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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

Winter beauties

Greetings on this first day of winter! Today is stormy and wet after a rather mild day yesterday. I took a few photos in the garden. There is great beauty to behold in the winter garden if you just look for it. And even some flowers! 

Camellia "Mine No Yuki" (Snow on the Mountain) - Do you see the ladybug?
 
Camellia 'Debutante'







The camellias are expected but I was surprised to see this Creeping Bellflower
(Campanula rapunculoides) blooming. Very odd!
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Now that is much appreciated. Fantastic pics and wish I had even one bloom still here. Thank you for sharing!!

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  2. Beautiful flowers and gorgeous captures, Phillip! I did see the little ladybug. The weather has been bizarre.

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  3. What a great surprise...especially that Campanula!

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  4. How I wish we could grow camelias... exquisite... Larry

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  5. I need to go and check my camelias. I haven't walked around and checked thing out since knee surgery. I did go into the greenhouse to water the shrubs I bought on close out and the field mice are chewing the limbs off. I gave the something else to eat and put another one down a couple of days later as the first one was eaten. I need to get rid of them before spring. Two years ago they ate the seeds that I was starting out of the containers and I'm not having that occur again next spring.

    Have a Merry Christmas Phillip and Michael.

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  6. happy Christmas Phillip and Michael, I hope the season is filled with goodness for you both, gail PS pretty flowers.

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  7. Happy Holidays! Thanks for your great gardening posts, always enjoy them. Anne

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  8. Merry Christmas Phillip! Lovely to see your beautiful blooms! Sigh!
    Peace.
    Carol

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  9. Our Camellias are look good here also. I hope they don't all pop open too soon though. Merry Christmas to you both.

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  10. Wishing you and Michael a "Very Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year".

    Cynthia & David

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  11. Those Bellflowers are exquisite. Exquisite image of the pink camellia too. Just lovely.

    Merry Christmas!

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  12. So lucky! I would do anything to be able to grow Camellia here! When i lived in ATL we had so many. Nothing in Nashville winter blooms!
    Great photos as usual!

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  13. Beautiful blossoms still! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Phillip. May 2012 be kind to us all and bring continued well-being.

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  14. Flowers on the first day of winter. What a wonderful find!

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