Okay---waiting---waiting---is this miserable season over YET????? Here in Central Florida the weather is totally schizo right now. In the 70s and 80-s during the day---drops down in the 50s-60s at night. Once a week we get low 40s. It is grey and yucky--not to mention damp. Enough already! I feel for the people out in California. Man, we had one like that here last year in central Florida, but only one night. The entire winter was warm and my garden was gorgeous---THEN---right in the last week of our winter--end of february---ONE NIGHT of freezing weather---26 degrees for four hours wiped out my garden, as well as caused damage everywhere in the area. Wouldn't you know that from thereafter it was in the high 70s? LOL
Let's hope this stuff is over soon. It's for the birds...
WinterARGH!!
wow..one night of freezing weather...those of us that live where there is a steady 4 months of freezing weather have a hard time sympathizing...but I do envy you your ability to keep a garden green and blooming almost all year....wonder what it would cost to move to Florida?
seriously...I would be devastated if my gardens were wiped out by frost if I lived in a place where it was unusual..I hope things warm up for you soon.....
LA
Brad,
While I envy your weather as a whole, at least I know that I HAVE to prepare for cold weather. Of course, this fall we went from summerlike weather straight to hard freezes. Normally, we would have a few light frosts to serve as a warning to get ready - - but not this year. All the plumeria and hibiscus made it safely inside - - but I did lose some of my other tender plants as I just couldn't get everything inside in time. I was digging brugs up in the dark with a flashlight!!
The folks that I feel sorry for now are the ones without power. It made me start thinking of what damage it could do at my house if all the plants under lights or in dormancy were to be subjected to no heat for several days.
And I am with you - - spring can't arrive too soon!
It sure has been gray lately but the rain has been gentle, at least around here, and everything is well hydrated for the cool and windy nights we are having this week. I've got lots of sheets, blankets and row covers available in case things get dicey in the remaining few weeks of winter. My plumerias actually look good!
Biggest problem here is we have no water in the house tonight, They were preparing to do some work on the main artery when the backhoe went through the pipe. We have plenty of bottled water to drink and thank goodness we have well filled rain barrels we can tap for other necessities.
Brad, I'm with you, buddy! This weather blows! What is so sad is that it was completely unexpected, and people have planted their yards with the expectation that these temps couldn't happen here, and valuable palms and tropicals have been wiped out -- not to mention the citrus farmers losing millions of dollars as the fruit turns to mush. It is one thing if these temps are expected to occur every year because you can prepare for them, but this cold created and is creating temperature records. It was 32 here again the night before last, and all my plants were uncovered. They predicted 37. The record for that day was 33 in 1960. There is so much plant loss occurring all over California. It is so sad. I ordered two more greenhouses, and they should be here Monday, and I'll set them up on Monday, and that will ease some worry. The warm day temperatures certainly do help to heat the plants and the pots, and I'm sure that wards off some damage that might occur otherwise with these nighttime temps.
Nat, you are so right -- being without power for several days is bad! My DH keeps several generators here for that reason, and once, they came in handy when we were without power for four days during a particularly heavy rain storm.
I'm glad to hear that your plumerias look good, Alice!
Thanks Clare, the true test will be if they bloom this summer.
The damage you Californians are seeing is much like the destruction of hurricanes. It is just devastating to see what was beautiful the day before just gone...... Hopefully the roots have not been damaged and a lot of plants will return shortly. And, if they do not, you have lots of friends here that will happily send you new plants.
Thanks for the kind words, Alice. I think you might be right that a lot will come back in the spring. I so appreciate all the generous offers, and they really warm my heart, but I've already decided that I won't replace anything that I lose and will just be content with what I have for now, which is more than enough to keep me really busy. We'll keep our fingers crossed that many plumeria blooms will be forthcoming this summer.
That stinks Brad maybe you should move down here bud..
:)
Plant some Areca Palms around your yard to act as a wind break and trap the microclimate in your garden..
Many nurseries down here have a row of Areca Palms surrounding their lots because they hold up well against hurricanes and like i said they act as wind breakers and insulate your yard from cold temps..
I have many Areca Palms in my yard Brad and none of them got damage from Wilma's 135mph winds..
The only difference is i keep my trim meaning i don't want any suckers growing from her bottom compare to the nurseries who let them grow.The palm becomes dense and thick which is why they block the wind well..
My Areca Palms never have a bug problem or disease problem like some of the other palms plus they are really cheap..
http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/arecapalm.htm
mmmm I guess I should be grateful for the row of arecas that were planted by my next door neighbor as a hedge. I hope they don't get much taller, then they will block a lot of sun. I have to say they are not terribly pretty..... but they beat the ficus - with their invasive roots - that are used to frequently as hedges here.
Lol hetty..
If you trim them they are very nice looking..
I will take a pic of mine to show you what it looks like..
:)
It must be heartbreaking to lose so many plants with no notice. I hope the damage is minimal for all of you.
And I certainly feel terrible for all of the farmers and grove owners who have suffered serious damage. The economic impact to them will be felt for a long time.
Brad,
I feal your pain with this cold weather. Many of my friends here in Arizona have lost lots of their plants. They've lost lots of Plumeria too. Living out of town in the foothills I'm too chicken to leave mine out in a normal winter weather so I haven't suffered any damage to my plumeria. The one I bought from you still grows in my warm laundry room. She'll go outside to play when it warms up. Maybe in May...
Nothing here can be planted to protect your plants. Driving aroyund town today I couldn't belive the cactus that were killed. I was very luck not to have much loss. I'll see this spring what doesn't come back.
Mickey