Miracle of nature as they survive storms
Time to admire the toughies that live through the winter weather
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. The thought came to mind recently when the storms Arwen swept through the north creating havoc. As a result of the visit, we were left without electricity and all its consequences. A sore trial for all those affected, but like many others we did survive the four days of cold with a sense of achievement and big sigh of relief.
More reason then, to admire the real toughies that live through everything nasty that winter weather delivers – our garden plants. I looked out of the window at the height of that storm as every tree and shrub in sight entered a crazy, gale-assisted dance routine. That they all survived seems a miracle of nature, but it is explicable.
Nature has gifted hardy perennials with various strategies to survive winter conditions. Herbaceous perennials simply shut up shop, everything above ground level dies off but the living rootstock remains in a dormant state. Woody shrubs and trees have a tough protective bark, and the evergreen leaves of holly, yew, elaeagnus and others have thick, waxy protective layers.
Most impressive is the way hellebore (Christmas rose) and winter pansies survive serious frosts. Pansies have flimsy, paper thin leaves that are easily damaged in handling but observe them in action when the temperatures dips below zero. They go from standing tall in flower to lying horizontal on the soil as if nailed in position. Then come the morning thaw they spring back upright. Their secret being; falling air temperature triggers a chemical reaction and the transfer of water from surface cells to deep within the plant. As the temperature rises, so does the plant until it stands tall again.
Assuming plants are healthy going into the challenging months ahead, certain woody perennials will adapt well, even flower, in extremes of frost, wind and snow.
By comparison, we are tender perennials.
Some need occasional assistance to avoid disaster. For example, ornamental trees and shrubs with top-heavy canopies stand little chance in strong winds that gain purchase so easily. I’ve watched a flowering cherry in a garden nearby almost disappear under an invasion of ivy. This was too heavy a burden, so it snapped in the recent storm.
Reduce the height of tall border roses and certain summer flowering shrubs. Prune Lavatera ‘Barnsley’ also Buddleja varieties down to one metre and you immediately increase their wind resistance.