Snowy Austin garden, the good & the bad
An inch of beautiful, powdery snow—the most snow Austin has received since 2004, the Statesman reported today—greeted us when we awoke on Friday.
Three days of below-freezing weather (since Tuesday!) had made the ground cold enough for it to stick.
School was cancelled, and our kids took full advantage of the snow day. They slid down an icy hill perched on garbage-can lids, tasted new-fallen snow, and attempted snowball fights and construction of a snowman, although the powdery snow stubbornly refused to hold together. Snow angels, however, were easily accomplished.
This morning a few patches of snow and underlying ice still remain on the driveway, but our expected high of 60 F (15.5 C) should finish it off. More below-freezing weather, however, is expected through next week. All pictures in this post were taken yesterday morning, as we explored the wintry wonderland.
Some of the plants in my garden were less enthused about the snow (and preceding days of sub-zero weather), like this iris in bud.
Snow-wilted Opuntia ficus-indica. I’m hoping for a recovery, as they survived last winter’s Arctic blast without harm.
Yucca filamentosa ‘Bright Edge’ has shriveled alarmingly, but I am confident that it will plump out again when warm temps return. The gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida) should be OK too.
The cold has made the Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa) skinny.
The horror! My potted variegated American agave looks so sad. I expect mush here. With luck the heart will survive and make a recovery this summer. Nothing to do but wait and see.
The squid agave (A. bracteosa) seems OK, though it’s really too early to tell.
The big ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave (A. ovatifolia) is known to be cold hardy even in Dallas and takes this weather in stride.
As does the Yucca rostrata ‘Sapphire Skies’. The snow makes this beautiful plant even more lovely.
In fact, there’s much beauty and interest to be found in the snowy garden, and I’m grateful for all the evergreens—from boxwood to yuccas—tawny ornamental grasses, and hardscaping like stone paths, the arched arbor, and the container pond that give definition to the winter garden.
Dwarf papyrus holds its pom-pom umbels above the frozen, snow-covered surface of the pond.
A closer look
The cedar skeleton adds character to the hillside garden, along with toasty brown ‘Adagio’ miscanthus grass.
A wider view
Waiting to cut back perennials like Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) allows it to make interesting vignettes like this. The still-green vine in the background is ‘Lavender Lady’ passionflower.
I wouldn’t want to sit here right now, but the snow looks pretty on the Adirondacks.
A wider view. We don’t cover our pool in the winter since it rarely gets this cold and our winters are brief. It isn’t heated, but the water retains enough heat from warmer days (it was 80 F last week) to keep from freezing during brief bouts of cold.
Much of the middle and eastern U.S. is blanketed by snow or ice right now. I hope your gardens are doing fine, waiting for spring, but still giving you enjoyment, as mine is.
All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
What a wonderful overview of your snowy garden in it’s beauty. That’s a great shot of the Y. rostrata, it really shows off the structure. I’ll be pulling for that variegated Agave americana…they are pretty tough it may just make it!
The variegated Agave americana survived last winter’s similar temps with some damage, but it recovered quickly. However, it looks worse today than it did last year, but the crown may still be alright. —Pam
What a delightful series, Pam! Particularly like that last one with the yellow chairs. Stay warm!
It was nearly 80 F today, so staying warm is no longer a problem. How quickly things change during an Austin winter! —Pam
What a difference from the warm, humid day we visited! It looks fine…you should see all the severely damaged Opuntia ficus-indica in Tucson, and they were not even hit like the NM Rio Grande valley. A. bracteosa has taken -5F fine in pots in SE AZ; ditto A. ovatifolia there and in Abq at -5F. Hope you document what was damaged and what was not.
Live oaks look stunning in snow, too!
Live oaks ARE lovely in the snow thanks to all those undulating, horizontal trunks. As you point out, Agave bracteosa and ovatifolia are generally pretty cold hardy—provided they have good drainage. (Mine do!) —Pam
My garden has been covered by snow a lot more this winter than usual. It sure puts the hold on any outside chores. Oh well, the chores will be there when it thaws some. Funny how that works. I am surprised that the Whales Tongue agave is so winter hardy. It is a good thing since it would be nearly impossible to move to a warmer spot.
Yes, the chores will always wait for us, won’t they? Enjoy the respite, Lisa. —Pam
Oh my!! Snow!! I like the snow angel. Hope your plants do okay with the snow.
Thanks, Meems. The snow was not as hard on them as the preceding three days of sub-freezing temps. That’s the real killer for our slightly tender plants. —Pam
I hope your less hardy plants make it. It will be interesting to do a comparison between different areas of Austin. I lost my variegated A. americana a week ago and my sagos were doing so well. The problem was they put on a new whorl of leaves late in the season and they have been blighted once again. How much more punishment they will take, I don’t know. I had an iris bloom in December. It was mush. I fear it will not bloom again this spring.
Yes, we’ll all see blighted plants this go-round. Hopefully the sagos will recover as well as they did last spring. And soon spring will be here in all its glory. I know your garden will be gorgeous with spring flowers again soon, Jenny! —Pam
I did not expect Texas to ever look like this. I was in Boston for a GWA talk and getting around was really difficult because of the plowed snowbanks everywhere. After the talk I went to see some flowers – The famous glass flowers at Harvard. There was nothing else in bloom anywhere, but they were just dazzling.
Glass flowers are perfect for a winter display. How smart of you to go see them! —Pam
A very pretty winter wonderland, indeed. For the kids especially it must be a great novelty! The Whale’s Tongue and Yucca “Sapphire Skies” look rather photogenic with the dusting of snow.
Yes, the novelty of snow brings out the kid in all of us, Nicole. 😉 —Pam
Oh, I was wondering about the Whale Tongue. I hope your garden makes it ok. It is so unusual for that part of the country to have such weather.
And yet, this is the second year in a row for such a winter. I hope not to see a repeat for a third time next winter! —Pam
Love the way the starburst around the stock tank is emerging from the snow in little blocks! We had some snow, too – but looks as if you had more than we did this time.
Most of my agaves bailed after last year’s 13 degrees so not much to worry about when we hit 14 degrees the other morning. I sure hope your whale’s tongue is triumphant, Pam – microclimates can make a big difference.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
The ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave is cold hardy even in north Texas, Annie, so I don’t worry about it at all. Likewise for Agaves lophantha and bracteosa. Sadly, the beautiful variegated American agave is very mushy right now, but maybe it will make a comeback in spring. If not, they grow fast, and I’m always willing to try again. —Pam
Beautiful pictures, your garden looks great with snow on it. Love how you planned out your path so there are no footprints in the snow!
I got up early to get outside before the kids had a chance to run around in it! —Pam
Pam – I’ve really been enjoying reading your posts about winter in your garden. The last time my own garden had snow, I was in the 6th grade. But, it freezes every year – some years worse than others. When it freezes here, I sit inside and wring my hands like a worried mother, afraid her aoniums, hens and chicks and other tender babies won’t pull through. It’s wonderful to see your positive attitude, as well as the incredible hardiness of your plants. I can’t wait to see if they survive this weather (especially the phlomis!). Beautiful photos, as usual. You’re so talented with a camera!
Thanks, Rebecca! I didn’t realize your California garden gets a freeze every winter. I admit to doing a fair bit of hand-wringing myself, but I also love winter (for a little while!), as I know that our brutal summer will return ever so soon. By the way, I checked out the Phlomis a little while ago, and it looks great—no sign of damage. What a beautiful, hardy plant it is! —Pam
Pam, that first pic is awesome, great composition and lighting and subject material. Your new-baby-garden is maturing quickly, isn’t it? I was wondering about your whale’s tongue, and I’m glad to see it is hardy through all this. Our plants are going to have to learn to be even tougher, aren’t they?
They are, and so are we, it seems. Record heat in the summer, and record cold in the winter. Crazy! Thanks for the comment about the photo, BTW. 🙂 —Pam
Hope your plants make it through this cold spell. But I have to admit that it gives your garden a whole different look. It is much easier to see the structure and appreciate all your hardscaping when all the colors and leaf textures are smoothed out by the snow. Still, nothing you want to have to deal with on a regular basis!
No indeed, Linda. But one day of snow a year would be just right. We had so much fun playing in it! —Pam
It is so beautiful the way it makes the plants and gardens look so clean and crisp..here’s hoping you don’t have too much mush in the coming days.
Thanks, Darla. There’s a bit of mushiness out there, but maybe the roots are still healthy. —Pam
Austin got a lot more snow than I realized! Your garden looks beautiful. I’ve got a fair number of mushy plants in my garden right now. As you say, all we can do is wait and see!
I heard Houston just got ice. That’s the worst. Hope your garden pulls through fine. I’m sure it will! —Pam
Your eye has captured the snow in your garden well. We are seeing our first ultra-preliminary signs of spring here. A few snowdrops up, winter jasmine starting to bloom and narcissus pushing through. However, snow is in the forecast for Thursday.
Brr! Well, snow blanketing the snowdrops will make a good subject for your beautiful photography, Les. —Pam
The pictures are beautiful as always. I hope some of your beloved plants pull through. I have a number on life support right now, and more that will be laid to rest soon in a mass funeral. Various cuttings that I took last Spring/Summer will sadly be part of that. Retrospectively, this past fall was a tough one for establishing a native/adapted garden. Even the succulents under the Mo-Pac bridge at Lady Bird Lake flopped over in protest of the cold weather–this past cold snap left a larger trail of carcasses behind it than the one last winter. (sigh).
Yeah, there will be mass burials in plots all over Austin in the days to come, won’t there? But we gardeners will just have to soldier on. Here’s to a long, temperate, and wet spring! —Pam
Those desert plants sure wear the snow well!
I hope any losses are minimal.
They will be, Chuck, thanks. I’m not too worried, except about my bamboo. —Pam
I do hope the plants will recover. For now, the snow just accentuates the beauty of your garden. Nature’s frosting.
Thanks, Layanee. It sure was fun to have snow while it lasted (about 8 hours). —Pam
Just found your blog today. I want your yard. 🙂
Thanks for that, Katherine. 🙂 I feel like it’s still a baby garden in so many ways, but maybe it’s starting to show some charisma. —Pam
I was happy to see you feel confident about your Whale’s Tongue…I was worried until I got there!
Moby is doing fine, Leslie. But some others are in the ICU. Yikes. —Pam
Sorry about your cold temps. We got down to negative 16F today. Yes, you read that right. I’ve never seen anything like it. For true. Hope your agaves are all okay. I remember how sad I was when my agave bit it last year.~~Dee
I saw your comment about -16F on Twitter, Dee, and felt so sorry for you. That’s terribly cold. I hope your garden comes through OK. I’ve definitely lost more plants than I’d like, after many nights of hard freezes and daytimes not much warmer, but that’s the way it goes. Can’t wait for spring and good gardening weather again. —Pam