In spite of a forecast a couple of degrees above freezing, in spite of the foolish plants that are showing every sign of spring....it froze where I live in NE Medina Co. on a hill.......27.5° F last night. Glad I forced myself to go out last night and cover some things (new seedlings were already in).
So...repeat after me....I won't be fooled, it is STILL winter!
It's still winter!
got to 36F here, this one snuck up on me; but its warming fast and bright and beautiful outside now. I don't think it stayed cold here for very many hours. I had some really tender bulbs left out and it didn't phase them at all.
=)
Hey, up here in Chicagoland we've got a good three months before planting time!
Witness yesterday morning's weather:
well plantaholic--I could tell by how cold that wind was here yesterday that it was probably snowing like crazy up north. La Nina winter--ya'll get all the moisture, it's been drier here this winter than last by far.
Here's a Hesperantha coccinea to help keep you warm!
Debbie
dmj1218, yummy! The closest I can get to that is Gladiolus byzantinus. But a Hesperantha could always be overwintered in the greenhouse or garage.....
I keep trying to find a thread that WON'T add to my To Buy list, to no avail!
honestly I think we are done now. The plants are blooming and even the bananas are coming out. I will be moving some plants around this weekend. Tender stuff will stay in the green house for one more month but I think the freezing stuff is over now.
Bear
Debbie, it's difficult to remember that it's still winter when the days, for the most part, have been gorgeous. Then the temperature drops at night (It went down to 30ºF for almost an hour.) to remind you that it is still winter. Last week, I dragged the potted citrus trees out of the greenhouse to spray an infestation of broadmites. Can't use Avid on citrus. Yesterday, I had to drag them back in.
Yes, i brought my 32 flats and 40 pots back in again last night, I am glad we did, it got down to 30. It is getting old and a big drag, oh well.
plantaholic--that one may well be hardy in your area and bloom in late summer. They just bloom here over the winter:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/775/
Not sure what zone you are in. Last night was the only cold night we've had here in the last 3 weeks or so.
I think we are done too Jester--I think any frost we get here now will not last very many hours.
Debbie
=)
Debbie- I looked up Hesperantha when I saw it in your post. I'm in zone 5b, meaning sometimes I can get away with z6 plants, but it depends on the plant. Zone 7 would be dicey. BUT I have a greenhouse and a heated garage (which stays at about 40-45F) for overflow. After all, that's what garages are for : )
Maybe I'll get two H. and try one outside..... I might also try it from seed, as there seems to be a consensus that sometimes plants from seed will be more hardy (not sure about that though.)
32 flats and 40 pots, lol u sound like me. Over 300 seeds germinating this year and over 100 pots plus whats in the ground. I R one sick individual.
Bear
p.s. I missed my hybernation this year.
Yes I overdid it last late summer potting up every seedling that came up, however I have good use for them, I am planning to donate to the Native Plant Society's sale and to many friends.
plantaholic--its easy and fast from seed too! I agree with that consensus about bulbs from seeds--and I do a lot of bulbs from seeds.
got to 35 here... Iris are all abloom and I am praying for no more - I have my Brugs out there (no room for the pots with everything going on here) and would hate to lose them now!
" If you leave me now, you'll take away the biggest part of me." I can just see Mitch singing that song to his Brugs.
Well, I thought I had lost my duranta, but I've notice new growth coming up from the bottom! Both my Sunstar and my late grandmother's sunstar have overwintered nicely and i should be able to share in Oct. Lots of salvias have come up.
Josephine and Mitch, have y'all sown the Winged Loosestrife seeds? Mine are still in the fridge and will be until mid April.
Mitch, did you come to my house and plant an Iris in my flower bed when I wasn't home? One just popped up in the bed by the side door and there's no others anywhere close. Also, what kind of crinum lilies did you give me? I don't think they made it thru winter.
T.J., no I haven't planted mine yet, I hope it works, it is so pretty.
Nope my seeds are not up yet.
Those are Milk and Honey Crinums - my MIL keeps a bunchup in OKC so they shoul be find for you. I have one in the house to over winter for me tht loks like it is is about ready to bloom. be warned - they get HUGE!
Iris - I have not yet - but I can bring a bunch of these over there fr you.