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
The white cloud, which is also in our creek bottom, could possibly be Ageratina altissima, aka white snakeroot? Ours is happy with its buddy New York ironweed, Vernonia noveboracensis, and good old goldenrod.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful drive through the outback. Lovely wild flowers. I don't know the names of all of them but there are a lot of the same blooming around here.
ReplyDeleteTerrific pictures! I had forgotten how pretty it is here on back roads.
ReplyDeleteI love this post and your photos of the country. I, too, love to drive back roads. My parents always took us on Sunday drives in the country although we always lived in suburbia. Your pretty pictures bring back some good memories.
ReplyDeleteThe pumpkin face really makes me smile! Great pictures.
ReplyDelete--Emily
So beautiful! It looks like the more rural parts of VA. :o)
ReplyDeleteI haven't actually seen swamp sunflower growing in the wild, those big stands of it are beautiful. The plant with the feathery foliage is dog fennel.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful pictures. Thanks so much for sharing. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteWhile I dearly love a cultivated garden, this has to be one of my favorite posts. I just love rural countrysides and wild meadows. This looks so much like the Ohio countryside where I live. I dearly love this quiet kind of beauty.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. Don't you just love fall? It's starting to look similar here too, but we're a bit colder, and further along by about three weeks. Have a great week!~~Dee
ReplyDeleteSweetbay, thanks for the ID!
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely. Back roads are best--"blue highways", someone called them.
ReplyDeleteI had a chance to head west yesterday towards Williamsburg. It looks exactly like the pictures you have shown.
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