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
Yes, that baby is invasive here. :( I had it in my garden for a good many years. I took it out when it was deemed invasive.
ReplyDeleteOver here (UK) 99.9% of it is kept closely clipped as hedge or perimeter, so never flowers, when it's allowed to 'do it's thing' (as illustrated above) it's very pretty, I leave some down the bottom of the garden until they've flowered, but as they have a couple of cuts a year; even the flowers aren't as full or fluffy as yours, but I find lots of less common flies and hover flies like them and the little pin-beetles of course!
ReplyDeleteIt's the same with Holly, when you see them as untrimmed 'standards' at Westernbirt Arboretum, Kew or even - occasionally - in the woods, they are stunning pyramids of dark green, rather than the lego-blocks you get in an "English country gar'har'den"!
H
We inherited a huge border of this with the garden. It's gone now...but the fragrance! I am definitely in the do not like it category.
ReplyDeleteI love the unique scent of ligustrum. As well as that of candytuft and Lantana... definitely the fragrances of my childhood. Its known that memories often go hand in had with specific scent.
ReplyDeleteOh Phillip, I would really be shocked at your gardening betrayal except that I have two variegated privets in two large concrete urns - one privet to an urn. They are kind of skimpy looking but for now they work well. But I'll think of you the next time I cut privet along the edge of my woods!
ReplyDelete