Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Green-wall and more, another post freeze follow-up...

Remember that green-wall I spotted last summer? I was excited it was nearby so I could keep an eye on how it performs over the seasons. Well I'd actually kind of forgot about it, until I drove by last week and there it was! Considering our recent cold snap it looks pretty good, although I'm not sure what the story is with that white bit of fabric in the upper left-hand corner.

And the plants towards the top, which were flowering blue in September, are crispy critters.

Still it's not all bad. I'll give it a "B-" for now...

Back in my own garden it's become obvious the Cordyline australis are indeed melting. That color, it's just not healthy...

And the one on the edge, the most exposed, has flopped. Ah well, it was fun while it lasted.

I've also discovered a little tip die-back on the Callistemon pityoides 'Excellent'. Overall it looks healthy and I'm sure it will be fine, I needed a push to prune it anyway. But see that golden smudge in the background, just to the right of the dead tip? That would be my Banksia marginata, it's not looking good, it's that golden brown color all over.

There's also a small Trachycarpus that's not looking good (several brown leaves), the Chondropetalum elephantinum has turned black, and my (fairly recently purchased and not yet planted) Drimys winteri var. chiloense is loosing its leaves. But heck if we're going by the meteorological calendar there's only 2 months left of winter!!!

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

23 comments:

  1. Happy new year, Loree! May there be no frosts in your future.

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  2. Like Kris, I'm hoping for no more snow or extended cold snaps. What a bummer about your Cordyline, and the Banksia. :-(

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    1. Honestly Alison I think it's the Grevillea juniperina I'm most upset about (I didn't mention them in this post because I've already talked about them a few times). I expected the Cordy's to go over, I was just surprised by how good they looked for so long. And the Banksia, well maybe it will come back from the roots? If not c'est la vie...

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  3. Hi Loree!

    Happy new year to you when it comes :)

    Frost damage has not been a problem so far over here this winter, but the volume of rain falling from the sky may cause other problems.

    Anyway, thanks for providing this blog during 2013, I have enjoyed reading about and looking at the photos of your garden and the gardens, nurseries and places that you have visited.

    All the best for 2014.

    Adam

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    1. Weird, as we've been in an extended dry spell (10" down for the year). I guess if it's not falling here it must be falling somewhere else.

      Thank you for still coming around to read, and a happy 2014...

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  4. No, I did not die off like so many of the plants...just caught up in the hectic goings-on of the season. I'm back...and will be piping up on a regular basis as we sort through the detritus of the big freeze.

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    1. I thought maybe you were off on some fabulous tropical vacation! Hope you enjoyed your holidays ricki.

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  5. fifi lafontaineDecember 31, 2013

    Loree, how is your acacia pravissima looking? Mine looked very good up until recently when the green "leaves" started getting a tinge of brown to them. Hmmm.

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    1. My Acacia pravissima is still looking good, although it's really hard to tell how the leaves way up top over the roof are doing. I expected that since they were so exposed they might at least show some damage. Andrew keeps threatening to clean the gutters and if so I'll get a detailed report.

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  6. Cordyline australis will re-shoot from the stump if you cut it off at ground level, so if it is only the leaves which are dead the plant may still survive.

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    1. Definitely. These all are plants that grew back from the roots of those that perished in the 2008/09 winter. Perhaps I'll try cutting them off above ground level and see if they don't branch. That would be cool.

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  7. Happy New Year Lori, I can't face looking too closely at my damaged plants :(

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    1. It is a dreary game, but I can't help but check in on them...

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  8. Your Trachycarpus should be fine, just cosmetic damage I reckon. And don't lose hope on the cordyline just yet too! Wishing you all a fab New Year ahead!

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    1. It's the newest of the lot (Trachy - planted last spring) and I noticed this morning more leaves appear to be turning brown. We shall see...

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  9. I noticed just the other day the our neighbors cordylines were doing the same thing (toppling over).

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  10. Happy New Year! Only one more month until the NWFGS! The green wall is looking pretty good! Sorry about your not so live plants but it is better to have loved and lost...

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    1. I was looking at the seminar line up just the other day. Are we on for lunch again this year?

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  11. Happy New Year. I noticed that green wall was covered when I walked by during the week-long freeze. The Sept-flowering blue flowers were Ceratostigma, probably plumbagignoides. I haven't had the heart to do a complete survey of my own yard. I don't have many tender plants, hopefully they are mostly OK...

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    1. Ah so maybe the cover is what that bit of material is about up in the corner. Very interesting...

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  12. I'm sad the cordylines flopped. I was hopeful for you. The odd one around here looks good still. I was in Vancouver yesterday and the purple cordys are still looking good, so things definitely stayed much warmer around the waters edge. It's surprising that trachycarpus would have any trouble with this cold snap but I suppose if its small that might make some what of a difference. I have not done any close investigations as I've been away. I should head out there and take a look around.

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