Native plants for a Cape Cod garden

Here we are, December 20, encroaching on the shortest day of the year and winter solstice – something we can reliably expect to happen (at least until this time next year when the Mayan calendar ceases). What’s less expected is that we’ve barely seen any winter weather. Granted, today and yesterday were cold. But we’ve seen 40s, 50s and 60s for pretty much all of the fall season – it almost seems we’re living in the Carolinas. Tomorrow, we’ll be back in the 50s. The mild weather must play havoc with the internal clocks of animals and plants alike. Just this week one of the foamflowers (Tiarella cordifolia) and an orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) displayed a blooming candle and a solitary flower, respectively. They’re in for a rough awakening when old man winter decides to show up.