Skip to main content

Featured

Swapping Huckleberries

Himalayan Honeysuckle ( Vaccinium glauco album)  Himalayan Honeysuckle ( Vaccinium glauco album) has been an attractive feature along our north-facing foundation since I planted it in 2016. You will have to take my word for it since I cannot locate a photo although I know one exists somewhere in the realm of the Internet or floating on a cloud somewhere.  I did locate a photo of how it looked when it was first planted - It took a few years to fill out but it did so nicely to an attractive mound about 2 feet high by 3 feet wide.  Last year, it started to look bad.  I cut it back but it had not improved and this is how it looked a few weeks ago - I decided to rip it out and plant another huckleberry - this time Vaccinium ovatum , more commonly known as the "Evergreen Huckleberry".  This is a plant that I've wanted for ages and kept putting off getting one because I could not find a good place for it. By most accounts, this is an amazing plant, a native one and excellent for
4 comments
Read more

The Slow Thaw

 


Although we've had temperatures in the 40s all week, it is taking a coon's age for the snow to melt. I did some work in the garden today and surveyed the damage. Fortunately there isn't much damage and we were lucky here in Vancouver to not get as much ice as areas south of us.

This morning, as I was pulling out of the driveway, I noticed a big limb had broken on the strawberry tree. 

Strawberry Tree (Arbutus)
 

The  Honey Bush (Melianthus) was laying completely on the ground. I had intended to prune this anyway so I cut it back to the ground.  

Honey Bush (Melianthus major)

Last year, I remembered that the Hebe 'Sunset Boulveard' was damaged badly by the cold so I had covered it before the onslaught last weekend. It looks to be fine -

Hebe 'Sunset Boulevard'



 

The Pieris looks like it isn't fazed at all by any of this -


 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Email Post

Comments

  1. Kris PetersonFebruary 19, 2021 at 7:04 PM

    I'm glad to see you weathered the snow and ice relatively well. I love that Pieris.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lisa at GreenbowFebruary 20, 2021 at 8:54 AM

    It is good that you didn't have too much damage. Still awaiting those 40 degree days here. Maybe tomorrow. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hoover BooFebruary 20, 2021 at 4:47 PM

    Snow at least is moisture. Hopefully not too much damage yet to discover. 40's F, Brrrr!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverFebruary 21, 2021 at 10:10 AM

      I know - I was glad we got the snow. At least it keep everything insulated and like you said, moisture!

      Delete
  4. chavlinessFebruary 21, 2021 at 9:13 AM

    It's sad about that big strawberry tree limb. Hopefully the shrub isn't looking too awkward without it. You got to love Pieris for their cool, stoic unfazed nature.
    It seems my Pieris put on a good display of blooms every OTHER year. Have you noticed anything like it in yours?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverFebruary 21, 2021 at 10:12 AM

      The limb was large but it didn't affect the look of the entire tree. Fortunately, it was a limb located right on the back bottom. All of my Pieris have bloomed well every year so far.

      Delete
  5. chavlinessFebruary 21, 2021 at 9:13 AM

    It's sad about that big strawberry tree limb. Hopefully the shrub isn't looking too awkward without it. You got to love Pieris for their cool, stoic unfazed nature.
    It seems my Pieris put on a good display of blooms every OTHER year. Have you noticed anything like it in yours?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rainy Day GardenerFebruary 21, 2021 at 6:26 PM

    I'm glad you came out without too much damage. You did get quite a bit of snow - wow!

    ReplyDelete
  7. RobinLMarch 2, 2021 at 6:19 PM

    I’d be at a complete loss trying to gardening your climate there! And yet you learned quickly, as I imagine it’s quite different than Alabama was.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts