed it back and when the weather warms up as it's supposed to do later this week, we'll see how it does. 

The climbing hydrangea doesn't look too great (even when the picture is in focus), but I think this is seasonal loss of leaves. 

In the Bleak December

North by northeast. Not exactly the fell hand of winter yet, is it? 

South by southwest. Only the color of the leaves gives the time of year away. The vine at the left is doing splendidly, as is the morning glory back near the fence. But midway between them the hydrangea is yellow of leaf. I don't know whether it's supposed to be this time of year. 

The Rains Came

North by northeast. Right on schedule, mid-November, it rained for a couple of days, leaving the ground nice and muddy and causing the weeds and grasses to sprout.

South by southwest. The rain and wind deposited some leaves, too.

The pink bower vine has some new growth.

The pineapple sage is sprouting nicely, with the beginnings of what look to be orange flowers.

The morning glory is continuing to twine nicely. Still a lot of winter ahead, but I'm eager to see what happens in the spring.

A View From the Back Door

Left

Center

Right

Far right

Veterans Day

I wish the poppies were in bloom today, but ... 

...will Mums do? 

Time Passes

North by northeast two months ago

South by southwest two months ago

North by northeast one month ago

South by southwest one month ago

North by northeast today

South by southwest today

Progress Report

North by northeast

South by southwest

Pineapple sage is putting out shoots -- leaves or flowers?

Mums are doing well, but I need to stop pulling the hose over them

The arbor vine 

Climbing hydrangea

I keep forgetting the name of this flower, and the one below 

I have high hopes for my morning glory