Primula Belarina Nectarine & some April casualties

I can't seem to escape death lately.  It's gone beyond people now & is pursuing me into my stressfree zone ~ the garden & its inhabitants. Stop the madness, I beg you...

Remember the last post?  Well, we had a record low temperature that night ~ 6 degrees above zero ~ extreme cold for April. 

It took out even the stalwarts of my spring perennial garden. 

Bleeding heart crumbled & turned to mush:

As did Rhubarb:

Before the storm, I snapped one photo of Helleborus 'Phoebe:'

thank goodness I did, for now her beautiful blooms lay sprawled across the garden soil:

horizontal & brown ~ blatant evidence of how severe the cold was..  Is there any amount of TLC that can resurrect them now?

What really brought me to my knees tho was the flacid shoots of my favorite Peony 'Coral Charm:'

'Coral Charm' is was a newcomer to my garden. 

I'm not sure what this devastating blow means ~ will she return??  Put out new shoots???  Is it a temporary setback or horror-of-horrors, a permanent one???  

I am left with no choice but to comfort myself with old photos:

or maybe looking at this makes me lament my loss even more???

Please someone, say something, anything, encouraging....  A complete wipeout is something I've never before (and never again) want to experience.

Now that you've witnessed the cruel hand Mother Nature dealt my garden (and read my diva dramatics), you'll understand why I went in search of something to bolster my spirits.  You would do the same, right?

I'm happy to say I found hope in Primula Belarina Nectarine:

My soul aches a tiny bit less. 

Maybe Belarina Nectarine is exactly the balm I need.

At least until I venture outside again....

Seriously Winter.  Enough is ENOUGH.  Go bother someone else already....

 

Comments

[Dana]

Wow - so sad to see your pics - I would be in mourning too! If it makes you feel any better, most of my Helleborus rebounded, but then they were covered in snow before the freeze hit. One of them looks like yours, but it appears it will be ok. Fingers crossed for your gorgeous peony -I'm betting it will put up new shoots. That gorgeous Primula is a must have for me now... worth a trip to the Flower Bin even if it's not as full as in the past. Hoping your next post is full of good news!

[Jennifer]

Hi Kathleen, The weather has been downright disheartening this spring hasn't it? Here in the Toronto area we haven't made it out of winter. Yesterday there was snow and freezing rain! The temperature has climbed back up again, but there is still no sign of the sun.
I am sorry about the devastation in your garden. Plants are pretty resilient and so I have a feeling they will recover. You finished on a very pretty note with the little primula.
Yes, as you noticed, I started two other sub-blogs. A bit of wishful thinking! I can barely manage the one main blog, let alone the other two. You will have noticed that posts are sadly lacking in number! Hopefully, I will find some spare time soon to give them a decent go. Otherwise, I think I must give up on them for now.
Thanks for the offer of the Queen of the Prairie starter. That's so kind of you! I remember your pictures of it and they were one of the reasons this plant moved higher on my wish list. I should easily get a plant locally and so I will not put you through the trouble of sending one in the mail. Thanks so much for the offer though. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

[Victoria]

Those are rough temperatures to endure. (But it's not personal, although I'm sure it feels that way).
Your garden will go through change, but change can be good.

[Janet, The Queen of Seaford]

Another gorgeous primrose!! wow. You have had some horrible temps. Sorry for all the plant damage.