I am such a wimp when it comes to winter! I have always been so thankful I live in Texas where winters are mild. I can tolerate the summer heat just fine, but I don't like to be cold. I kept hearing we would have an unusually cold and wet winter..but in Texas? I was not a believer--until Christmas Eve. This is what my yard looked like on December 24th. And then, this past week..the Arctic front hit.
The garden section in the paper said to cover all you could, even pansies, violas and kale. I found all the sheets I could and started covering.
Depending on where you lived, the lows were between 8 and 12 with wind chills close to zero.We have not had a winter with temps this low in about 11 or 12 years. The highs did not get out of the 20's for about 3 days. You can see the ice on the pond. It was about 2 inches thick! Luckily it did not stop the water from flowing from the old pump so part of the surface remained unfrozen. If you look, you can see one of the goldfish. They stay down at the bottom in a type of hibernation and seem to be fine.
This is the bed around the new tree. Under all those sheets are bluebonnets I called the Wildseed Farm in Fredericks-
This is the bed around the new tree. Under all those sheets are bluebonnets I called the Wildseed Farm in Fredericks-burg and asked them what to do about my bluebonnet rosettes. They told me they normally tell people just to leave them alone as bluebonnets are pretty cold tolerant, but with this cold they are recommending covering them if you can. Not a problem for me to cover as I just grow them in a flower bed. I worked so hard to get these flowers going, I sure would be sad to lose them.
I get so depressed in winter. It's too cold, not enough sun, and nothing blooms. But today, the sun came out and it was above freezing. And today, I found my promise for better things to come..look what I see..
Through the leaves, even after the coldest weather, there is my hope!
I get so depressed in winter. It's too cold, not enough sun, and nothing blooms. But today, the sun came out and it was above freezing. And today, I found my promise for better things to come..look what I see..
Through the leaves, even after the coldest weather, there is my hope!
How exciting it was to see some bulbs peeking through. I have no idea if all the bulbs I planted will make it, but I see that a few have.I will never be a "winter person," but seeing these spring flowers coming up warmed my heart. I can take 2 more months of cold weather, right? (Hurry Spring, hurry!!)
"If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"
Percy Bysshe Shelley
13 comments:
Two more months-no. I doubt we even have a few days of this arctic blast. The weathermen are reporting warmer temps and it will be great to warm up and thaw out! You were so lucky your pond did not freeze. Mine wood but I have a cattle stock heater in it and the thing is ice free. Lots of birds drink there. It has been brrrrr but think of it as good hot chocolate weather with some nice seed catalogs and the promise of a great spring-just around the corner:)
I'm hoping all your covering does the trick...I love your wonderful flowers and plants. My sons have been covering their outdoor stuff and moving pots around the house following the sun on the containers that were moved inside. So far, they've only lost the lime tree, but it was looking pretty sad at the end of the summer...c'mon sunshine and warmer temperatures!!!!
Yes Tina, I am so glad the pond did not freeze all the way. I couldn't believe it was frozen 2 inches deep--that is a first for us! Funny, right before I read your comment I was sitting my the fire with..a seed catalog! :)
JJ--it's really hard to not lose anything, especially with the cold weather we have been having. I uncovered the bonnets today so they can get some sun. Hopefully they will be ok. (fingers crossed!)
Yikes! That is cold! We had cold here too but it was in the teens and not lower. No snow though just cold and miserable. Everything froze even the azaleas on my porch! I can't believe it! I hope they will come back and be o.k. I just swept up the leaves and hoped for the best! I was really bummed. Gardenia and all froze)-:
I don't like the cold much either but what can you do?
A nice Hawaiian vacation sounds good!(-:
I hope all your plants made it and that covering was the ticket!
Brrr Cindee--cold in your area too! I have one gardenia and covered it, but I don't know if covering helps when it gets that cold. I did my best--that is all I can do. I will just hope for the best and look forward to warmer temps! (and dream of a nice warm vacation!) :)
Carol G. said.....
Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. ~Edith Sitwell
Just remember.....
"Spring has come when you can put your foot on three daisies." ~Proverb
I am laughing WITH you, because I am a wimp, too! I kept repeating "This is Texas, it doesn't get this cold here", but it didn't help. My yard is dotted with sheets, blankets, tarps, and anything else I can drag out to cover my beloved plants.
Beautiful words Carol! Thanks for the reminder. There is beauty in all of nature, and I know that. I am so cold natured and miss blooms and yearn for warmth...I forget to look for the good things about winter! Glad you stopped by--I needed you today! :)
Nola, I took the sheets off yesterday and today as the weather forecast is better, but time will tell what I may have lost. Oh well, we can re-plant! (except for those bluebonnets!) :)
It's a good thing you don't live here in the north, you'd never get through the cold winters. Heck, I can barely do so myself! I keep buying any flowering houseplants I see while I dream of next year's garden. I keep going through my seed catalogs like garden porn! LOL Hope your plants are okay. Mine are buried under snow and sleeping. Sure hope they come back!
I was thinking--the middle of next month we are supposed to plant potatoes. ?????? I wonder.
I have lost a lot this winter. Was sick & couldn't get out to cover it up. That's what I get for purchasing special covers.
MsRobin you are right! God placed me in the perfect place. I need to stop complaining, I don't know why I dislike winter so much. The snow I saw on your blog was sure pretty, but I can imagine it gets old. Hang in there--it won't be too much longer until we all see spring flowers! Yea!! :)
Lola--sorry you have been sick. Hope it wasn't that bad flu going around. We have the mulch from that old Bradford in our little garden space, so I guess I may not even get the onions in next month. If it is warm enough though, I might get to spreading that mulch--whoo-hoo! :)
Hope you are feeling better!
The aftermath of the cold is worse than the weather itself: all those bedraggled plants are such a sad sight. Those bulb shoots do make you feel hopeful, don't they?
Cindy,
The bulbs really do help me beat the winter blues. I still don't know if the bonnets will make it. Time will tell!
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