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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

October blooms

Camellia sasanqua 'Cleopatra'



Angel's Trumpet


Hybrid Musk Rose "Buff Beauty"

Fuschia 'Gartenmeister Bonstedt'

Shrub Rose 'Sally Holmes'







Pentas


Salvia "Black & Blue"


Mexican Petunia (Ruellia)



Pineapple Sage





Sedum 'Angelina'





Clematis 'Elsa Spath'



Miscanthus 'Cabaret'



Coleus




Variegated Shell Ginger

Comments

  1. Nice photos. I like your grasses and the coleus especially. I saw masses of switchgrass at the Chicago Botanic Garden. It made me want to try some. Are they invasive at all?

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  2. What is Shell Ginger? Sally Holmes is one of my favorite roses.

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  3. Pam, I just planted the switchgrass a few weeks ago. I hope it is not invasive!

    Chuck, the botanical name is 'Alpinia zerumbet'. It is not hardy here - I dig it up and store it in the basement over the winter. It is worth growing for the foliage alone. It blooms in warmer climates and has small flowers that resemble seashells, thus the name.

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  4. You have so many beautiful flowers, Phillip - but that 'Buff Beauty' is especially fine.

    It's amusing to see how many garden bloggers have Black & Blue salvia in their posts!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  5. I like to torment myself by looking at southern gardens to see what won't grow well in my own zone 5 garden. I love that Shell Ginger, and knowing you have to take it inside to overwinter, makes me think I could do the same up here in Indiana.

    Thanks for showing us some lovely blooms for GBBD.

    Carol at May Dreams Gardens

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  6. Annie in Austin led me over here by telling me that you had posted a particularly nice picture of the 'Buff Beauty' that I covet andn plan to plant next spring... but I'll definitely be back for more of your lovely photos and posts.

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  7. Great photos! My sasanqua Camellia is blooming too. I think it's quite amazing that plants a thousand? miles apart could be blooming at the same time.

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  8. When I saw the Camellia I thought of Ki. Your plants look really, really good and I am with the crowd thinking that 'Buff Beauty' is a great looking rose.

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  9. I wanted to add that Switch grass ain this part of the woods is a slowly spreading clump. It has not been invasive at all. I haven't seen that cultivar before and it looks nice.

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  10. It's so rare that I ever see Angel's Trumpet -- those are beautiful flowers. I like the salvias you have there, too. Great photos!

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  11. Wonderful pictures Phillip!! The roses are very nice, I too think that buff beauty is great. Wonder if it will grow here in zone 5? Might have to research that. Shell ginger looks like it would be worth digging up and storing over winter. Thanks for sharing!! Cliff

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  12. Nice pictures! You sure have a lot of beautiful things blooming! As a gardener, I'd kinda like to live in a warmer climate with a longer grow season, but as a person who loves the cold-no way!

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