Hello from Canada's west coast

[Hoy]

Hi, Chris--
often folks in other countries think of my sort of winter when they think of typical Canadian winters-- I always remind them that your 'winter' exists too, as unimaginable as that is...lol

Not unlike here in Norway, lol

[cohan]

I guess we think every country is one uniform climate/landtype culture etcfrom border to border..lol

[stephenb]

Thanks, I suggested it had to be a Wisteria but I am used to see them on walls.
We had mild, wet  winter last year. Luckily the weather forecast for next week promise rain and milder weather, it has been extremely dry and cold here. I have a wet spot in my garden where I grow this one:

Do you protect your Gunnera in winter, Trond? Which species is it? G. tinctoria? I have a couple which overwinter in the cellar...

[Hoy]

Stephen, yes I think it is tinctoria. Have had it for at least 10 years. Where it grows the soil never freezes deep due to a steady stream of groundwater (makes a little creek when it rains). I cover with dead fern leaves and some mud but last winter took a hard toll but it survived. I have forgot to take a look at it this spring - last winter was worse with no snow cover and almost as cold as the previous winter.