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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

The garden is waking up

Yoshino Cherry
My last post was exactly one month ago and I was posting photos of the snow. A lot has changed in just a few weeks and it is beginning to look a lot like Spring! A cold front brought rain and colder temperatures today but the first part of the week was great. I have been pruning and mulching. 

Here are a few photos taken yesterday -

Jacob's Ladder "Stairway to Heaven"
 
Star Magnolia

Anenome nemerosa
Epimedium
Epimedium 


Saucer Magnolia "Rustica Rubra"





Camellia "Taylor's Perfection"


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Beautiful, just beautiful. As long as there's no frost or freezes, the rain and cool keep blossoms from blasting before they're finished. I love when we burst from almost nothing to everything in bloom at once.

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  2. Spring has definitely sprung for you! You are ahead of us here in Lincolnshire, Uk, as our Magnolias are not out yet, nor are the Epimediums. What delicate little flowers they are.The magnolia is a lovely rich colour too. We have had some spring like days, but it has felt like winter again today - so frustrating, as all I want to do is get outside and garden!

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  3. Very jealous of your beautiful spring blooms... And wondering if the Jacob's ladder could be hardy here...

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  4. Goodness, your garden is so far ahead of mine. I have a few daffs and Hellebores blooming. Love that cherry tree. Beautiful!

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  5. Isn't it wonderful when your garden wakes up from winter? We've had an especially nasty winter, so spring has never been more welcome. Only trouble is, winter came back! Is this your new garden? I seem to remember you selling your old house? I'm sure it was hard to leave, but oh so much fun to start over!

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  6. Doesn't spring just make you smile? Everything in my yard is looking great, with the exception of the Buff Beauty rose I purchased last year.
    :( I'm so sad, it is still just a baby plant, and it had struggled with blackspot last year. It was looking great, and putting out new leaves, and something came by and munched in in half! There's only one set of new leaves left, and I'm hoping it will send up new growth. I was so hoping it would get settled and take off this year.

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  7. Wow. Your epimediums look FANTASTIC!

    >jealous<

    I've had a small clump in the garden for a couple of years, but have never seen them flower. No new growth yet on my epimediums in Middle TN, but your photos give me hope I may at least see some fresh foliage soon.

    We were down in the lower 20s (!) this past weekend. I don't have a saucer magnolia myself, but I know of a couple in the neighborhood (including at least one in my neighbor's yard) and all the flowers on it seem to have been fried. So it looks like saucer magnolia is a risky proposition here given the potential for warm spring temps (70s last week) followed by hard freezes.

    Happy Spring!

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  8. Wow! What a change from last month! I am so glad spring is here. The Yoshino cherry is wonderful! I do not have one of these great trees, but every spring I want one. After seeing Taylor's Perfection on your blog a few years ago, I bought one. I have been very pleased with its flower production, even as a young shrub. I also love my epimediums! They are a great ground cover in the woodland garden.

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  9. I can't believe the difference from your post of a month ago! The snow has well and truly gone and left a host of blooms in its wake. Oddly, your garden is ahead of mine, despite all your snow. I haven't seen any magnolias out anywhere yet, and yours are opening nicely.

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  10. Things are in a similar state here, thank God!

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  11. Every time I see Taylor's Perfection on your blog I think I have to have it. lol It's beautiful. The Yoshino cherry is gorgeous.

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