Thursday, June 23, 2011

Gardening Goes Wild

I was getting my garden ready the past few weeks for a Garden Stroll, clipping, edging, mulching, everything to make it looks as perfect as possible.


Persicaria Polymorpha

Then everything wild broke lose, 100 mph winds, crashing trees, the whooshing of the generator starting up again and large trees blocking main streets and throughout the neighborhoods.

It has been determined that it was a tornado that touched down which is unusual for for our location, but what isn't unusual this year!


Persicaria took a hit with many broken stems, I am probably going to have to cut down the whole plant!


I have trimmed it as much as I can for the stroll , but it is falling all over everything.

We have tons of toppled trees, but this one was dramatic because it is at least one hundred years old and just ripped from the earth.  You can see some of its branches across the street.

I had taken some photos before the storm and would certainly see the difference when assessing the damage.

All The Rage
Toppled over in the storm, now propped up with a stake

Cinco de Mayo
Difficult to get a realistic photo, very smoky color

Pink Meidiland

Rainbow Knockout
(My favorite rose for its long blooming habit and great succession of colors)

The storm is over but many are still without power and the clean up will go on for several weeks.  My garden escaped severe damage so it will be an unusual frame around the garden stroll with fallen trees everywhere, kind of like a war zone with little respites in between.

Many of the clematis are now blooming and even though I took these photos before the tornado, they came through just fine.


Comtesse de Bouchard
This is one clematis that does not disappoint (type 3)

General Sikorski (type 2)
I always worry about the algae in the birdbath but I recently read that it not a problem, only aesthetic.

Dr. Rupple (type 2)
This a a new one purchased this spring.

Hagley Hybrid (type 3)

Rouge Cardinal (type 3)

The Veggie Garden
I am growing a miniature eggplant and they seem to be doing very well.  The cucumbers are just about to climb the trellis.

30 comments:

Beth said...

Eileen, Your roses and clematis are stunning! I especially like Comtesse de Bouchard and Rouge Cardinal. Your vegetable garden looks great too. I am so sorry about the tornado and the accompanying damage. Best of luck for your garden walk!!!
Blessings, Beth

BernieH said...

Glad to hear your garden escaped serious damage as I know only too well how disheartening it is when devastating windy weather hits. Your Roses and Clematis will delight anyone taking a walk through your lovely garden and the Persicaria still looks pretty good.

Mary Anne said...

Hello Stranger!

You guys really got hit badly! It is such a shame that so many trees have dismantled so much. . .which it did here in Western Springs, but I don't think quite as badly as you!

Your Clematis's and Rose's are so beautiful! I love Rouge Cardinal!

When can we walk your garden???

Mary Anne

Avis said...

Wow, it's remarkable that the storm could completely uproot a tree like that but more delicate plants are bouncing back! Your clematis plants are amazing. I don't know which one I like more. Beautiful! Cheers!

Jenny said...

Dear Eileen,I never heard of Clematis until I moved to Holland. Now they catch my eye every time I see them. Yours are gorgeous. Sorry for the storm damage but the flowers will recover. xxoo Jenny

Diana LaMarre said...

You have the magic touch for clematis--simply beautiful. Comtesse de Bouchard never grew like that for me.

I think your garden looks great and would never know a tornado touched down. It will not disappoint the garden strollers.

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

What a shame to have that storm damage some of your beautiful plants. Your clematis are gorgeous. V

Sissy said...

Thank goodness that tree didn't fall on a house!
Good luck with the garden walk! What an honor to be chosen to be a stop on the garden tour!

Lona said...

Sorry about the wind getting your plants.I was trying to get my lilies picked up last evening from the storms too.I have to admit this weather is starting to get on my nerves and I am not having to put up with what so many are with the floods, etc.Oh well nothing we can do I guess.I hate to see the old trees falling like that. Too wet and windy for their roots.
I really like your Comtesse de Bouchard clematis Eileen. I cannot get over how loaded t is with blooms and buds. Your roses are looking beautiful despite the storms. That All the Rage is such a pretty pink.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Beth,

The garden walk went fine, dismal day but luckily no rain.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Bernie,

I think I am going to have to cut down the Persicaris, so many broken branches. But, I did see some very heavy plant damage at other homes so I can't complain.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Mary Anne,

Rouge Cardinal is a very showy clematis and blooms early. Another one you would like is Fireworks or Dr. Rupple.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Avis,

I have seen lots off downed trees the past few days. Amazing that none of the clematis were damaged.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jenny,

You are right, most of the flowers will come back and many people are much worse off.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Zoey,

I actually fed my clematis separately this year, not just the broadcast method. I think it did make a difference.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi V,

The clematis are flowering better than last year, could be the fertilizer that I used.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Sissy,

The garden walk went fine and it was fun to see some very different gardens.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Lona,

I am becoming concerned about this weather also. My friend says it is due to the global warming, lots of extremes. All the Rage turns several colors sort of like the Rainbow Knockout.

Eileen

Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said...

Hi Eileen, I am sorry to hear about the tornado. Thank goodness there was not too much damage to your garden after all that hard work getting ready for the Garden Stroll.
Your poor Persicaria Polymorpha though! I have never cut mine back and so do not know how well it will come back to life this summer. Your clematis are all amazing. I wish mine were half as nice ( I lack sunny locations for them). Have a wonderful weekend!

Balisha said...

Hi Eileen...Your gardens look remarkedly well after all that wind and storms. Our weather is certainly weird this year.Your clematis are amazing...such beautiful colors and so lush.
Balisha

GRACE PETERSON said...

Eileen, I'm so glad you came through the storm unscathed. Scary stuff! Your garden is amazing.

Persicaria polymorpha is a new one on me. I love those white plumy flowers. Sounds like it needs a wee bit of help staying upright though, true for many of the Persicarias. 'All The Rage' is GORGEOUS. I have 'Cinco de Mayo' too and I love it. You're so right about the smoky coloring--very unusual. And the plant just blooms and blooms. Great post. Glad you're okay.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Jennifer,

I did feed the clematis individually this year, so this may have made a difference. I guess some varieties are heavy feeders.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Balisha,

I did take the photos before the tornado but thankfully most everything came out okay except the persicaria. I had to prop up most of my lilies as they were all leaning from the wind.

Eileen

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

What amazing photos. That tree...absolutely incredible.

It's been an interesting weather year.

Tracy said...

Gorgeous clematis - all of them. So glad that you made it through the storms undamaged. We had tornadoes here in Massachusetts this summer, which is practially unheard of! Your flowers are all gorgeous

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I know, Pat, the weather is quite frightening the past couple of years. We've had tornados but now they seem to be predicted on a monthly basis.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Grace,

I am not sure what I am going to do about the Persicaria, love the plant but it has hollow stems and does break in strong winds.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Tracy,

So glad you are back. You steered me in the right direction buying my new camera. We are not prone to tornados in our area either because we are so densely populated with tall trees, but it happened!

Eileen

Tootsie said...

I am so glad you are safe!!! It is horrible to see the damage that the storm caused...but things will bounce back. My yard gets a kicking from basketballs, bikes, hockey pucks and kids....kids....and it just keeps getting back up when it gets knocked down!!! lol
your flowers are pretty ...very good flaunt this week!
thanks for linking in each week and faithfully commenting and being so patient with me when I haven't been around as much as I would like to be!

allanbecker-gardenguru said...

A similar storm wreaked havoc in our neighborhood as well. Can't understand how some politicians keep saying that there is no such thing as climate change.