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| Full-moon Japanese maple 'Shirasawanum'. |
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Japanese maple
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Last night the thermometer dipped into the twenties. When I got up in the morning and looked out the window, I saw that Jack Frost had painted a scene of fantastic beauty outside! Looking out over the east side of the house, the tops of the three Japanese maples shimmered in the early morning sun, making such a lovely sight, I couldn't resist going out to record it with my camera before it all vanished!
The hoarfrost had outlined every leaf and blade of grass, turning each tree and shrub into a work of art: the Japanese maples, the hollies, the grasses, even the mulch!
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Berry Poppins hollies.
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Japanese maple 'Bloodgood'
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Going into the back yard, in the Little Indians bed, the 'Bartzella' peony and the purple Chrysanthemums, with the catmint behind, created a beautiful array of subdued colors and shapes.
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Peony 'Bartzella' with mums.
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Dried flowerheads of Swamp sunflowers.
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Even the seedheads of the Swamp sunflowers were artistic, outlined with ice crystals. The Bottlebrush Buckeye tree with its yellowing leaves was a wondrous sight, as was the Beautyberry 'Early Amethyst' with its small purple berry clusters.
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Bottlebrush Buckeye
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Beautyberry shrub
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The just-planted lamb's ear's furry leaves were heavily coated with ice. The Fothergilla's leaves, just starting to turn, next to the frozen aromatic asters, were another study in subtle shades.
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Lamb's ears leaves.
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Fothergilla with aromatic asters in front.
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Walking around toward the west side of the house, the berries of Viburnum 'Cardinal Candy' looked like they might be special seasonal decorations. The Japanese maple 'Amber Ghost' and even the fallen leaves on the grass were gorgeous!
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Viburnum 'Cardinal Candy'
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Fallen leaves
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Japanese maple 'Amber Ghost'
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In the front yard, the dainty leaves of the 'Princess' holly looked like another classic winter decoration. The sprigs of red barberry 'Admiral,' next to the gray-blue foliage of lavender, another work of art! I could go on, but I'm repeating myself, so I'll just let the photos speak for themselves.
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'Princess' holly
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Barberry 'Admiral'
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Diervilla 'Kodiak Black' and oat grass.
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Sedum 'Autumn Joy' and Itea 'Little Henry'
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