Normally the rhodies always shiver-up like that as a way to protect themselves. So there is nothing unusual about the way they look. Most should snap out of it this weekend when it starts raining.
The soil was moist when it froze, that should help some. My hellebore leaves are drooping and blackened but those can be cut off. The new growth is coming up and showing color and they still look good.
I can't remember the last time my place looked like this. between all the tree trash on the yards and in the pond, the pond being frozen over, the ground actually hard frozen and no snow cover like we had last year ... I don't know..we all may get in line behind soferdig for new plants next year. 20 degrees outside now and dry as anything.
It was 13 here when we came home from shopping. Dang it. The poor little cold plants.
Yeah... I don't like snow, but I'd definitely rather have it than this. Yeesh.
Boy we got a big blizzard last night an overwhelming 1/2 " of snow. Bummer.
Flaippin' cold out there. Got through the leather palmed gloves walking the dogs on frosted sidewalks. Hummer feeder takes an hour or two to freeze. Hummm..
And the rest of the U.S. is getting hit with this:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34341897/ns/weather/
Yikes. o.0
yeah, that was one heck of a dump we had before the freeze, and it looks like it is creating problems in the midwest.
Oh gosh, I think I had better stop complaining, it could be much worse.
I spent most of the day in the GH. I kept it heated, bubblewrapped the walls and ceiling, but never once thought about the floor. Well, I went out there today to check on the frozen water pipes, and several of my plants were frozen solid. Everything sitting close to the glass and on the floor are frozen: my 3 Elephant Ears, Tropical Hibiscus, Calla Lily from Mauryhillfarm, geraniums. I rearranged and added more foil backed insulation and turned the heat up. I should have checked on them earlier.
OH, man, what a disaster. A disaster like this is what made me quit plants in containers for years. All the best, let us know what we can do for you.
It may be that they are just done for the winter and will come back. The cold must have made them go dormant. Fingers crossed that you haven't lost them altogether. Live and learn, huh?
Thanks guys. I feel rather stupid to have let this happen when I have been watching the temp in there so closely. The EE's and Calla Lily are mush, so I don't know about them. The Hibiscus was blooming and had several buds, dang. I have an oil filled radiator heater in there, and it is now 46, up 7 degrees in the last 2 hours. It is 13 outside. Brrrrr
I'm sure I have lost all my Callas, Cannas, Elephant Ears and my Yucca. I think I'll lose at least half my fuchsias. I'm so mad at myself for not paying attention to the weather and letting this happen.
I have one lone day lily that has put out a pitiful little yellow bloom. Gutsy little thing. It made me smile as I was laying tarps over my beds in hope of keeping frost out.
Don't give up on the callas or the yucca. They are pretty hardy. I don't know about the others.
mstish, I brought most of the tenders in but still let the Fuchsias stay out with woods chips for mulch. I do hope it is enough, it's been a lot colder than last year at this time, I think, my memory fades after a year. I lost the Alocasia last year but didn't buy new. we'll find out in the spring, won't we? Jim
I am keeping my fingers crossed. Willowwind2 - I think you are right about the callas, some of them may make it. I'll just have to wait untill spring.
I am gouing to get a greenhouse with heat this summer. Now I just have to figure out how to pay for it.
I love my potted plants and can't stand it when they die. Especially when it is my fault for not watching the weather.
Just reading, I want to replace my Black eyed Susans (Rudbeckia "goldSterm"). which is not as good as a feeder plant as other varieties.
With what? What are the better feeder varieties? You might like to post the list in the perennials forum on the Rudbeckia thread. I think people would be interested.
I'm going to brave the greenhouse today. I'm almost afraid to look, but I did crank the heat in there so maybe it's okay. The pond is frozen but the waterfall is still going. I keep it going as long as possible because it's the only water the birds have in weather like this. I"ll have to take a photo of all the ice it creates. It's 27 here and I'm grateful for it if you can imagine.
Looks like there's hope. Its sunny here, but the frost is still thick enough on everything that it looks like snow.
Melissa, I love your waterfall ice sculpture! :D
I can't believe that bird is bathing in this cold. Yikes!
nice and sunny here. Too bad I can't go out.
1 large cast concrete urn - cracked open. So much for freeze-proof containers...
That's screwy. I was looking around today and many things haven't even blinked (pieris, leucothoe, hellebores). I don't THINK I've lost any pots or bird baths.
I'll be interestsed in the repair method . . .
I don't remember the waterfall Melissa. It must have been put in in the last year and a half? Looks nice. Where in the garden is it?
I'm back, I was reading the cold temps and it will be interesting to see what has lived and died. so far many things look OK and some look like there has been allot of tissue damage. This is the first year my greenhouses have smelled. I went in and wow did it stink like rotten yuck. I cut off all the leaves to my cannas but I think it might be some of the succulents. Oh well it makes room for more cool stuff. I can't wait for next year. I have ordered some of the coolest things. Many of you know I have no focus. So far I have ordered some inter sectional peonies and huge tree peonies. I potted some of them up into a 10 gallon pot. I also order tons of natives. Most natives I'm sorry are ugly but I found some cool ones. I also ordered some mini hostas and other cool ones. Then a nice guy came in who owns a nursery in Utah and he has some tough as nails manzinitas and other rough plants that I'm going to have for next year. Hey 7 days until the days are getting longer Here are some cool plant supports I have next season. We also have some big ones for peonies
Hi Heidi, Love those plant supports. Hope I can get up there in 2010.
I love your messages, Heidi: "Most of you know I have no focus . . ."
I think things might have done better with this last cold snap because there was no rain. I have some things that are bouncing back just fine. Of course, other things look fine, but when you touch them you find that it's an illusion . . .
Well my bananas went from 18 frozen feet yesterday to maybe 6 soggy feet today. Last year we wrote things off before we should have we were pulling things out of the compost later in the summer. Would life be boring to be so focused. I have not grow a peony in years this should be fun. I also want to make some little fairy gardens with the mini hostas. Easy for me to say but be patient
I have two peony trees and nine of the regular kind. They are so easy to grow and unlike a lot of perenials they look nice after the flowers are gone. And some have beautiful fall color.
I didn't discover until recently that peonies were often fragrant. I'm going to try more of them this next summer.
Okay, at the risk of being redundant, I'll add that I want some head planters this winter. How does this work? Do you just send out your wants to the Universe and hope that Father Winter is listening?
Sure that should work. If it doesn't try hard work or money. ^_^
I can't grow tree peonies at all. I keep getting a little white worm on the roots and then they die. I have quit.
"Most of you know I have no focus.." ROFLOL!!! That is so not true, Heidi! You have complete and total focus on your gardening!
I wrapped my bananas very snuggly in cages filled with dry straw, wrapped in plastic, and secured with Christmas lights. So what if I was on medication when I did it? That's what my medication is for! To allow me to complete these kinds of projects in one day! I only hope it was enough...
I love peonies. I have several tree peonies, but the blooms are short lived. This one is a very old tree peony. The blooms are fabulous but the rain ruins them every single year.
