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
Nice to see someone else growing hyacinth bean vine. Mind just started blooming this week. I'm definitely going to have to get some sweet autumn clematis. Between yours and Pam @ Digging, I'm getting a bad case of plant envy.
ReplyDeleteThese are luscious photos, Phillip, and you must have the best hyacinth bean around! I've read of many failures with that one on various blogs. Your sea oats is farther along than the ones in my garden, mine haven't started showing any fall color yet. Yours look great with the blue pot in the background. And Miss Huff! What can I say..a blooming machine indeed!
ReplyDeleteI pulled out my lantana last year (too big for my small garden), but when I see photos like yours I feel twinges of regret.
ReplyDeleteI like your vines too. I'm one of the ones who's never had any luck wtih hyacinth bean vine. I'll have to ask MSS what her secret is. Knowing her, I guess it's not heavy watering, which is what I had suspected it wanted.
Love the northern sea oats. I feel like I should say "thank you for using grasses in your garden". I can't believe how unpopular grasses, generally, are in the garden blogger scene.
ReplyDeletePlease say more about Lespedeza. And the Hardy Orange. And that dry stacked stone retaining wall in the lantana shot. Basically, I want a whole tour. More, more, more.
Thanks for all the comments. The hyacinth bean vine is kind of hit-and-miss for me. Some years it does well, some others not. I've learned that it likes poor soil and basic neglect. My vine is not near as pretty as some others here in town that have more sun than I do.
ReplyDeleteChuck, you can see more photos of my garden at http://home.hiwaay.net/~oliver/gardenphotos.htm
Yes I was looking at the Sweet Autumn Clematis folks have and thinking is it as awful as the Clematis virginiana about seeding and spreading like crazy? The Virgins Bower, ie C. virginiana's bloom period was really rather brief as well. They look almost identical.
ReplyDeleteNow I know. The Autumn Clematis is another spreader. I'll stick with the one I may not be able to get rid of.
Lovely photos. I especially like the Sweet Autumn Clematis. Wish I could grow it here.
ReplyDeleteAiyana
The Hyacinth vine grows well and rampantly for me... but it takes forever to get any flowers! Phillip, your wonderful photo and the comment from MSS give me hope that I'll get blooms soon.
ReplyDeleteThe clematis on juniper photo is quite lovely.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
These all look great. Nice job on the photos and the garden.
ReplyDeleteYou have some great plants blooming this time of year. I think next year I will try the Hyacinth Bean Vine. Do you have problems with bugs eating the leaves? Sweet Autumn Clematis is another I want to add to the garden..
ReplyDeleteLove the look of the Northern Sea Oats against the blue pot. Blue is my favorite color for pot in the garden. I try to mix it up so not everything is blue but it is hard. I just planted the oats this year. Excited to see what it does this fall.
We love love the Lantana but it is an annual for us. Is it perennial for you? Ours never gets that big.
Cool pictures and thanks for sharing.