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A Closer Look at Winter Damage

But first, take a look at this gorgeous rainbow that we had on Friday! The five-day stretch of warm temperatures last week really jump-started the garden. Now that plants are putting out new growth, it is easier to see what kind of damage the winter left. Back in mid-January, we experienced five straight days of below-freezing temperatures. This caused much damage in Portland and areas where frigid winds were a factor. Here, we were fortunate to not get the wind and the cold temperatures were dampened by a blanket of snow. That said, it was a tough time for the garden and there are noticeable casualties but no outright deaths that I have seen. The bottlebrush ( Callistemon 'Woodlander's Red') did not like the cold at all. It was planted six years ago, in the north-facing garden no less, and I've not experienced die-back on it until now. A local expert said to cut it all the way back so that is what I did. If it doesn't make it, I won't be too distraught. It is

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers our there and happy birthday to my mother, who is 72 today! It has been a beautiful weekend. Michael cut some flowers yesterday and made this arrangement. It has roses (Alba Meidiland, Marjorie Fair, Tradescant, Lyric, The Fairy and Lamarque), peonies, hydrangea, spirea and oakleaf hydrangea. I think it so beautiful. I don't why I don't cut flowers more often.




Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. BEST WISHES FOR YOUR MOM !!! My mom has the birthday on the same, too ! Her name is Stanisława.
    Have a nice day. Bye! Kate from Poland.

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  2. SO beautiful!! It really was a special day!

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  3. You are lucky to have your mother still. You are a smart son to spend today with her. Did Michael tell you Glen and I visited your garden today? Sorry we missed you but Michael made us feel welcome. I took a few cuttings of things that I still desperately want to propagate (Buff Beauty and Veichenblau to name 2). When are you ever going to come see my garden and carry home some of my stuff? LOL I didn't want to bother Michael (he was busy sewing) when we left. Thanks to you both for being such nice garden people.

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  4. Michael arrangement is beautiful.

    You asked about the rugosas... The rugosas do like it here in central NC. The soil is very acid and the summers don't bother them. I have alba, rubra, Foxi Pavement, Hansa, and Sir Thomas Lipton. We gave STL to my MIL a few years ago and I was able to root a cutting from it. (Clotilde Soupert genes must have helped with that, as I didn't think rugosas rooted well in general.)

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  5. So gorgeous...ver, very charming!

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  6. Thank you Phillip for sharing your Mom's arrangement. It is gorgeous. I know your Mom appreciated the effort.

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  7. Oh Phillip! I just read and saw what you had to do to that beautiful tree!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry!

    Happy Birthday to your mom.

    Rebecca

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  8. what a gorgeous arrangement!!!! You should cut more flowers, enjoy them.

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  9. The arrangement is beautiful. Michael is very talented.

    Pat Moore
    Muscle Shoals, Alabama

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  10. Like you, Phillip, I find it hard to cut my flowers. But that arrangement is GORGEOUS! Was it for you or Mom? Sorry about losing your tree, it must be sad. Will you replace it, or fill in with flowers? You are right, our lawn is indeed lush. That's my hubby's pride and joy, but remember, we are WAY above normal for rainfall, so it's especially green this spring.

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  12. Thanks Kate, it is exciting to see someone here on my blog from Poland!

    Jennifer, I e-mailed you!

    Sweetbay, I think Hansa and FJ Grootendorst are the only rugosas I have at the moment. They have always done really well.

    MsRobin, the arrangement stayed with us. I took my mother a chocolate cake instead!

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  13. I hate having anything cut out of my garden to bring in the house, so it has to be a special occasion. I guess Mother's Day would be reason enough, or if a forecasted storm was going to cause a beat down. I hope you mother had a delightful birthday.

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  14. After all, Phillip... it's much more sensible to carry the chocolate cake to your mom and not try to transport Michael's gorgeous flower arrangement! How fun that your mother's birthday fell on Mother's Day.

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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