Goodbye, 2017,...

...you will not be missed.

One of my favorite mosses, Hylocomium splendens, or step moss.

True, it wasn't all bad. I had an open garden to "show off" my botanical wonder(mess)land, a fact I find intensely embarrassing now as I look out at my winter landscape. I got to make a second trip to my beloved Brookings, OR, with two wonderful friends. Emotionally, though, this year has taken an enormous toll, for a myriad of reasons which I won't detail here. A few friends have expressed their concern regarding my long silence, so I'm taking advantage of a spurt of energy to assure you all that I'm still here and, at least for now, I plan to return. I can't say for sure what the future will bring.

Western sword fern, Polystichum munitum, and vine maple, Acer circinatum.

In an attempt to chase away the blues, if only for a time, I took a walk through the green. Few gardens, in my mind, can match the quiet beauty of a forest, especially on a foggy winter day.

A colorful Cascade mahonia, now known as Berberis nervosa.

 Sometimes I think I'd be perfectly content with just a nice plot of woods, a "garden" of little more than sword ferns, salal, Cascade mahonia, and mossy trees. The lush greenness of it all is refreshing at any time of year.

But as much as I love the simple greens and hardy constitution of those stalwart natives, I know in my normal state I typically have too little self-control and too much horticultural lust to restrict myself to such a limited palette.

Some particularly large leaves on this salal, Gaultheria shallon. 

 Still, these evergreen beauties give much to the garden while asking little in return. Sometimes they might give a little too much, especially salal, but it wouldn't be the first plant in our gardens to require a little control. Sword ferns are a safer choice in that respect, and offer such fantastic texture.

Some of the trails get a little damp in winter...

 I had to check in on this special little Goodyera oblongifolia, or western rattlesnake plantain. While it may resemble a plantain, it is, of course, an orchid. I've been keeping an eye on this unusual, variegated specimen for several years now.

Maybe I wouldn't be able to restrict myself solely to sword ferns, but I do like walking through them when they form a waist-high, lush field under the trees. Maybe just a few choice shade-tolerant bamboos and a handful of other plants scattered here and there for variety.

Speaking of variety, this fern didn't listen when its friends told it not to get its fronds in a twist. Ha...Ha.... Jokes aside, I've never seen a sword fern with quite so many spiral fronds as this one. There were several more on this plant in addition to the two visible in this photo. Unfortunately, it's likely just a result of the stressful roadside growing conditions, including chemicals and drought. It would likely revert to normal if moved to a different location.

Stress can cause interesting changes. If only they were all as beautiful and interesting as the above fern and the beautiful colors on the mahonia below.

And so ends this brief little blog update. I'll be prioritizing my health for the foreseeable future and can't say when I'll get back to writing regular posts, but I do plan to do so. Have a happy, healthy new year.