I think the coldest I've ever been was the time I had to be downtown Houston for an appointment right after a blue norther blew in. That cold wind cut like a knife. lol I never will forget it.
Lin
First Frost/freeze
I could tell it wasn't quite as cold this morning as yesterday. Yesterday the birdbath was frozen solid; this morning it only had a thin layer of ice on top. The birds know I'll thaw it before I go to work in the morning, and they sit in the trees and complain while they wait. :)
Linda~ Glad you got your FIL fixed up!
Isn't it something Hazel? Cool your plants are taking it alright..
I lost a couple things maybe, won't know till Spring on those. I ran out of leaves in the front yard covering up all the plants there, so I went next door and asked my neighbor if I could rake up some of hers for my back beds.
Shes said suuuure!!! take all you want, lol.. Rake your little heart out, hahaha... We had a good laugh. I raked up a couple huge bags of leaves and brought them to the back. I cut all the wilted plants down to the ground (Duranta, Kolanchos, Salvias, Milkweed, etc.), and layed newspaper over them and some cardboard. I wet it down really well and then spread about 8" of leaves all over the top of it and over the remaining exposed foliage. I left some uncovered toward the front of the bed, bc it looked alright behind the foamboard and under the poly..
Here's the before pic:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=2950789
debnes,
You have duranta in the ground in FW??!! How is that working for you? Does it require any special winter care/protection, or does it return easily in the spring from the roots?
I 'discovered' duranta two summers ago and absolutely love it, but I keep it in large pots and drag them into the greenhouse each winter, then back out again in the spring. Please tell me about your duranta.
Thanks,
Kenya
Brrr Lin.. The wildlife that emerges in cooler months is very stunning. I would be snapping pictures like crazy..
Ann... so your DDH is the one who brought this cold down with him, lol.. Now we know, hehe.
I hear you Dawn about the Birds waiting for you to get their birdbath liquified.. I have spoiled mine too pretty much.
Here is what I did with the Passionvines so far. It is against the South fence (warmed from the backside), but the sun doesn't shine directly on them this time of year. All I could do is tent them with thick poly and leave a tiny bit open. So far they aren't freezing.. It looks a little tacky right now, bc I need to paint the planter box next Spring. I want to paint murals around the back yard on the planter, and on the front of the shed back there. You know, Butterflyish animations, stuff like that..
Hi Kenya~
I only received the Duranta this year. It was a lucky stroke at a DG Plant swap (Thx again Siggy).. I am not sure how it will fare over the winter. Like I said, all I could do is chop it down to the ground. It is still alive now, (I saw the healthy green in all the cuts), so I put newspaper over it and a piece of cardboard and covered it with 8" of leaves along with the rest of the plants there in the picture.
Now I am just crossing my eyes that it will work. lol
This year I am trying to overwinter certain annuals as an experiment. Previously I did nothing and lost them. The ones that survived were either in the back, or covered by leaves in the front or side yard.
So I am hoping for a solid system through all this testing, and I am taking suggestions from anyone who offers them.. That is how I got this much gumption to try all these things this year.
Whoever said winter had to be boring didn't have and love a garden somewhere..
Here's a better pic of some regular visitor under the rose bush here by my computer. I have been trying to get all the feathered mugshots through a closed window. They have enjoyed the security of the rose bush here for years. I usually fed them in the front yard. Now I put some treats for them here by the window under the bush.
This message was edited Dec 5, 2006 10:27 AM
debnes, if my DDH brought the cold w/him it's delayed action. He moved down here in 1953!!!! hehehe
Ann
My giant elephant ears look like dead octopus. Should I cut them back and cover with newspaper and small throw rugs for the durantion or just let nature take it's course. Everything is pretty burned. My house and garage are full with plants in pots that I usually leave in the ground. Last year lost too many to freeze so decided to pot and bring in this time. Hibiscus is actually blooming in the garage. Elephant ears and bananas look so bad but don't what would be the best move. Help.
Lou
Oh ok Ann, I was thinking ya meant more recently, lol. We lived in NJ for a few years, and boy did I get a good taste of winter weather. My van was covered with about 8' of snow and DH was taking the train to NYC every day. So the snow would thaw a bit and then refreeze..
After so many days in the house with 2 toddlers I got the shovel and went out and dug like a machine until I could drive that van. My neighbors enjoyed watching me...lol. They were trying to be my best friend hoping I would shovel someting for them, ya think?? LOL~ Shhhh Don't tell them, but I probably would have if they'd asked.
Shoveling the walks is a daily routine for most homeowners, I don't miss that much now either...
8 foot of snow on top of that van? Have you got a photo of that?
Fraid not Linda, it is only emblazened in my memory, LOL.
and gets higher w/every telling??? :>))
Ann
Actually Ann I haven't told that story in a long time. The snow was over the windshield to the top of the van... No reason for me to embelish that?
When the snow plows would come to clear the street they shove the snow to the side against anything that sits there. Each time it covers any vehicles a little more each time. The taller the vehicle, the higher the snow.
I am from Texas though and never been snowed in that deep or that long without a way to get around... Allowed me to see a tenacious side of myself that I was unaware of until then. That's the part that makes me chuckle.
:-D
didn't mean to diss you but ..... Sorry :>()) sorta
Plantladyhou,
Houston, Tx. is zone 9a in the new book. At least I think it is...
According to the maps, we are all over it - Z8a, Z8b, Z9a. Houston is big but ???
Ann
According to the maps, we are all over it - Z8a, Z8b, Z9a. Houston is big but ??? Can you give me a link to this "new" map. I obviously haven't seen it. This should be interesting. I know that here on the outskirts of Houston/Katy, if Channel 2 says that their temperature is 48 ours reads 46. If they say it will be 36, we invariably have 32.
Ann
I live a few minutes from Hobby Airport. When I lived on the Northwest side at 290 & W. 34th, I experience the same temp differences. The great part about living over there is that we hardly ever got the rainstorms the rest of the city got. No flooding during any of the storms in recent years. And most of the surrounding neighborhoods flooded!
Disregard the "new" maps. I'll just take your word for it....long as the veggies grow, I don't really care what zone I'm in!
Amen to that! We don't flood here in this part of town. One of my greatest memories was of the restaurant San Jacinto Inn which was "unbuilt" some years ago because the land was sinking.
Ann
Now, Ann, most of these youngsters probably have no idea what sinking land you are talking about but I'm not a youngster. All I can say is better to get rid of SJI than have The Monument sink into the ship channel. lol
:~)
I have a lot of memories of San Jacinto Inn, etc.. I lived in Pasadena from 75-84, we went there many times... remember the creaky floors and the bread under your fish to absorb the oil? Good drinks n good fish!
Lou,
I also have the same question about my elephant ears. Should I dig them up?
Thanks,
I'm 6 miles from yucca do as the crow flies--they consider themselves to be 8b. All commercial growers in Waller consider they are in 8b. I think I'm really on the edge of 8b/9a. It is always colder on the west side--not all the concrete, trees, etc. The frost just settles down onto the prairie like the fog on the Addicks resivoir (no time for spell check).
It stays a lot warmer down by Hobby. I've been here for 20 years. My hamalia patens and clero u have been froze to ground level since the first freeze--we've had three solid freezes so far.
editted to add I'm north of I10.
This message was edited Dec 6, 2006 7:18 PM
My elephant ears will be fine just cut down and covered with wet newspaper and a lot of leaves.
I hear ya Deb ... I expierenced that kind of snow in Connecticut. ..the worse thing to do is leave your car parked on the street ... you might never find it. What amazed me was once you got the car dug out, the streets werew in good shape.because they the snow was thrown wherever. LOL I was young then ... never stopped me from getting to Portchester to party. lol ... or to the train station to to get to NYC.
You do hear me Sylvia...there were always trains and busses. However when time to fill the cupboards, groceries for five ..necessity is a powerful thing.
Thanks Deb that's what I'll do.
We had (still do) EEs in a low, wet spot out of the way. I had my DDH dig them out this fall but he didn't get it ALL out. W/him, if the tops are off, they are gone. LOL Well they are growing again and we have had 3 freezes and they are still going strong. This spring he gets to dig again. Don't like elephant ears but then I'm a person who doesn't like JUST green shrubs that aren't flower covered (hibiscus is my favorite. Roses are nice too, but they don't like our high humidity so have black spot, etc. so I stay away from them). These EEs are just green leaves w/no redeeming features, to my mind.
Ann
We are expected to hit the low 20s here in Arlington tonight, it is very cold, I wish it would go away.
Josephine.
It was 23 here this morning but no wind and the sun is shining.
It has been sleeting with some snow flakes for the past 30 minutes here in San Antonio. The air temperature is 44. Only in Texas ...
I'm hearing the sleet as well, htop.....! My mother called near Corpus, and it is sleeting there as well. What a wonderfully lazy day to stay indoors in a blanket with a good book. :)
Melanie
Bright and sunny here but with a chill in the air. It was 29 at my house this morning, not as bad as originally predicted.
:) Kim
Melanie, I have actually been watching TV for a change all covered up with my blankey. The weather forecasters were right for a change. I hadn't believed them until I saw it with my own eyes. Thank goodness it isn't freezing. It would be a real mess. I have to go to the store to buy my sister-in-law a birthday card. My DH and I are planning on taking her and brother out to eat tonight. I really feel like just staying home and keeping toasty.
blue_eyes, it was about 37or so here last night. I hope it doesn't freeze tonight.
This message was edited Dec 8, 2006 3:52 PM
lol htop, I know the feeling. I have been off from work today and yesterday....and my blanket and book have been my constant companions. That, and chamomile (sp) tea. :) I fear that the dampness on the blankets protecting some of my native plants may not help in keeping them from freezing. And my poor mama Lynx Spider is still out on the Dallas Red lantana, keeping watch over her second egg sac. I sure wish that I could bring her inside. She has gotten so skinny during this cold cold week. : / I reckon that I'm just too tender hearted...
Melanie
We went into S.A. today and by the time we got to Helotes it was sleeting a little. No snow seen, however. We saw a car on 1604 that had flipped over. Hope the occupants were okay! Not good weather to go somewhere, but the weekend is worse. I hate the traffic and crowds on weekends this time of year. Instead of making me feel good, it's really depressing!
I know what you mean Linda, I try to stay out of the stores as much as possible. We have another very cold night in the works, hopefully the weekend will be better.
Josephine.
Melanie, I hope your mama spider finds some grub. I, like you, worry about all the inhabitants of my yard. I have been looking for the lizards, but I haven't seen any this past week. When it started sleeting (had so much that some is still gathered in the corners of the roof this morning), the ground feeding sparrows flew into a large bush where they usually roost and started to loudly squawk. After about 20 minutes, the flock flew to my patio and hid under the patio furniture, plants and areas of the patio where the gutters kept the sleet from falling on them. They would run out from the protected areas to grab seeds that had been knocked from the birdfeeders onto the patio slab.(huge rat has been doing this at night). It was such fun watching them scurrying back and forth.
Linda, some people do not have the sense to slow down on slick roads and either have wrecks or cause someone else to have a wreck. 1604 is such a dangerous roadway even when it isn't wet. A month ago when it was slightly raining, a young girl plowed into the back of my SUV while I was driviing down Culebra. Thank goodness my car was moving when she hit me because the damage would have been much worse if I had been stopped. I felt so sorry for her because it was her first wreck and her car was messed up pretty badly because it went kinda under my bumper hitting the boat/trailer hitch and a big tow hook. My SUV had minor bumper damage. She sobbed almost continuously and I had to console her. I wasn't even going to call the police because I didn't want her to receive a negligent collision ticket. However, a person who stopped to see if we needed assistance told me that you have to obtain a police report or the insurance companies will not handle the claims now. I didn't know that. I had been in several minor accidents years back, did not call the police and had no problems with my insurance claims. When the police arrived, I told him that this was her first accident, asked him to be kind to her, informed him that she wasn't speeding and that she was trying to avoid being hit by another car in the other lane as she pulled into my lane and hit me. He laughed and told me it was the first time that the person not at fault was taking up for the person who ran into them. I do not like to go shopping and especially at this time of year.
Josephine, staying out of the stores when they are crowded keeps my nerves from becoming frayed. Hunting for a parking space is what really bothers me the most. After driving around and around, I finally, see someone pulling out ... but before I can get there, someone who just pulled into the parking lot beats me to it. :o) The white gingers you gave me finally has blooms on it. I can hardly wait for them to open. Thanks again for them.
You are welcome Hazel, I am glad they are doing well, mine are dormant now.
The Bush Morning Glory seed you sent is a nice little bush now, no blooms yet. I potted it and am bringing it into the garage, don't want to take a chance and lose it. I will be looking forward to the blooms next year.
Oh my !!! so many neat stories, so many wonderful conecctions, isn't this great?
Josephine.
Josephine, it should bloom for you next year (I hope :o). After the stems become larger, it may be able to withstand the cold there if the root zone is heavily mulched. You can always save some seeds just in case it doesn't. It is so wonderful to be able to converse with everyone.