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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

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day July 2020




It is the middle of the month and time for Bloom Day, when garden bloggers share photos of blooms in their gardens. Head over to May Dreams Gardens for links to other blogs who are participating.

So far, our summer has been very mild and downright cool. We love it! Locals are saying that the weather used to be like this all the time before global warming reared its ugly head. For us, it is wonderful and one of the reasons we moved here. Next week will bring temperatures in the 90s so I'm trying to brace myself for that.

As a result of the great weather, the garden has been really nice this year. Here are some blooms for July -



Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana)


Lily 'Roselily Natalia'



Scabiosa


Shasta Daisy (sadly I've lost the name)



Hardy Gloxina (Sinningia 'Invasion Force')



Coreopsis 'Leading Lady Sophia' and Lavender "Wee One'




Rose 'Essex'




Bee Balm (Monarda 'Raspberry Wine')


Astilbe 'Ostrich Plume' and Hydrangea 'Bloomstruck'



Cuphea 'Honeybells'



Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula)


Crocosmia is plentiful around here and they spread pretty rapidly. We have several in the garden and I've lost the name of this orange variety.

Crocosmia


One of my favorite plants that I've discovered since moving here is Hebe. I have killed several but have had success with quite a few. 'Great Orme' is the largest and this year it has really grown.

Hebe 'Great Orme'


The Oakleaf hydrangea 'Ruby Slippers' looks so good this year. I had thought that it was getting too much sun but it seems to have acclimated to the site. You can see that the pink color is already beginning to show on the blooms. This may be because of the cool weather.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'


Clematis 'Polish Spirit'


Rose Campion (Silene coronaria) and Rosemary 'Foxtail'



Calla Lily 'Flame'



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Your garden is absolutely beautiful! I enjoyed the visit!

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  2. There nothing like the light in your world. It makes all the plants shine. Happy Bloom Day Phillip. Thanks for sharing your garden. ~~Dee

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  3. Your garden is spectacular, Phillip! Wish I could grow that foxtail rosemary - it's wonderful. And the orange Calla... wow!

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  4. The coreopsis and lavender looks so perfect together. My bee balm gets chewed every single year. I let it be the sacrificial plant, since nothing else near it gets eaten.

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  5. I am SO envious of your weather, although I have to say that, by comparison to other areas of the country, my part of coastal Southern California has also enjoyed a relatively mild summer, at least thus far. No rain for us, however! I loved your coreopsis/lavender vignette and I think I need to add some coreopsis this summer - the one perennial form I have hasn't yet made an appearance and seems more diminished with each passing year. Your Shasta daisy is a looker too.

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  6. Oh that's a nice little Coreopsis-I'm very partial to yellow flowers. Maybe that Shasta is 'Becky' ? I had that one once and seem to remember just opened flowers were pale yellow fading to white as they mature. It's been a hot season here so far with many days in the 90's. The coast is beckoning.

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  7. So many blooms. I enjoy seeing each and every one.

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  8. Those are spectacular I know many of them can't be grown in a climate where I live but still would try Filipendula as an annual for our spring season .

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  9. The only thing I can do with crocosmia is kill it -- and then blame it on the weather. Pineapple Guava would be a stretch in my climate but with it changing, who knows? I am glad you had good weather - our summer has been great for growing cactus but nothing else.
    -Ray

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