Hope from the Garden

After the horrendous heat wave that hit the Pacific Northwest a few weeks ago, it is not just our gardens and plants that are in shock - gardeners are too. I hear it on a daily basis at the nursery. Shock, dismay, and disbelief. Gardeners are concerned and rightly so.

Despite the ever-changing climate and worries of the world, the garden remains a peaceful escape and a reprieve from ongoing challenges. 

And with all this comes the visual evidence that mother nature has the remarkable ability to heal.

One of the most damaged plants in the garden was the Wheel Tree (Trochodendron araliodes). Though situated in a position where it gets only morning sun, even that was too much for the poor thing. 

 

However, just a few days later, I noticed new leaves beginning to form... 

 

Nearby, a camellia was also burned -

 

But later when I looked at it again, new leaves had emerged and the whole plant looked much better -

 

 

Now on to plants that do look remarkably well at the moment. Fuchsias in the pots got the most damage. Most of the fuchsias in the ground look fine -

 

Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowianais) blooming. I still only get a handful of blooms. I wonder if this plants needs to achieve more maturity to be covered?

I love the Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa 'Gay Butterflies') and so do the bees -

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Ornamental Oregano (Origanum 'Kent Beauty') and Lavender 'Phenomenal'

 

Peruvian Daffodil (Hymenocallis)

 

My favorite Hosta 'Rainforest Sunrise' -

Hebe 'Sunset Boulevard' and Rose 'Essex' -

Another Hebe that I forget the name of and Cistus 'Mickie' -

I hope your gardens are faring well with the world's nature extremes!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy