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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

Saucer Magnolia

Since my previous posting a few days ago, the Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana "Rustic Rubra") has opened and it is just gorgeous. Today, during my lunch hour, I wanted to get some photos before our weekend of rain arrived (and it has already started as I write this). There are lots of beautiful saucer magnolias all over town but they all seem to be the solid pink variety. I've yet to see another bi-color like this one. This is planted alongside our driveway and it is leaning toward the sun as a bank of hackberry trees fills the backside of it.











Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. That is a beautiful color! Thanks for sharing your garden and by the way I luv the red birdhouse. Have a great weekend....Julian

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  2. That is just gorgeous! I love the trees that produce blooms before the leaves come out. One can really appreciate the blooms. The rain puts a damper on the gardening chores but it is much needed. Stay dry!

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  3. Your magnolia flowers are so beautiful. The pink stands out against the gray sky. The rain seems to have finished off the flowers on the ones around here. Sad to see them go.

    Jan
    Always Growing

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  4. Love the color of that magnolia! I don't grow the early bloomers here, but I do love my sweetbay and the big southern.

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  5. and soon you will have a pink blanket on the ground around it.

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  6. They are so beautiful Phillip! Wish I had a magnolia! I guess I will have to put one on my list!!
    Thanks!

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  7. Absolutely glorious...love the two-tone effect!

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  8. Beautiful! I cannot wait for them to come into flower up here!

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  9. I love bicolor blooms, yours is so beautiful.

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  10. Beautiful!

    Years ago I worked in west London and I always remember as I queued in the traffic through Ealing there was this enormous magnolia that was always early, city micro climate I guess, it never failed to give me a 'lift', a true rite of spring. The blooms on your tree seem to float, almost unattached. Wonderful blooms and equally wonderful photographs.

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  11. Absolutely beautiful - that pop of color says spring is coming! thank you for sharing this - gives "hope" to everyone of us who is still waiting for something to bloom. xoxo

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  12. Hi Philip... your photos are fabulous of Rustica. I have a friend here in Wisconsin who has a very mature one that is wonderful. I have been trying to get one going for some years (tried a number of them) and finally have a success that will probably bloom at about 4.5 feet tall this season as the buds appear to be ok. This has been its second winter. I know that once this takes off, it grows very rapidly. I have never seen better photos of a Rustica Rubra than what you are sharing today... fantastic! Larry

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  13. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

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  14. Beautiful! The flowers really do look like tulips with those light interiors.

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  15. Hi Phillip, my magnolia is two toned also but not that color. I tried to get a good pic. today but didn't succeed. Will try again tomorrow.

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  16. That is about the prettiest tree I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing!
    Kelly

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  17. Phillip that is a stunning flower. Nothing like the southern magnolias in my yard.

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  18. It is so pretty. There are a bunch of pretty pink & white saucer magnolias on the Ole Miss campus. Love them. How old is this tree?

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  19. It appears that spring is marching on in your garden Phillip.

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  20. Do you know the name of your magnolia? I have a 'Jane' magnolia which looks very much like yours. I love the bicolor flowers!

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  21. This is one of my favorite cultivars, and it is a shame it can be so hard to find. Your photos of it are very nice.

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  22. Really beautiful! Got to love those magnolias.

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  23. Witam Filipie
    Piękna magnolia ,,bardzo podoba mi się jej kolor ciekawa jestem ,czy w mojej strefie klimatycznej by się utrzymała.
    Muszę popatrzeć u nas w Polsce za ta odmianą ,,,,podziwiam

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