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The big winter weather joke around the Pacific Northwest is a forecast calling for “snow on the valley floor.” That’s the Willamette Valley we talking about, and we hardly ever get snow, at least on the northern end. Those of us who grew up here are always rooting for the white stuff. It creates a magical world that we rarely see. Some even have a strict snow policy, and I’m all for it. People who move here from snowier parts of the country often have trouble letting us enjoy our fleeting glimpse of snowflakes. We’re glad to have you, especially if you garden. But if it’s not too much to ask, might you please refrain from spoiling our brief snowy good times.

Rare Brief Snowfall in 2014
Rare Brief Snowfall in 2014, photo by Bill Wagenblatt

Or at least, “snow on the valley floor” used to be the weather tease. Now it seems that’s been replaced–during this longer than usual rainless summer–by “rain on the valley floor.” Dear dog, what a long dry stretch we’ve had. And I know it’s been awful in every which way all around the country, indeed around the world, but I ain’t no stinkin’ monument to justice. I live here. I need rain here. And if this winter, we could see a dusting of snow, that’d be a fabulous bonus. Weather bah humbuggers, please do your best to refrain!

So from me and my rain-dappled plants, I want to say, thank you, Rain Gods.

Podophyllum pleianthum aka Chinese May Apple
Podophyllum pleianthum aka Chinese May Apple

Love, love, love this sedum mix.It’s so darn cute and cooperative.

Sedum Mix from Little Prince of Oregon
Sedum Mix from Little Prince of Oregon

And more sedum, this from Xera Plants. I’ve temporarily misplaced the name of this chubby little charmer. But it’s good, isn’t it?

Sedum from Xera Plants
Sedum from Xera Plants

Ron Wagner gave me several Tetrapanax before heading to Thailand with only his suitcase. They all survived. Yikes.

Tetrapanax papyrifer aka Rice Paper Plant
Tetrapanax papyrifer aka Rice Paper Plant

Big leaves always look fetching with rain splatters. I still haven’t decided where to plant this Schefflera, but I’ll get there. I talked to Sean Hogan of Cistus at the HPSO fall sale last weekend, and he told me it can take more light than he originally thought. Hmmmmm.

Schefflera delavayi found at Cistus Nursery
Schefflera delavayi found at Cistus Nursery

Small purple leaves look good too. This one is new this year, but I have another out back that made it through the winter.

Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart'
Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Heart’

Big, green, and part purple on the Abyssinian Red Banana. That’ll do as well.

Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' aka Abyssinian Ornamental Red Banana
Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ aka Abyssinian Ornamental Red Banana

I take loads of pictures of Echium wildpretii, but can you blame me. It’s fabulous dressed every which way.

Echium wildpretii dressed up in raindrops.
Echium wildpretii dressed up in raindrops.

Raindrops look fantastic on slender leaves too.

Pennisetum macrourum aka African Feather Grass -- gift from Scott Weber
Pennisetum macrourum aka African Feather Grass — a gift from Scott Weber at Rhone Street Gardens

Also on Datura, another plant I photograph all the time. Because look at it. I’d been saying it’s D. wrightii, but the description for D. meteloides sounds more like it. I swear, I’m going to do a better job of noting plant names. But in my defense, this was an early purchase, and I thought it was an annual, aka zone 9.

Datura meteloides aka Devils' Trumpet
Datura meteloides aka Devils’ Trumpet

This is a late breaking entry. I meant to include this when I first posted. Too good to leave out.

Colocasia esculents 'Black Coral'
Colocasia esculents ‘Black Coral’

 

And to finish the day with another sweet surprise, a beautiful sunset.

Sunset compliments of the Rain Gods
Sunset compliments of the Rain Gods

So once again, thank you rain gods.

Cheers.