Well, we got lucky today. We missed the ice storm for the most part. Roads were pretty dry this morning, and so even though it was 28 degrees, it was safe. That’s the good part.
Now for the bad part.
I don’t mind winter. It’s just a problem here because we had summer last week. With our see-saw of temperatures – 82 on Friday and 35 yesterday — our plants get discombobulated.
And, so, many things are budding and blooming and thinking,
“Hey, this is nice — lookit that sun — shining on me. I think I will grow some tender shoot/sprouts/buds/leaves…Ahhhhhhh.”
Then the next week Mother Nature comes along with an icy winter storm and smacks them upside the head. It IS winter, after all.
Sigh. So, I think the things I covered are fine, and the perennials will all be fine, it’s just hard on them to go back and forth like that. But I know that those lemon buds are goners — and our lemon production suffered a serious set-back.
Much of the rest of the nation is snowed/iced in or without power, so we’re really lucky here to be safe and heated.
We’ll just make lemonade later in the year…
That is the bad thing about southern winters. The plants do get confused. We are completely snowed in here, I’m thinking at least 8-10 inches so far.
Oh ugh. Are you all able to stay in and warm? I know it looks pretty, but carrying on with everyday life is just a pain. I remember having to dig out my car when I lived in Minnesota — gotta go to work in spite of it all. Stay warm.
Oh no!! I’m not there. What is happening in my poor garden. Nothing is covered. Goodbye rhubarb plants and all those other tender things I have nurtured through the winter.
Oh no, Lancashire Rose, I hope your plants are ok. We had a layer of ice on everything at my house, but I’m not sure how the rest of the city fared. It’s thawing now and supposed to be 54 today. I’ll cross my fingers for you.
Your poor plants. No wonder they are confused with such temperature swings.
Nothing confused here. It is cold and snowy.
Lisa — I know – my MIL said they had 12 inches of snow in Hamilton Co. Brrr… I hate to think of her out shoveling snow. Stay warm and safe.
Yes it is rough in the south…we have a similar situation…but not the extreme you have been experiencing. I wish that we would get a nice snowfall before the frigid temps arrive..but it doesn’t work like that. I hope it just looks worse then it really is.
Gail
That’s what happened here, too, Diana …most stems and most leaves bounced back from being covered in ice, but all the buds and flowers on the Sweet Olives, the opening daffodils, the amarcrinum leaves and some succulents were hit. And I’ve heard predictions for 23 degrees tomorrow morning!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Here in north Austin we had a solid sheet of ice on everything (except the roads), but I’ve been amazed how things have bounced back. All of my abutilons are in full bloom, and they were a sad sight yesterday morning. By late afternoon, though, they looked just fine, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Gail — It always runs hot and cold here, but this year it seems worse than normal. It’s all those extremes we are all experiencing all across the country. So, how did you fare yesterday? My in-laws got 12 inches up in IN.
Annie – And we have a solid layer of frost on everything this morning. I guess we will just wait and see how things look when it thaws later on. Luckily, my daffodils aren’t quite ready to open yet – just now forming the first bud. We are at 29 here this morning.
Mary – So glad your plants have bounced back. I hope they are ok this morning as we have frost. I want to plant Abutilons this year – they are topping my list. Any recommendations on what to get and where to plant them?
Marilyn’s Choice is my absolute favorite abutilon, but I also have Tangerine Dream and Magic Lantern (I think that’s the name). They all seem to be pretty tough, and for me they’re doing well in dappled shade. Right now I have 2 large uncovered ones in pots on the north side of the house, and despite the ice they still look great. They’re protected a little by other plants, so that probably helped.
Thanks, Mary. I’m going to make myself a little note and when they weather is nice next week, make a shopping trip to Barton Springs Nursery and see if they have any of your recommended varieties.