Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Wednesday Vignettes...scenes from a snowy garden

Oh February, why must you be so cruel? Just when it was looking like we were in the home stretch and things that *shouldn't* live through a Portland winter were going to, well, BAM! It's cold. And snowy.

We dodged the Sunday night/Monday morning snow that hit up in the Puget Sound area, in fact as the sun went down across P-town on Monday evening I thought we were in the clear. It was cold, but there was no snow. Ha, I was wrong.

Guess I can officially give up on the Tetrapanax blooming. They're not limp in this photo, but as I type we're looking at a 22-25F low for Tuesday night, that should do them in.

It's no secret that I'm not a fan of snow. I'd be perfectly fine never seeing it again, still, the documentarian in me felt the need to get out there and record the moment.

This storm was unusual in that we didn't have an ice-storm pre, or post, snowfall. That's a small victory I guess. Still I was praying the whole day that it would continue to warm and this would all melt, fast. It didn't, not all of it at least.

Under the clay pot is an Echium wildpretii. I covered the six largest in hopes they'd pull through.

Agaves do look extra dramatic in the snow...

And any bit of color jumps out from the white background.

Lately, as I eat my breakfast at the window on the far right, I watch the hummingbirds attacking the Edgeworthia blooms. This morning they made a couple quick passes but seemed to give up. Too cold I assume.

We got about an inch of snow total, it had started to melt by the time I got outside to start snapping. Unfortunately, as I said, it didn't all melt before the sun set.
Mahonia gracilipes berries
Yucca rostrata

Another Agave ovatifolia surrounded by Euphorbia rigida and a Yucca.

I thought this Passiflora Jamesonii 'Coral Seas' might just live on to bloom this spring and summer. Not so much now.

There's a trio of Mangave 'Inkblot' under that snow. Wonder how they'll fare?
Dasylirion wheeleri

Sempervivum, looking like snow flowers.
Grevillea rivularis holds the snow gracefully.

This Aloe aristata was protected by the overhanging Grevillea and Feijoa sellowiana foliage, the other Aloes were buried under the snow.

The driveway Agaves...

The pathway pavers are always the first thing in the backgarden to melt, they were all white when I woke up about 7am.

Sad Musa Basjoo.

Trachycarpus fronds display the snow nicely.

Looking down to the patio...

The Agave mounds just to the left of the pathway (above).

Blue sky is my favorite background.

And this might just be my favorite photo of the day. A pop of color from Grevillea miqueliana.

Sad Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'... I really was beginning to believe it was going to live on for another summer's enjoyment, despite it's not being hardy here. If it's not dead in this photo it certainly will be by the time you're looking at these photos, after a super chilly night.

The patio...

I don't like those spots on this Agave bracteosa. It's one of the hardiest Agaves in the garden so it should be damaged by the temps thus far, but...

Sophora prostrata 'Little Baby' is always hard to get a good photo of, I was surprised to see it looking so dramatic. That's a random Stachyurus salicifolius branch photo-bombing.

I noticed lots of bird tracks around the garden, here's where one hung out on the side of an overturned pot.

Cold Sarracenia, I hope they'll be okay with all of this, because sadly it's not getting better for awhile.

A final shot of the back of the house....

And here's what I alluded to when I said it's not getting any better. I'm particularly concerned about things towards the end of this graphic. When it doesn't get above freezing during the day and night, that's when things get really ugly.

Weather Diary, Feb 5: Hi 37, Low 25/ Precip 0

Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum. All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

21 comments:

  1. It was 17 degrees here again this morning, but fortunately we had some thawing yesterday and the roads were in pretty good shape. I checked our long range forecast and it looks like we're at least going to get to temperatures above freezing during the day. Agaves and other so-called structural plants do look striking in snow. I hope your Echiums survive.

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    1. Have you read the Cliff Mass blog that's creating such a panic? Looks like ugly times ahead, even if they're not as bad as he writes.
      https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-major-snowstorm-will-hit-region.html

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  2. Your Agave ovatifolia takes really good snow pictures. I'd prefer denying myself the pleasure of seeing them if it meant no snow. Sigh.
    Snow in the city gives me cabin fever. I hope for warmer temperatures before the Flower and Garden show.

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    1. I'm trying not to worry about the NWFGS... I mean that's two weeks away, at the end of February. Still, I worry.

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  3. Great photo of the photobombed Sophora! I agree - those are almost impossible to photograph well. Yeah, those oncoming night temps are kind of scaring me, too. I left a lot of tenderish things out. Might have to spend the morning doing some rearranging in the shed so they can spend the week in there. They are too heavy for me to haul upstairs... Ok, heading into damage control mode...

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    1. So much uncertainty in the coming week...what's a gardener to do!?

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  4. No, no, no! This wasn't supposed to happen this year. Weather app says it got down to 12 degrees here last night. Too damned cold. Love that Grevillea miqueliana shot. On the bright side, we'll all have some interesting bring out your dead posts to share later.

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    1. Oops, looked at the wrong city - 21 here last night.

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    2. Okay good, that 12 was SHOCKING.

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  5. Beautiful photos--sorry to know there will be damage underneath all that pretty.

    I went out at 3:00am this morning to plug my car in (long story) and there was ice on the windshield. Big surprise, as thermometer read 41F, frigid for here.

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  6. A layer of snow is supposed to be a good insulator to keep cold air from doing even more damage. I hope that is the case for you!

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    1. I think it has to be a lot thicker to provide any protection, but I appreciate the wishes!

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  7. Snow makes very pretty pictures but I know it may hide future sorrows. I hope your plants fare better than you anticipate. I can't imagine that kind of cold as we've been complaining about temperatures in the 40s. I think I prefer to see snow from a vast distance, on mountaintops.

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    1. Yes! Snow belongs in the mountains, not my garden.

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  8. Snow silhouettes are always lovely to view from the comforts of one's home. I sympathize with your concerns over all your plants. Hopefully they prove tough. I share your worries as we have dipped down to -43 celsius with the wind chill. Definitely pretty to look outside but from beside the fire.

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    1. Oh my, that's cold! Hope your plants are okay.

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  9. Nature can be so harsh and it is worrisome when tender plants are involved. It's not easy to surrender! All the same, your garden under a blanket of snow is so pretty, with all the different shaped leaves and textures. Living with winter as I do, I've had to look for the beauty beyond the harshness. Hoping your garden comes through relatively unscathed.

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    1. Thanks Elza, we're now reading about what's coming this weekend (more snow, but how much?)...round two of the winter that wasn't supposed to happen.

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  10. I feel silly now for being worried about the hint of morning frost I've seen these last few days on rooftops. I'm very curious to hear about how your mangaves fare in the coming months.

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    1. They finally lost their snow cover Wednesday afternoon and look okay. Round two is coming up this weekend though, so to be continued...

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