Surviving in microclimates

 You'd think by mid-November in Iowa, everything green and blooming would be dead and gone. But here and there in my yard this weekend, I found some survivors.

   The lamium, just outside my back door, which generally stays green - even under snow cover - sported pretty purple blossoms. One branch of a blue sea holly peeked through my gate. Malva, which spent most of the summer being devoured by Japanese beetles, finally had a chance to look whole and stunning in deep pink. Even the vinca popped with a few blue blossoms.

 Some of the plants, such as the malva and lamium, are just hardy. Others, like the sea holly, are in microclimates, where they enjoy temperatures a bit warmer or protection from icy winds. What survivors or surprises have you found in your yard?

   E-mail your photos to: cindy.hadish@gazcomm.com