Devil in the details
January 17, 2007
Hymenoxys (four-nerve daisy)
The icicles are long and dagger-like on the eaves, but they are melting. Drip, drip, drip—we can hear it indoors. When I stepped gingerly into the front garden this morning to poke around, evidence of melting and refreezing overnight was written on the plants. The “fairy bubbles” of ice that surround each flower and leaf are dimpled like a golf ball, showing where the ice had softened before refreezing.
It’s a day for close-ups, for wondering about the damage done by this devilish but beautiful ice.
Echinacea
Agave leaf
Mexican feathergrass
Hymenoxys
Texas redbud
Narrowleaf zinnia
Echinacea
One last image from yesterday—fat, fluffy flakes of snow falling. How often do we see this in Austin?
I love the photos of your ice-locked flowers. I went out early this morning to snap some, too, when I heard the drips thinking that it was all going to melt away quickly. The little dusting of snow we had is washed away but the ice on the plants and the icicles on the eaves seem as tenacious as ever. I thought I’d shake the trees of their ice because they are so heavily weighed down. (I’ve done this before when in other storms when it was more pelleted ice.) I touched a branch of oregano and it snapped off. Now I don’t dare.
Yes, I’ve accidentally snapped a few perennial branches too, so I’m not touching the orchid tree or the Barbados cherry, even though they seem to be begging to be set free. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they’ll bounce back, literally. —Pam
Oh, the poor agave!
I have photos like this of my quince flowers, budded, encased in ice – taken yesterday. My quince usually blooms in May. May. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my Stellata Magnolia stays dormant. I would really be pained to lose those spring blossoms.
Hang in there! Hope your plants just shrug it off.
The Whale’s Tongue agave is actually native to a higher elevation than Austin—the mountains of SW Texas and northern Mexico, I think. So I’m hopeful that it will shrug this off. It’s the tender perennials I’m more worried about.
I hope your magnolia pulls through your storm with no loss of spring flowers. They are so beautiful. —Pam
My agave has survived several winters, but the ice-encrusted leaves usually turn black and rot off. I hope yours does better.
I love these pictures.
You and MSS are doing better than I am, Pam, at finding beauty in this ice.
The ice encrusted flowers are very pretty, but it is like a stab in the heart at the same time.
It is hard enough to think Bulbine, Society Garlic, Barbados Cherry and the like would survive this cold at all, must less after having been fooled into thinking it was spring.
Oh well. Some will make fine compost and there are always more plants to be had. Of course this comes from a patient man who propagates and pilfers most of his plants and rarely spends actual money buying them.
Yes, a stab in the heart . . . if they don’t make it. The native perennials will all be fine, I expect. The Barbados cherry, which I love—I don’t know. The bulbine may not make it, but everyone here grows it, so I’m sure I can get a clump from someone. I’d be sorry if the agave, like Bill’s, turns black. Time will tell. Ah, gardening is just a thrill a minute, isn’t it? —Pam
Oh gosh! I hope your plants make it! Have you ever seen this before where you are? I saw news reports on California tonight. Unbelieveable! I have to call my brother out there and see if he slide to work this morning!
Yes, we’ve had ice before, but I’ve never seen it last this long (3 days so far). Austin’s winter weather often veers from one extreme to another, however, so in that sense this isn’t too strange. I am keeping my fingers crossed regarding the hardiness of my plants. Thanks for the green wishes. —Pam
I watched the news tonight and so the footage from Texas. It seems we in Indiana are one of the few parts of the country not *yet* hit by some kind of weather extreme.
While your pictures are beautiful, I can only imagine what you are going through, wondering if your entire landscape will be different once the ice melts and you can see what has lived through it, and what has not. Hopefully, the ice will melt soon.
I love the term “fairy bubbles.” The flowers encased in ice are so beautiful… It’s sort of bittersweet.
Wow, wonderful photos of NOT wonderful weather. This stuff needs to go away now. I hear we are gonna get it again on Friday in Dallas. The kids have been out of school for 2 days! I hope your plants weather the storm. My attitude wasn’t good enough to go out and take photos of the carnage. Good for you!
Gardenmomma
My inner child delighted in the ice and the snow . . . until this morning, when I had to scrape my car out of an inch-thick prison of ice. I hope your garden comes through OK too. —Pam
We just went through our own ice storm, so I know it’s no fun…but those pictures are absolutely amazing! Especially the one of the Hymenoxys. I hope everything comes through all right 🙂
I know it’s terrible for your garden, but boy is it beautiful!
Thanks, Laura. I agree, the ice is beautiful. At least it will all be extra water for the garden by end of day tomorrow. —Pam
Wow, your flowers encased in ice look like lollipops. Quite beautiful. Hope all your cold intolerant plants survive.
Thanks, I hope so too. And thanks for visiting! —Pam
Those look like jewels encased in crystal. Wonderful photos, Pam. We’ve been following this on the news but your pictures are better!
Thanks! —Pam
I’m here from Kerri’s blog to see your ice!!
Wow…you made some awesome pictures!!
😀
Thanks for stopping by, Tammy. Stay warm! —Pam
Love your photos! Love your garden!!
I am a beginning gardener in Round Rock and would love to know if you have any recommendations… what a great idea for a blog entry?!?!
Thanks again!
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your compliments, Lorri. And welcome to gardening in central Texas.
My biggest recommendation would be for you to visit the Wildflower Center in April, in July, and in October, and to take photos and notes about the plants you like. That’s where I first learned about central Texas’ native plants and why we should plant them. You’ll get a lot of great design ideas there; make notes of what plants look good together. My second recommendation is to pick up a free copy of the City of Austin Grow Green Guide, a wonderful plant guide that you can find at area nurseries. For basic gardening advice relevant to the Austin area, check out Garden Guide for Austin and Vicinity, published by the Travis County Master Gardener Association. You’ll be happily digging in no time! —Pam