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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

Lion or lamb?

So, if you wake up to a few inches of snow on March 1, does that mean it came in like a lion or a lamb? I'm going to guess lamb because it is so quiet outside. That is the main thing I love about snow - it is so peaceful and normally we have the constant sound of traffic coming from the nearby bridge and ambulances going to the hospital that is about one mile from our house.
















Comments

  1. Hello Phillip

    Is this winter's last hurrah?

    Beautiful pics. You have some really nice structures in the garden.

    Rob

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  2. Phillip, I'm in the same situation! I just bought a bunch of plants to put in the ground and I am being snowed on!! It will snow tomorrow into the next day too. We didn't have more than a dusting all winter...now it's time to get out in the garden! Mother Nature apparently got her wires crossed:(

    Your yard is beyond amazing. It looks so large...and breathtakingly gorgeous. You are fortunate to have so much space to 'play' in!! Your home is beautiful as well.

    Enjoy your lovely snow...it looks pretty on your plants and bushes. Here, its not pretty, as it was sleet and ice yesterday. Perhaps it'll be a pretty scene tomorrow. But it is definitely NOT welcome!! Have a great Sunday.

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  3. Rob, maybe this is the last hurrah.

    Jan, isn't the weather crazy? All of it was melted within a few hours and it is like it was never here.

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  4. Hi Phillip,

    Your photos are wonderful...very wintery..what we would all liked to have seen last December! It was forecast for here but we had a wee bit ...we could use the snow blanket tonight and tomorrow night when the temperatures drop to the low twenties! Winter is still growling! I do hope you have a delicious week!

    gail

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  5. Phillip, those pictures certainly make your beautiful landscape look very peaceful. I bet you are enjoying this today. Here, March definitely came in like a Lion. The wind has been blowing since last night at 15 to 20 mph with gusts of 30. No gardening for either of us today, right?

    Jan
    Always Growing

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  6. Snow is very peaceful and calm, but I think it's still lion, meaning it tarts worse (or colder) than it ends. In Michigan, March tends to be very blustery. We actually don't have snow right now, but it was a high of 25 with an overnight low of 7 on tap. Sigh. Love the photos, though (snow does look nice; I don't mind it at all, just the very cold temps), and the red door. Mine's purple!

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  7. these photos are gorgeous! I'll say lion, it's way too cold here in North Florida, windchill in the 30's all day!! I know that's nothing compared to what you live with, it's too much for me though. I ran around after church covering tender plants and new seedling sprouts.

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  8. Phillip
    Your garden looks so lovely in the snow. Snow seems to just bring a whole new perception to the garden.
    BTW- our Home Depot in Madison has lots of shrubs marked half price, so if you have one nearby you may want to check it out.

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  9. Hi Phillip, your garden is the most magnificent one in the blogdom. It is on my bucket list, things to do before kicking the bucket, to see it in real life. The mature trees, arbors, paths, statuary, that blue wall!!!!!, everything about it is perfect. The snow does add its own magic too. I always thought lion meant cold and stormy but your lamb reasoning makes sense too. No snow for us, but wind that would blow your socks off your feet is blowing at the moment!
    Frances

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  10. Phillip,
    It still makes my heart race everytime I see you garden. I can't wait until spring!

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  11. It looks very pretty. I can tell you have a beautiful garden. I love the wall with the iron gate. Now I can't wait to see it in bloom.
    We've had rain all day today, not stormy though, so I'll call it a lamb.

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  12. All the garden magazines say gray foliage unifies a garden, but I think your white snow has done a fine job (not that your garden needed a unifier). Beautiful photos of my favorite kind of snow, here today, gone a few minutes later.

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  13. Beautiful shots Phillip! I'm glad we got some snow and was hoping it would last a bit longer...oh well! Have a great week :)

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  14. Phillip, that snow is so beautiful. Since you don't get much, I imagine you're enjoying it. I love the way it frames your garden and arbors.~~Dee

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  15. Your garden is a tranquil, beautiful place with all the snow, but make no mistake, March came in like a lion for you! Snow is like a wolf in sheep's clothing. Don't be fooled!

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  16. Now that is a lovely application of snow, Phillip, and it definitely shows off the garden beautifully, and shows what 'winter interest' can be. When you have the absurd amounts we do, it sort of loses its charm. Just a bit.

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  17. It's a real Wonderland! I enjoyed looking at your pictures.You have many points of interest in the garden. Now, I am curious how it looks in summer.

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  18. Your garden is so beautiful with the snow! Great structure and it all looks so stunning.

    Cameron

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  19. Your garden is just a little sweeter dusted with this sugar snow. Beautiful photos. You could use one for your christmas card next year. Yummmy

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  20. Thanks for all the nice comments. It was beautiful while it lasted which was about 3 hours. After the sun came out, it was gone in no time.

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  21. Your yard is a fairyland. So beautiful.

    March came in like a lion here. Bitter cold and so windy but no snow.
    Marnie

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  22. It looks beautiful. Your yard has such good structure that it carries that blanket of snow well. But I predict that's the last of winter for you!

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  23. Great pics! It does make the garden look magical doesn't it? Unless it lasts for months and months!

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  24. Beautiful pictures of your snowy garden Phillip. I love all of the structures that you have -- they add so much to the character of the garden.

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  25. I like all your outdoor rooms. The front entry is perfect .

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  26. While March came in like a lamb in North Alabama....it was definitely a lion in South Alabama. The winds were so strong, it blew over my arbor and several bird feeders. When I was a child we would always go to my grandparents farm and fly kites the first weekend of March...but this past weekend the winds would have been way to strong to fly a kite! Your snow pictures are amazing. Your yard looks great at any time

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  27. Breathtaking photos!! You have a great looking winter garden.

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  28. IT could be worse.... believe me I am from zone5B.
    OH PHILIP.... your place is a winter wonderland. Looks like HEAVEN to me!
    Thanks for sharing. ((HUGS))

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  29. Your photos are always beautiful, Phillip, but that frosting of snow made every shot look like an old fashioned postcard.

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  30. I don't have a clue what it's like for people to endure this weather, but these snowy landscape fascinate and beguile me.

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  31. Hello Philip
    I love your winter photographs. I read your comment on Tatyana's blog about you wanting to grow veg. It's a great thing to do, I have had an allotment for a year now and the amount of wonderful veg we have had is amazing and I am still harvesting brussel sprouts and waiting for the purple sprouting broccoli any day now, yum yum ! can't wait to eat that.
    regards
    maureen :)

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