We have had freaky-deaky winter weather here in the Pac NW. “Record shattering”. “Amazing”. “Incredible artic blast event”. Many worry about their babies (plants).  

Hello fellow garden maniacs who refer to our plants as “babies”.  Nothing wrong with that, mind you. Plants are like family and good friends.

RBD clients have been in touch, concerned with the health of one particular plant – Phormium.  Ah, the beauty of this plant – and the varieties available! Yum, yum, the Phormiums.

Yum Yum, the Maori Maiden Phormium

And yikes! the down-right scariness of snow and ice damage. Eek!  They look like heck: split, flopped, droppy, weeping. “Are they dead? Pull them out? Cut them back? Will they need to be replaced? What do I do?”

Sad Phormium... don't worry.

WAIT.

Wait and see with all your plants.  Allow time for recovery – to see how amazing nature / plant / tree organisms will fair.  The experts have been called in.  

Take respite in a great podcast, from Bloomtown Nursery’s proprietress Darcy Daniels who interviews the great plant minds & wholesale suppliers at Xera Plants for true blue flax diagnosis, good news, and fantastic information to soothe (and care for) the Phormium lover’s winter damage and recovery anxieties. And RBD clients, good news! RBD is in love with the variety Maori Maiden —  it finds a home in many a garden design… this one can hang on in the lower temps.

So, WAIT. 

Most Phormiums will be back (with the right care & mucho compassion – take a listen to the podcast)!