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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

March coming in like a lamb



Saturday was such a beautiful day and one that made the promise of Spring a reality. The morning started off chilly as we headed out for our usual Saturday morning breakfast and errands (usually either Panerra or Bojangles, Panerra won out this week). By the time we got back home, the sun was out and the temperature was rising.

It eventually climbed to 70, a nice balmy day with some wind but a warm wind. It felt so good to outside! I cut back the monkey grass and picked a bouquet of daffodils. We have two large clumps of daffodils blooming in the side garden, on the south side of the house. I noticed that the daffodils on the north and west side had not opened yet.

Unfortunately another blast of cold air arrived on Sunday night and plunged us back down in the 20s. This is supposed to be short-lived though and it will eventually get warmer during the week.




 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Hi Phillip, your daffodils are so beautiful. Love your bouquet! Are the blue flowers in it sea lavender? Is this flowering in your garden right now, too? That would be very astonishing to me. Wishing you a lovely spring. Hopefully we all can enjoy a wonderful gardening season!
    Christina

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  2. Hi Christina, yes, the daffodils are blooming but they were lying on the ground after the colder weather came in on Sunday night. I should have picked all of them. I'm not sure what the purple flower is - it came from a bouquet of flowers from the grocery store!

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  3. I think the blue flowers are statice. I envy your warm weather and daffodils. Here March came in like a polar bear. The snow pack will have to go before I see mine!

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  4. You lucky dog. I love seeing these beautiful spring flowers. We still have melting ice and snow. Hopefully by tomorrow it will all be gone. Not sure since it is to get down to 18 tonight. UGH.. I am so ready for warmth and these lovely spring beauties.

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  5. Beautiful! Meanwhile here the temperatures remain below freezing, although the witch hazels and snowdrops are desperately trying to flower the moment the sun comes out.

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  6. March came in like a frozen lamb popsicle here in Middle TN!

    Hopefully we'll thaw out tomorrow...

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  7. I'm happy to see spring is somewhere. We still have over 2 ft of snow. :-(
    But your pics give me hope that we're not too far behind.

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  8. Phillip, your daffs are an inspiration and encouragement that spring might actually arrive one day! We played golf on Sunday and did some gardening but we're back to the deep freeze in the next day or so. I wish this weather would make up its mind!

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  9. Beautiful photos Phillip. My daffodils are pretty but I didn't get pix this good.

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  10. Outstanding photos Phillip! That cold blast was rough on the daffodils, mine weren't fully out yet. Hope they come back to life this weekend and the air warms a bit more.

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  11. PS the purple flowers are Statice flowers. They are very popular in floral arrangements. I've never grown them.

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  12. We got a cold icy storm Monday night. Really got to some of my plants. We lost lots of limbs and trees, but thankfully, hubbie found someone to clean it up for us and all was better when I got home Wednesday. My beautiful Magnolia took a hard hit. Really ready to get to spring!

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  13. We went from 73 last Sunday to snow on Monday. Cold rain all week after that, and finally today the sun is out and it is supposed to get to 60. I would work in the garden today, but the soil is like chocolate pudding.

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  14. As I enjoy your spring treats, today was our first spring day here in Virginia. . . Finally. Monday was snow, and today was jacket- less. I look forward to the days when my daffodils look like yours.
    -Ray

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