This year's abrupt temperature down-swipes were so mercifully brief I though the garden had got away with it. It was only later, when some plants failed to start (or continue) growing that the non-obvious chill catchers emerged.
This looks OK, doesn't it? But every week, there's a bit more brown and a bit less green and that's the wrong way round for this time of year.
It's not the only one. Crimson Bonfire Peach and OMG Nectarine!!! are in a parlous state. The Poppy Flowered Abutilon is still resolutely bare-twigged. The Crimson China Witchhazel has yet to show any signs of new growth.
But the plant's not over till the season's gone.
This isn't my tree, but it is instructive. The soft end-growth is being dumped off - dead in the frost. Not coming back. But the leaves, smaller but still there, are growing from older growth with safer cell walls.
All plants are in constant competition - with themselves as well as each other. They won't hesitate to strike off the weak, the damaged, the diseased, and pull back to the strong and sturdy.
The only question is - is there enough left to grow from?
This looks OK, doesn't it? But every week, there's a bit more brown and a bit less green and that's the wrong way round for this time of year.
It's not the only one. Crimson Bonfire Peach and OMG Nectarine!!! are in a parlous state. The Poppy Flowered Abutilon is still resolutely bare-twigged. The Crimson China Witchhazel has yet to show any signs of new growth.
But the plant's not over till the season's gone.
This isn't my tree, but it is instructive. The soft end-growth is being dumped off - dead in the frost. Not coming back. But the leaves, smaller but still there, are growing from older growth with safer cell walls.
All plants are in constant competition - with themselves as well as each other. They won't hesitate to strike off the weak, the damaged, the diseased, and pull back to the strong and sturdy.
The only question is - is there enough left to grow from?
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