Thursday, February 11, 2021

Echium wildpretii, you've been amazing! I thought we were home free...but no

There's a PNW Plant Geeks group on Facebook that I enjoy dropping in on now and then. When news of the sudden change in our weather started to become known last weekend, one of the page admins posted: "Official PPS (Plant Protective Services) thread: With the ominous forecast for this week, what are you protecting and how? Let’s talk about all the crazy things we do to keep plants alive." As I read I was both impressed with the measures people were going to, and a little exhausted, as I didn't feel up for such nonsense so late in the season, when I thought we were home free.

Much of the country is currently experiencing intense winter weather, for us here in Western Oregon and Washington, these are the first actual winter conditions we've had this season—a hard pill to swallow coming in mid February. What I was most amazed about in the Facebook thread I mentioned above, was just how many people in the PNW are growing echiums. Echium wildpretii and Echium pininana—they seem to be the current "it" plant for those of us pushing our zone...

Naturally I am no exception. I've currently got five Echium wildpretii in the garden. Three that are (were) set to bloom this spring/summer, as they've now completed three years in the ground (this plant is a biennial, said to bloom in it's second year... although that doesn't always happen on schedule, obviously) and two that were newly planted last summer—replacing plants that bloomed. Above is one of the oldies, below one of the newbies...

Here's another of the oldies. This plant is so shaggy... but I love it.

Sometime long ago it flopped over to the side and grew a curling trunk, which is a little over a foot in length (below). Since we're looking at over 48 hours below freezing—day and night—along with wind, snow, and possibly freezing rain too (of course), logic tells me there's no way these Zone 9 (8 if grown super dry) plants are going to make it, but I will try to protect and save them anyway. Because that's what we do.

Here's the third oldie... blurry photo because I was using my phone camera and my fingers were gloved and cold. Oh well.

And the tiniest little newbie, also blurry. Things get wicked around here this afternoon, then should be back to normal by Sunday afternoon... of course I take that prediction with a grain of salt. Often forecasters are too quick to end a cold snap that actually stretches on. I always hope they're going to be right.

After taking the last echium photo, I stopped to admire the many edgeworthia flowers—hate to think how the cold/ice/wind will treat them. And to think I was just "reminiscing" about socks and thinking how crazy that idea was...

Pachystegia insignis, borderline... hoping it makes it.

There are a lot of hellebores blooming around the garden, they'll be flat under the snow, but should recover just fine.

These two—along with a few other succulents like them—were impulse purchases for a couple of dollars at the grocery store nursery. I've been amazed they've lasted this long. But, of course, everything comes to an end eventually.

As I worked in the garden—stashing random containers in the greenhouse where they can stay warm—something bright and colorful caught my eye. An abutilon blooming in February...

We've had so many warm winters in a row now that I fear there are many borderline plants in the garden that I've forgotten are at risk. Case in point, this Pseudopanax 'Sabre', it's going to be left to it's own devices, we'll see how it does.

The variegated Aspidistra elatior went into the ground last summer. Hopefully it will be okay, those are a few pendulous branches of Callistemon 'Woodlanders Hardy Red' hanging down in front.

The  Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Akebono' flowers are still closed up tight. The branches of this plant are so thin that an ice storm can mean bending and breaking. Ugh.

This Astelia nivicola ‘Red Devil’ is looking so good that I might turn a pot over it. In my experience this astelia is one of the hardiest, but I also love it so that I decided better safe then sorry. Snow, ice, and staying frozen for days can be so damaging.

New growth on Adiantum venustum, which, like the hellebores will be flattened, but recover.

Finally, I thought I'd share a few images of the shade pavilion greenhouse. This view is still new to me, so much sky behind the structure and fence—since the neighbor's light-sucking conifers were taken out last summer.

It means more light though, which is good.

Here's a peek inside, it's now very full!

Things are cozy and warm...

Let's hope they stay that way (that the power stays on through the storm)...

Weather Diary, Feb 10: Hi 47, Low 31/ Precip 0 

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

19 comments:

  1. I hope the storm won't be as bad as feared, Loree. We worry about the impact of extended heatwaves here but winter cold clearly requires more intervention - most plants spring back after being scorched, at least eventually. My one Echium wildpretii didn't make it, though. My fingers are crossed that at least some of yours do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's definitely living up to the hype. Very cold, lots of snow and ice, people without power. I am ready for it to be over.

      Delete
  2. Just when we thought we left winter behind... What did you end up doing to protection the Echium? The "Oldies" look so fabulous, bloom spike or not.
    What's the fern behind the blooming Hellebore? Is there really a stripe running down the middle of the frond?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Or we thought winter decided not to show up this year? I've got frost cloth over the echium, and then an overturned pot. The striped fern is Arachniodes simplicior 'Variegata', such a good plant!

      Delete
  3. That last cozy view inside the Shade Pavillion is so compelling. I love the shelf structure, the little red snips, and all the plants looking so at-home for the winter. I’m rushing home from Astoria today in hopes that I can cover my lone Echium wildprettii before it’s too late. Fingers crossed for all our plants.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Funny this echium is the "it" plant of the moment -- I just ordered some from Annies! I've been watching your temps in the PNW, and my kids at the coast will be warmer than Portland! High winds are a big issue for them too. Fingers crossed, nobody's power goes out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's normal though isn't it? For the coast to be warmer in the winter, and then cooler in the summer? I've heard the current total without power here is around 250,000... and that it won't be back on until Mon or Tue.

      Delete
  5. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and your plants, Loree. The life of a gardener is never dull.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I deal with tremendous heat and you with the very cold! Weather systems can be so hard on gardeners. Most of my succulents and cactus can deal with a couple hours below 32º but, yikes, never what you are expecting! Crossing my fingers for you, Loree!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm hoping your weather forecast will be wrong. No matter which way it goes, you have done all you can... and if things go 'south', it will present another opportunity for new plants. The worries of a gardener never end. Thinking of you. You probably don't want to hear that I was pruning my gardens in the mid-70's the last few days do you? Before I know it we will be in the 100's again for months, so I'm in my glory. Want to come to the sunshine???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope, they got it right. Days below freezing with wind, snow, and of course ice. Ugh. I'm glad you're getting some nice gardening weather—you deserve it!

      Delete
  8. Hope you have as many survivors as possible! The wind is brutal tonight. A friend of mine has his 7 foot melianthus covered, but the wind is making it tough! - Jim North Tabor

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 7-foot melianthus! Wow, hope the ice doesn't brake it in half.

      Delete
  9. Fingers crossed you don't get the ice as that tends to be the most damaging. Always hard to decide who to protect and who must fend for themselves. We are in the middle of a bitter week (-20's F) but thankfully have snow cover. However, not sure some of my more tender plants will return come warmer weather. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is a lot of ice out there on top of a thick layer of snow (with more snow on top of that), but the worst ice is a little south of here...so much damage.

      Delete
  10. Seem like the weather is terrible everywhere you look. Good luck. We have deep enough snow that perennials should be OK but not sure about trees and shrubs here.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!