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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 Bloggers' Bloom Day - May 2021

Parahebe perfoliata and Cotinus (Smoke Bush) 'Golden Spirit'

 
The May garden is coming along nicely despite the record drought. It always amazes me how things change in just under one month. This is such a busy time in the garden and elsewhere that it seems like I barely have to time to keep track of all the blooms. Do you feel a twinge of guilt when you've failed to notice a lovely blooming plant? I do!

So here are blooms that I have noticed this week -
 
Exbury Azalea 'Klondyke'


Peony 'Shima Nishiki'

 

Enkianthus campanulatus 'Showy Lantern' - one of my favorite shrubs but very slow growing.

The first ever bloom on the Honey Bush (Melianthus major)

Ceanothus 'Black Diamond' (or is it? - the tag read that but I can't find any mention of this cultivar anywhere. A mis-label or just something rare?)

Lilac 'Palibin'

Peony 'Boreus'

Peony 'Paula Fay'

Exbury Azalea 'Mandarin Lights'

Million Bells (Callibrachoa)

Columbine (Aquilegia)


Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll'

Rhododendron 'Jean Marie de Montague'


Rose 'Olivia Rose'


Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman'

Saxifrage 'London Pride'



Rose 'Darcey Bussell'

Pacific Coast Iris 'Lavender'

Persicaria 'Red Dragon' and Rose 'Darcey Bussell'


Rose 'Playboy'


Visit May Dreams Gardens to see more garden photos from other bloggers.


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. You've got some beautiful blooms Phillip, and that ceanothus is magnificent.

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  2. I did a google search and several entries popped up. This one says it is varigated. https://plantlust.com/plants/17483/ceanothus-thyrsiflorus-black-diamond/

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    Replies
    1. Barbara that is it - thank you! I don't know how I missed that. So it is 'Black Diamond' (it is variegated). I laughed at the size dimensions of 5' - ours is at least 8.

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  3. The blooms in you garden are amazing. I make rounds in my gardens everyday, but there are always the more demure plant blooms that get overlooked at times until I see the seed pods forming. Your Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman' is gorgeous.

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  4. So many beautiful plants that I can't grow ;) I can grow Ceanothus, though, and wish I had one like yours!

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  5. Hi Phillip, I'm so glad it was the right plant. I wonder if you had a typo when you searched that created a problem finding it. I highlighted the name in your post and right clicked to search with Google and got hits right away. I'm glad I tried - I almost didn't but I guess it was the years working in the library that made me try.

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  6. That Canopus looks like a fake tree with those blue blooms. I haven’t seen such a plant before. Gorgeous.

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  7. Wow, these are fantastic flowers! Great colors.

    Feel free to share at My Corner of the World

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