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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

Storm damage

We had more severe weather last night. A line of storms came through around 11pm. I was on the computer in the middle of responding to an e-mail when the power went out. It was out until 5am this morning. I didn't think we had any damage. I was out all morning and got home around 1pm and went out to get the mail. It was then that I saw that the "Autumn Blaze" maple had been hit. Two large limbs, one hanging, one already down. It was sad seeing this but other people have had much worse things happen. I saw a lot of trees down around town this morning and there was damage to the water lines in town. The lines have been fixed but we are still under a warning to boil our water before drinking it until it can be checked for bacteria.



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy


Comments

  1. I am sorry to here about the storm damage you recived. Hope all is passed on for now. Try and have a good week.....Julian

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  2. Will these horrid storms ever end? I hate to see that you have damage. Have a great weekend. I know you will be busy.

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  3. So sad when we lose a beautiful tree. No damage here but we didn't get that round of storms. We were in a line yesterday and luckily it only brought much needed rain. My big Oakleaf is bowing it's head in thanks....hope it says amen and comes back up soon!! :-)
    Good luck Phillip!

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  4. I read 15,000 customers were without power at some point. Mine was out for four hours. Thankfully, no trees down this go round (that I saw) in my immediate neighborhood. So sorry about the Maple--they are such beautiful trees.

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  5. This damage to your gardens has been most unfortunate Philip... we have been spared thus far thankfully... there were tornados a few miles SW of us a few days ago... Larry

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  6. So glad the damage wasn't worse. I hope this is the last of these horrible storms.

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  7. Sorry you have damage, a young Heptacodium miconoides got smashed in my garden...we are lucky thats all the damage we had. Its heartbreaking to see towns destroyed and lives lost.

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  8. Similar story here. Our streets were full of leaves and branches. I had a few perennials snapped off and some annuals blown out of the pots, but I count myself fortunate. After seeing the images from Joplin, Tuscaloosa and elsewhere, I will never complain about my weather, at least not much.

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  9. sorry to see your tree was damaged Phillip, it is a beautiful tree. Glad that was all the damage you sustained.

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  10. Sorry to hear that you've had storm damage; I love maples.

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  11. Sorry about the loss of the beautiful tree. This has sadly been a record spring for violent storms.

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  12. I hat that about your maple. I lost one of my Pink Lady apple trees, full of apples. My coral bark maple looks like some one just broke off limbs here and there. I haven't figured out where my ginko tree lost it's limb from. My power was out over 12 hrs. Thanks for visiting today. I should have listen to Mom's advice about the cake and measure the flour after shifting twice. I wouldn't have been so dry. Mary

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