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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

Chinese snowball


Speaking of viburnums, here is another popular variety that is truly a traffic stopper. Chinese Snowball (Viburnum macrocephalum) features the big pom-pom type blooms that start out pale green and mature to sparkling snow white. It is a fast grower and will attain great heights in only a few years. This shrub is about twelve years old and towers about 12 feet. I've started pruning it since most of the blooms are appearing near the top but I've yet to find clear instructions on how best to do this. I plan to reduce some of the older limbs this year after the blooms fade.

Apparently this was once hard to locate in nurseries. I've received countless e-mails inquiring where to buy it but those are dwindling now so perhaps they are now easier to find.

Comments

  1. Beautiful. They don't have a long bloom period but they really put on a show for a brief time. Some of my favorite shrubs.
    Marnie

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  3. Great picture! I love the combo! Wenus says hello! :-)

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  4. Seems one of the comments above is a bit of a hijack.

    Beautiful photo Phillip. I like the statue in front of the viburnum.

    Rob

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  5. The positioning of the statue and the flowers make it seem as if there is a thought bubble coming from the statue! I wonder what she is thinking? Maybe "now where have my arms gone?"

    Beautiful plant, I love viburnums!

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  6. I like the way the balls seem to be falling down onto or floating up out of the statue's head. I do love viburnums and this one is, as you say, a show stopper.

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  7. Viburnums surly offer a shrub for every gardener and every garden. These look to formal for my wilderness, but they look lovely in your garden. Twelve feet tall and still growing! Be careful on that ladder when pruning this tall guy! gail

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  8. THis is a gorgeous viburnum. I love the statue in front too. Great composition.

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  9. These are beautiful! My seeds are doing so well. I will forever be grateful for the information you gave me back at : http://momingarden.blogspot.com/2009/03/ordering-who-do-you-trust.html

    Happy Spring Dear Garden Friend.

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  10. I love the snowball bushes. I have one that's still got a while until it blooms. I'm not sure what variety it is, the blooms don't get nearly that big.

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  11. My neighbor has one and it is glorious right now! I am so envious!

    Cameron

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  12. lovely photo! I have never heard of that one. I will have to hunt it down.

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  13. This looks like a relative of the old Snowball bushes that were in every yard when I was a kid. They bloom with such abandon - no holding back.
    Must have been tough, too, because we dreadful children used to pull off the flowers to throw at each other in floral snowball fights.

    Wish I had one now!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  14. These virburnums are as stunning as hydrangeas - just beautiful!

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  15. I have three of these from Lowe's in Tupelo, MS that I planted last year and they are doing great, getting ready to bloom. I love them!

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  16. Stunning! I want a snowball bush in my yard but haven't yet found them in any of the local nurseries. I love how big this one gets. Thanks for sharing!

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  17. I usually am able to get these for the nursery, coincidentally enough from a grower in Alabama. They go unnoticed until someone sees them blooming around town and comes in looking for that "big green hydrangea".

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