Iris planifolia and the Warmth of December
" People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent."
Bob Dylan
It was 65 degrees yesterday in parts of the Willamette Valley, my little nook of the world was a bit colder, but anything over 60 in December is unusual to say the least. You can go back in this blog and read the things I've said about the changing climate. Anyone with the least amount of observational skills can see it in the flowers. Lot's of stuff is up and growing that probably should be locked in a frozen soil mass right now. It's disconcerting to say the least. The worst part of it for a grower is that we could get an arctic outbreak next week and see the coldest temperatures ever recorded in the valley. Climate change should really be called climate volitility, the highs are higher and the lows are lower, something akin to the planet being on drugs and coping with depression, Maybe it's all the smoke us humans blow out ever day. The planet just keeps getting higher and higher and the lows keep getting lower and lower.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Illahe, even though the weather doesn't reflect that. |
Iris Planifolia:
Iris planifolia |
These are fragrant, not overwhelming but a nice light, spicy fragrance which is kind of cool to get in a plant this time of year. |
I'm selling some plants at the local vinyards makers market this weekend, alongside some beautiful handcrafted wreaths from Schilling Family Farms. I used to do tons of in person plant sales, from the days when I organized the Berry Garden plant sale, to attending the Leach Sale every year, the Squirrel Heights Garden sales and the HPSO and a host of other fundraising sales. I've been growing a lot more potted plants these days to compliment the dormant fall bulb sales during the rest of the season and I'm excited to get back to slinging plants more and more. I think the need for climate adapted plants is getting bigger and bigger every year.
Mark