Pruning Annabelle Hydrangea Higher this Winter

I decided to prune my Annabelle hydrangea a little higher up this winter, hoping the woody growth from last year will help support the stalks in the wind. It's a bit of a trade off, because although the new stems will be taller and therefore higher in the breeze, the base of support is woody and stronger so maybe they won't blow over quite so much. The new buds should also promote a bushier appearance (in theory). I'll check back in this spring and see if my plan worked. In the meantime, my dogs do love chewing on the twigs sticking out of the ground!

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' cut a little higher up, above the 2nd set of buds on each stem

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' pruned and standing in snow

Here's a look back at how low I pruned them last year, you can see that they only have 2 buds per stem because I chopped them all the way to the ground. We'll see if they bush out a bit more this year.

Is Green Panda Bamboo Evergreen in My Zone?

The Fargesia rufa 'Green Panda' bamboo that I transplanted outside this Spring is going strong, and is holding its deep green color. It's almost December! I'm wondering if this green panda is supposed to be evergreen in my zone 6a here in central Indiana.

Fargesia rufa 'Green Panda' looking very green on November 29, 2015 in Zone 6a

Every source I can find says that it is indeed cold hardy to zone 5, but I haven't seen anything about it being evergreen. It's certainly doing better than my Japanese painted fern that took a poop at the first snowfall!

Japanese painted fern - Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum' - decidedly not of the evergreen persuasion

Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud in Winter

Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’ my maroon weeping redbud has finally dropped all its leaves and now I have this crooked walking stick profile with little black buds all over it next to my front walk. I was thinking about wrapping it in Christmas lights, but I was too afraid to damage the buds.

These are really important to keep intact, because that's where the purple flowers will appear this Spring. I can't wait to see the flowers for a nice Spring effect. I remember driving down the highway in March/April and being able to pick out redbud from the road because they produce wisps of purple against the drab backdrop.

This will be a fun mini tree to watch throughout the seasons.

Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’ little black buds in winter

Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’ - young weeping redbud in winter