Salt burn

Some of our trees are reminding us of our autumn storms now. When Hurricane Irene skirted by us it managed to bring a good deal of salty water inland, sea spray blown off the water and onto the tops of trees throughout the closest areas to the sea. Now the effects are obvious as some trees are completely bare while others have bare tops. looking as though their growth were somehow stunted along the way.

The experts say the indigenous trees fared well, but those imported species may never recover. There is a lesson there - one I learned years ago. I saw a gorgeous orange rhododendron at the nursery and had to have it. The salesperson told me that they were from the west coast, Washington state if I remember. No wonder I had never seen anything quite like it! So I spent way too much money on it, brought it home and planted it. It never came up the following year. Lesson learned.

Now I plant things I know will grow like weeks out here in the middle of the ocean - lilacs, hydrangeas, pink rhodos etc. They like it here and are more than happy to endure a little salt water every once in awhile.