We experienced what they were calling a polar vortex a few weeks ago where the temperatures were as low as 6 f! It did produce some damage to the leaves of a few plants. The very warm temperatures of the past few days has revealed this damage.
Camellia – Not too bad but the damage caused splotchy dead areas.
Bay laurel – The leaves are dead. I will spend an afternoon picking these off by hand. May be time for a hard pruning.
Cast Iron Plant
Gardenia – This might be a season where they are severely pruned to encourage new growth and low branching.
Passion Flower vine – I will cut these to the ground and they will rapidly regrow and cover the trellis by the end of the Summer.
Holly Fern – I will only remove the damage fronds. Holly Fern fronds typicaly only last two seasons before they turn brown and die. New growth, which is erect, quickly covers the older leaves which lie on the ground.
Confederate Jasmine – These branches are dead. I will prune the dead branches off over the next few weeks.
Algerian Ivy- these are not dead but they will never be green again. New growth will quickly cover the damaged leaves.
TIP: Don’t throw away the lint from your dryer filter!
I put the felt-like pads on the squirrel feeders and the birds will use it to line their nest! I also put Gus’s shredded chew ropes once he has pulled them apart out for the birds to use as nesting material.
Spring Fever is contagious!
Arthur in the Garden! 
Shame about the bay leaves!
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I know!
It regrows quickly, though! It only grows slow when you are attempting to root cuttings!
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That’s good!
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That’s too bad. I hope your banana plant survived. They say there is more cold on the way but I don’t know if it will make it that far south.
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Yuck! No more cold!
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Hi Arthur, I am so glad to find your blog through Ron’s blog…It was great joy going through your garden and recipe posts.
This year snow was too harsh…few of my pot plants have dried up..hope they have survived. Your dryer filter lint tip is great.
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Thanks! I am glad you came visit me!
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Sorry to see all that damage. It’s been a colder winter than usual.
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Those temps really did quite a bit of damage, glad the plants that suffered will make a nice come back. Had to laugh at your dryer lint comment. When I had Siberians and they blew their winter coats, all the birds were delighted, picking up tufts of super soft fur from the undercoat, for their spring nests. You could almost see “delight” in their eyes and movements when chancing upon a fluff ball. Best lined nests in the neighborhood 🙂
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Those nest were most likely the best!
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Oh no! Hope everything survives ok! 🙂
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So sad to see this! Fingers crossed that the forces of spring prevail and your plants recover… Roots are stronger than leaves, thankfully. 🙂
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Yes!
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Sorry about the damage but from what you have said, it looks like a good pruning will take care of some of your plants. Like your tip about the lint…I’m sure the birds would like a little insulation for their nests.
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Yes, it’s a good reminder that a hard pruning is needed to refresh a few shrubs !
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I’m hoping the snow cover helped insulate some of our more fragile plants from the bitter cold. I hope all your plants look good as new after a spring pruning 🙂
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Thanks!
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