For Christopher of Outside Clyde, my Snowdrops (Galanthus elwesii) as of yesterday
While I enjoyed wearing only one pair of socks and forsaking long underwear for a few days, last week's thaw has got me very worried. The garden wasn't slumbering blissfully under all that snow. The meltage revealed plants actively growing,
Aquilegia vulgaris
sending up shoots,
Helleborus x hybridus
sprouting buds,
Helleborus 'Walhelivor' (Ivory Prince)
and even, in the case of this Caryopteris, putting on new growth.
This is not a good thing, as this photo taken yesterday demonstrates.
I fear for this plant, as its new growth is now exposed to bitter sub-freezing temperatures. The low this morning was -1F/-18C. There's nothing I can do for this plant now, as shrubs are much more at the mercy of the weather than perennials. I had heavily mulched the crown of it with shredded leaves back in November. Now I just have to cross my fingers.
The melted snow uncovered many plants for the first time since the beginning of December. The snows came before the ground froze, so I was unable to put down winter mulch. The plants were safe under two feet of snow, but after the thaw, in addition to tender new growth freezing, there's the danger of frost heaving. Now the winter mulch needs to be put down to keep the ground frozen. The best sort of winter mulch is the old boughs of the Christmas tree. Because of allergy problems, we have an artificial tree, so I was able to gather only a tub trug full of them from the neighbors' trees left at the curb.
I stored them in the garage for a couple of weeks, waiting for the inevitable thaw. The lucky recipients of the branches are a group of Heuchera, which are particularly vulnerable to frost heaving.
All better now, though less attractive than the exposed plants, but sacrifices must be made.
These Campanulas (C. garganica 'Dickson's Gold' and C. persicifolia 'Blue Eyed Blonde') have to make due with more shredded leaves for mulch.
I took this photo before I dumped copious amounts of leaves around them, making sure not to cover the crowns of the plants. An additional inch of snow has also helped to protect them.
Here's a shot from the patio last week showing the meltage before this latest snow.
Even more of that melted in the rain, which then turned to snow. Had the sun been shining, I'm certain that my Snowdrops (Galanthus elwesii) would have been blooming.
Soon, I hope, the weather will cooperate, and the petals will open wide, to release the sweet honey scent. Spring can't be that far off.
Even more of that melted in the rain, which then turned to snow. Had the sun been shining, I'm certain that my Snowdrops (Galanthus elwesii) would have been blooming.
Soon, I hope, the weather will cooperate, and the petals will open wide, to release the sweet honey scent. Spring can't be that far off.
25 comments:
I must admit that whilst our recent snow caused all sorts of problems getting about I was at least reassured that my plants were protected from the cold by the dnow
I hope everything makes it! Love those little snowdrops shooting up through the wintery blanket.
I can't beleive you have hellebore buds. I will have to get out and look more closely at mine. I haven't noticed any buds and I have seen them on various blogs.
Sweet sweet snowdrops!
The snowdrops cheered my day. Thank you. As you know, we're covered in ice and snow. It's good for the plants, but I'm sick and tired of it all. I'm going to post about the danger of it later today.~~Dee
Everytime I read someone's blog that has large amounts of snow and sub freezing temps I see a new word..what is frost heaving...all I can think about is the dry heaves, you know when you are sick to your stomach? Silly I know. I guess this type of weather will make you sick to your stomach..lol. I'm afraid there are areas of the country that are being lulled into a false since of security with the above normal weather...
MMD, love the snow drops. They bring a ray of sun to the garden. Heaving has been a problem the last few years and even with winter mulching I have lost several roses. I suppose all we can do is try-it looks as though you have done all you can for now.
We saw crocus out on our walk today. Definitely in full bloom, and the snowdrops have been up for over 3 weeks. This has to be the earliest we have had anything like this.
But that said, last year was harsh.
Jen
I cannot believe that you have so many plants budding. I live in the western Chicago suburbs, and nothing in my yard is even exposed!
The thaw worried me as well. I had piled a thick layer of leaves over the garden before the first snow, and I found them smushed and soaked during the thaw so I'm hoping to avoid frost heaving. Fingers crossed!
PG - Snow is the best insulator and plant protector. The inconsistent snowcover of the Chicago area is what makes my climate so challenging, even more so that places that might get colder, but have consistent snowcover all winter.
Gardness - I've been lucky over the last several years not to have had any winter losses, so I supposed I'm about due for some. It's all part of gardening around here.
Lisa - The thing about the Hellebores is that they'll remain exactly as they are until it warms up in earnest, generally about March.
Cyndy - I do love Snowdrops.
Dee - I like snow, but I hate ice. I hope what's going on in your neck of woods doesn't cause any damage.
Darla - frost-heaving can make a gardener want to hurl. When the ground repeatedly freezes and thaws, it kind of cracks and moves, forcing some plants out of the ground. If not pushed back into the soil, the exposed roots will freeze, killing the plant.
Beckie - don't forget to push things back into the ground. I use my foot most of the time.
MBD - so you've got the warm winter! I wondered where it went.
Welcome, Gatsbys Gardens, thanks for visiting! The difference in snow cover over the area always surprises me. We had more snowcover than much of the Northwest suburbs, but I guess the Western burbs got even more.
MMD- Love the snowdrops -- they are beautiful surrounded by snow. We know the struggle you are having - we have it here every winter, but with the range of temps much higher. 70s last week and 29 tonight. Lots of things start growing at 70, let me tell you. If it makes it, all that sweet new growth will be great, though.My fingers are already crossed for both of us.
Oh those snowdrops warmed my little heart...but I know what you mean...here today..frozen tomorrow..it was 5 degrees this morning...
MMD, I'm wishing that I had thought to save the neighbors' tree boughs for my own garden. (I am never that organized.) We've got hellebores and snow drops getting going at Bwold too but there was no way I was going to photograph them today. (Too brrrr - though not as cold as you. I am a wuss.) But I've tagged along with your meme - thanks for inventing it!
Oh, that doesn't seem good at all for the plants. Ours are not covered in snow, but our temps do not, knock on wood, get that low. I hope everyone survives. The snowdrops are wonderful, amazing with that kind of cold to see buds. I am sure Christopher appreciates you. :-)
Frances
ps we have six inches of snow and it is still snowing, the most in ten years
This weather is hard on the head, isn't it? We are having a huge snowstorm today, which is kind of nice because it has buried the plants BEFORE the deep freeze which is expected to arrive tomorrow. Plants ARE amazingly resilient, though every year we have something that gets traumatized by too early mild/too late cold. I just say it provides a ready made hole to plant something else in.
Congrats on your win at GGW, by the way! I'm running behind with things again, as so often happens with me.
Oh my! I hadn't a clue. Thanks for explaining it. So weird how we all experience vast differences
in the same season.
Wow, I didn't know the Chicago area got an earlier start in the garden than we did here in MD. For some reason, I think of Chicago as cold - maybe it's all those times stuck in the airport when traveling for work in January. Here in MD, there is no growth on the perennials, and I don't expect to see any until maybe March, if we get some warm temps. The only thing going on here are the tips of a few daffodils peeking out. It was exciting to see the growth in your garden - it tells me spring is coming.
I'm impressed, MMD! Okay. You've talked me into taking a walk outdoors today. :-)
MMGD my snowdrops are covered again in five inches of snow and a hard crust of ice. Maybe they will reappear later in the week. I can't believe you have green campanulas. Only a few of the hardcore native perennials hold any remnants of green through winter here. I have seen some new columbine growth during the melt, but that is normal. They are one of the first to appear. No signs of stirring on the hellebore though.
Those snowdrops sure are a welcome sight! Thanks for the great tips about winter mulch; I hadn't thought of using fir boughs for protection. I'm afraid my garden is having to fend for itself these days. During the brief thaw it was so muddy I didn't venture out to see what might be putting out new growth. Hoping all your green possibilities make it through the winter!
Diana - I don't think I could handle the extremes you have to deal with. That's too hard on people & plants.
Suz - but we're done with January!
Kris - Thanks for joining in (I'm not sure it's actually fun).
Frances - I'd be happy to have your 6 inches of snow, but then I like to shovel.
Jodi - Thanks, Jodi! I'm running way behind too now.
Darla - it's kind of like culture shock.
Kim - It is cold here, very cold. It's the snow that makes the difference.
Shady - I hope you found some fun surprises.
Christopher - The persicifolia Campanulas are semi-evergreen, and I've killed a few by smothering them with mulch over the winter. I guess the C. garganica is also semi-evergreen, not that it matters when it's buried under a foot of snow.
Rose - pine straw (pine needles) also makes a great mulch, as it doesn't mat down like shredded leaves. You're probably getting some of that big snow, so for now your garden should be fine without the mulch.
As you know, MMD, our IL garden was in the Western Suburbs like Gatsbys Gardens. Plants in your garden always seem earlier from what I remember, but I'm not sure what is due to geography and what is climate change over a decade ;-]
We chopped up our live trees to use on The Chosen Plants, too - but even when the ends were jammed into the ground, those NW winds wouldn't let them stay in place without snow cover.
Hope you made it through the cold!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I am jealous of your snowdrops. With the exception of the shrub, I wouldn't be concerned about most of your other plants. I've come to expect mine growing under the snow.
I found green plants and new growth after our snow melted, too, but no blooms yet. We have a couple more inches now, so hopefully, things will be OK. I hope yours are, too.
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