I must apologize for publishing two extremely photo-heavy posts back to back. Whereas yesterday's post was full of eye-candy, today's is a report of what I saw when I returned to my garden last weekend, after 5 days away. Since I couldn't muster the passion to do a month-end "favorites" post, this look at the state of the garden is going to have to do. Of course anything showing signs of life after the hard-knocks they've gotten the last two months is definitely worthy of favorites status!
So the good news was most of the snow had melted when we landed in Portland. The bad news was things were definitely "altered"...this bamboo for instance. I'm standing in our garage looking out. It used to stand pretty much straight up from the side of the tank. Restrictive action will need to be taken.
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My "mystery" Agave — which may indeed be A. weberi — was moved into the garage (along with some friends) way back I don't even remember when, sometime in December. It's stayed there ever since. Those arms were frozen solid for a few days, they're flexible now. I hope it will live on.
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Bad photo (but as I said this is more of a report-type post — read on at your own peril) Agave 'Sharkskin' also has spent the worst of it in the unheated garage. It's not mushy so hopefully it will be okay.
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My Hover Dish planter has also been "garaged" since the deep snow, and freeze, began. I didn't figure temperatures in the mid-teens would be kind to plants hanging off the front of the house, with a minimum of soil around their roots.
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My only Phormium. It was wrapped, and the base protected with old pillows, the same treatment kept it alive though 2013/14's cold. Hopeful...
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Poor tired Grevillea victoriae 'Murray Queen', will you ever be upright again?
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This Lupinus albifrons is not looking so good.
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And I wish the big leaves of the Schefflera delavayi would pick themselves up.
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They look okay.
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Unlike the Schefflera brevipedunculata leaves whcih appear to have bent beyond repair. Poor things.
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As I said in my premature (yet late) Bloomday post, this Helleborus argutifolius is one tough plant. Covered in snow and ice it didn't miss a beat.
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Sad leaning Yucca aloifolia. At least I've determined it's not a break. Instead it appears to be an issue at the root level, as the trunk is still straight and strong.
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Oh the poor Agaves. They all still feel mostly solid...
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That is except this one. It's not happy.
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Nolina ‘La Siberica’ is unfazed.
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This Lupinus albifrons is down, but maybe not out? Same for the Correa backhouseana. Gosh it's so hard to tell what might make a rebound.
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This Grevillea 'Ivanhoe' has a rather unhealthy color.
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Whereas this one has possibilities.
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Wow! Happy Astelia (A. 'Red Devil'). There are a few A. chathamica around the garden that are not looking nearly this good.
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All of the Callistemon look good (here is C. ‘Woodlander's Hardy Red’).
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Grevillea juniperina ‘Molonglo’ looks okay. However I lost several of these in the front garden under less trying circumstances.
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Agave bracteosa, looks good!
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As does the Eriobotrya japonica (aka Loquat). The Nolina ‘La Siberica’ on it's left though, it's not happy about being smashed.
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Same as with the Schefflera brevipedunculata, there's cosmetic damage on the variegated Fatsia. The plant is still alive but a number of it's leaves are forever limp.
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Speaking of limp. The poor Sasa palmata f. nebulosa is now forever sideways, as is that Tetrapanax next to it. You can just barely make out my experimental Leucadendron 'Silvan Red' in the planting area by the corner of the patio. It's the dead brown thing. Leaning over it is a Ceanothus 'Dark Star' with a few broken branches.
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Daphniphyllum macropodum v. humile suffered a couple of broken branches but all in all is looking good.
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Ditto for the D. himalayense ssp macropodum 'Variegated' (with no broken branches!).
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Sad Acacia dealbata, collapsed on an equally sad Grevillea australis. I think the Grevillea was sort of pulled out of the ground by the weight of the snow and ice. Part of me wants to just give up on it, part of me wants to try and save it (the Grevillea), after all that foliage is a key player in a lot of my Monday "vase" creations.
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Another Agave bracteosa. This one had frost cloth over it, the rebar was to keep the snow and ice from smashing it's tender leaves.
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It's deceiving, looking at things from a distance.
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There are still some green leaves on the Grevillea x gaudichaudii, but others are crispy brown.
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Agave gentryi ‘Jaws’has gone soft.
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While these all look fairly promising.
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Out front the small guys near the house seem to be okay.
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Not that you can tell anything by this horrid photo, but the Grevillea rivularis has an equal mix of brown and green leaves, so hopefully it will pull through. All those leaves on the ground belong to an Acca sellowiana (Pineapple Guava) that's not very happy.
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Blurry Banksia! B. marginata, some leaves are green.
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Others are not. We shall see...
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This is the biggest of my Agave pup's from the NM in-laws. It survived the 14F of 20013/14, so I have hope. Its color seems a bit off though, and there's a huge crack in one of it's leaves (visible on the upper right). Other oddly colored spots are are appearing on its leaves almost daily...
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Agave 'Silver Surfer'
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Aloe aristata, a gift from Sean who said I should plant it in the ground — and look! It's not a pile of mush! It was covered with frost cloth and an overturned pot.
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This sad little guy is my Echinocereus triglochidiatus v. gonacanthus hybrid that bloomed last spring. Dunno how it's feeling these days.
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Leaves and branch bits have fallen from the Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths'...
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The Dianella prunina looked pretty good at first, but as the days have passed both of them have started to brown.
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These Agaves are a mixed bag.
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And the tall Opuntia is a mess! Several pads and segments of pads have broken off. The rebar had been an attempt to support the weight.
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Oh and this Agave also is experiencing a break mid leaf. I think it was a combination of frozen leaves and the added weight of the snow and ice. Breaks aren't a good thing...
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The A. parryi 'JC Raulston' (all 6 of them) look fabulous!
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This poor creature had been splayed out in half, flat on the ground. It's rebounded nicely! (Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Harmony')
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In the past, when it's gotten this cold (mid teens), I've lost growth on my Tetrapanax. They've either sprouted new growth lower on the stem, or resprouted from the ground.
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Oh the Cordylines. They've begun their death flop. These were first panted in 2006 and have died back to the ground at least twice, maybe three times since. Bye-bye for now...see ya next year.
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Agave ovatifolia...
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There are several stress-spots like this. Not good.
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And the other Agave ovatifolia, the one that got spots last summer (Agave edema), it looks good.
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Although I need to perform a little surgery here.
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The Euphorbia rigida are all floppy. It's not a good look.
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Ugh. My second Acca sellowiana is taking on an awful color. It's in a huge container, that might have been its downfall, too cold too long.
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The new growth got zapped back in December, in the first cold snap.
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More Agaves. The big guy is toast, gooey arms (Agave americana, I knew it would get hit someday). I am holding out hope for the smaller, hardier, ones.
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Especially my little Ruth Bancroft Garden pup!
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The Yucca recurvifolia ‘Margaritaville' has perked up!
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Agave parrasana 'Meat Claw' is still solid! Oh and this is where I should throw out a huge public THANK YOU to Heather, who came by while I was in California (once the snow had mostly melted) and pulled the frost cloth off things I had covered, like this little guy. Heather you're the best!!!
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Green leaves (and a few brown ones) on another Grevillea x gaudichaudii.
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Now this is just crazy! There are still green leaves on my Echium wildpretii babies! I did not expect to see that.
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And a few on the larger one too! These were not protected at all, except by the snow. Who knows if they'll make it long term but I'm just surprised they're not completely grey. Oh and if you made it to THE END of this post, wow...thank you, that's dedication!
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Weather Diary, January 26: Hi 48, Low 36/ Precip .04
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
So the good news was most of the snow had melted when we landed in Portland. The bad news was things were definitely "altered"...this bamboo for instance. I'm standing in our garage looking out. It used to stand pretty much straight up from the side of the tank. Restrictive action will need to be taken.
My "mystery" Agave — which may indeed be A. weberi — was moved into the garage (along with some friends) way back I don't even remember when, sometime in December. It's stayed there ever since. Those arms were frozen solid for a few days, they're flexible now. I hope it will live on.
Bad photo (but as I said this is more of a report-type post — read on at your own peril) Agave 'Sharkskin' also has spent the worst of it in the unheated garage. It's not mushy so hopefully it will be okay.
My Hover Dish planter has also been "garaged" since the deep snow, and freeze, began. I didn't figure temperatures in the mid-teens would be kind to plants hanging off the front of the house, with a minimum of soil around their roots.
My only Phormium. It was wrapped, and the base protected with old pillows, the same treatment kept it alive though 2013/14's cold. Hopeful...
Poor tired Grevillea victoriae 'Murray Queen', will you ever be upright again?
This Lupinus albifrons is not looking so good.
And I wish the big leaves of the Schefflera delavayi would pick themselves up.
They look okay.
Unlike the Schefflera brevipedunculata leaves whcih appear to have bent beyond repair. Poor things.
As I said in my premature (yet late) Bloomday post, this Helleborus argutifolius is one tough plant. Covered in snow and ice it didn't miss a beat.
Sad leaning Yucca aloifolia. At least I've determined it's not a break. Instead it appears to be an issue at the root level, as the trunk is still straight and strong.
Oh the poor Agaves. They all still feel mostly solid...
That is except this one. It's not happy.
Nolina ‘La Siberica’ is unfazed.
This Lupinus albifrons is down, but maybe not out? Same for the Correa backhouseana. Gosh it's so hard to tell what might make a rebound.
This Grevillea 'Ivanhoe' has a rather unhealthy color.
Whereas this one has possibilities.
Wow! Happy Astelia (A. 'Red Devil'). There are a few A. chathamica around the garden that are not looking nearly this good.
All of the Callistemon look good (here is C. ‘Woodlander's Hardy Red’).
Grevillea juniperina ‘Molonglo’ looks okay. However I lost several of these in the front garden under less trying circumstances.
Agave bracteosa, looks good!
As does the Eriobotrya japonica (aka Loquat). The Nolina ‘La Siberica’ on it's left though, it's not happy about being smashed.
Same as with the Schefflera brevipedunculata, there's cosmetic damage on the variegated Fatsia. The plant is still alive but a number of it's leaves are forever limp.
Speaking of limp. The poor Sasa palmata f. nebulosa is now forever sideways, as is that Tetrapanax next to it. You can just barely make out my experimental Leucadendron 'Silvan Red' in the planting area by the corner of the patio. It's the dead brown thing. Leaning over it is a Ceanothus 'Dark Star' with a few broken branches.
Daphniphyllum macropodum v. humile suffered a couple of broken branches but all in all is looking good.
Ditto for the D. himalayense ssp macropodum 'Variegated' (with no broken branches!).
Sad Acacia dealbata, collapsed on an equally sad Grevillea australis. I think the Grevillea was sort of pulled out of the ground by the weight of the snow and ice. Part of me wants to just give up on it, part of me wants to try and save it (the Grevillea), after all that foliage is a key player in a lot of my Monday "vase" creations.
Another Agave bracteosa. This one had frost cloth over it, the rebar was to keep the snow and ice from smashing it's tender leaves.
It's deceiving, looking at things from a distance.
There are still some green leaves on the Grevillea x gaudichaudii, but others are crispy brown.
Agave gentryi ‘Jaws’has gone soft.
While these all look fairly promising.
Out front the small guys near the house seem to be okay.
Not that you can tell anything by this horrid photo, but the Grevillea rivularis has an equal mix of brown and green leaves, so hopefully it will pull through. All those leaves on the ground belong to an Acca sellowiana (Pineapple Guava) that's not very happy.
Blurry Banksia! B. marginata, some leaves are green.
Others are not. We shall see...
This is the biggest of my Agave pup's from the NM in-laws. It survived the 14F of 20013/14, so I have hope. Its color seems a bit off though, and there's a huge crack in one of it's leaves (visible on the upper right). Other oddly colored spots are are appearing on its leaves almost daily...
Agave 'Silver Surfer'
Aloe aristata, a gift from Sean who said I should plant it in the ground — and look! It's not a pile of mush! It was covered with frost cloth and an overturned pot.
This sad little guy is my Echinocereus triglochidiatus v. gonacanthus hybrid that bloomed last spring. Dunno how it's feeling these days.
Leaves and branch bits have fallen from the Arctostaphylos x ‘Austin Griffiths'...
The Dianella prunina looked pretty good at first, but as the days have passed both of them have started to brown.
These Agaves are a mixed bag.
And the tall Opuntia is a mess! Several pads and segments of pads have broken off. The rebar had been an attempt to support the weight.
Oh and this Agave also is experiencing a break mid leaf. I think it was a combination of frozen leaves and the added weight of the snow and ice. Breaks aren't a good thing...
The A. parryi 'JC Raulston' (all 6 of them) look fabulous!
This poor creature had been splayed out in half, flat on the ground. It's rebounded nicely! (Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Harmony')
In the past, when it's gotten this cold (mid teens), I've lost growth on my Tetrapanax. They've either sprouted new growth lower on the stem, or resprouted from the ground.
Oh the Cordylines. They've begun their death flop. These were first panted in 2006 and have died back to the ground at least twice, maybe three times since. Bye-bye for now...see ya next year.
Agave ovatifolia...
There are several stress-spots like this. Not good.
And the other Agave ovatifolia, the one that got spots last summer (Agave edema), it looks good.
Although I need to perform a little surgery here.
The Euphorbia rigida are all floppy. It's not a good look.
Ugh. My second Acca sellowiana is taking on an awful color. It's in a huge container, that might have been its downfall, too cold too long.
The new growth got zapped back in December, in the first cold snap.
More Agaves. The big guy is toast, gooey arms (Agave americana, I knew it would get hit someday). I am holding out hope for the smaller, hardier, ones.
Especially my little Ruth Bancroft Garden pup!
The Yucca recurvifolia ‘Margaritaville' has perked up!
Agave parrasana 'Meat Claw' is still solid! Oh and this is where I should throw out a huge public THANK YOU to Heather, who came by while I was in California (once the snow had mostly melted) and pulled the frost cloth off things I had covered, like this little guy. Heather you're the best!!!
Green leaves (and a few brown ones) on another Grevillea x gaudichaudii.
Now this is just crazy! There are still green leaves on my Echium wildpretii babies! I did not expect to see that.
And a few on the larger one too! These were not protected at all, except by the snow. Who knows if they'll make it long term but I'm just surprised they're not completely grey. Oh and if you made it to THE END of this post, wow...thank you, that's dedication!
Weather Diary, January 26: Hi 48, Low 36/ Precip .04
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.