Winter

[vicki]

Winter has arrived in West MI!
It was in the mid 20's here today with about 8-10" of snow!
It started last night and has been off and on all day.
I was almost ready for snow, but not quite. Still had one huge bag of leaves and a small pile on the patio to clean up and I really must get some more of the leaves out of the pond. So I am hoping hard it will 'warm' up at least to get these 2 things done.
Would've been done yesterday, but it rained and quite heavily at times.
Stay warm!

[txbeyer]

Oh yes, I remember well my days living up north and trying to find something to interest me garden wise during winter. In winter, I woiuld love to see the evergreen conifers, beautiful exfoliating bark of many ornamental trees and even the branching patterns that you don't see when in foliage. I had a "dwarf conifer" collection both in northern VA and TN. I loved hollies as they add much interest to the winter landscape, both foliage and berries. I often miss many of those that we can't grow in Zone 8 and 9, but that's what trips are for. I just don't do winters anymore and Austin TX is cold enough for me. Went to 28 with 90 percent humidity the other night and that made "mush" of my perennials and garden plants that won't recover again until spring.

[sue salley]

Bob, I know what you mean about seeing things in the garden that you don't notice so much in the summer. I saw some interesting red stemmed dogwoods yesterday. They looked spray painted. And today when I went out I really noticed the nandinas full of clumps of red berries.
Where did you live in Tn and Va.?I'm only a couple of miles from the Va. state line.

[Ann B.]

So far, so good here! Last night's mild frost was exactly that, so there hasn't been a major melt down here, yet.

One is expected in a couple of days, though.

It's nice to be in December and actually have blooms.

My camera is on charge. I hope to take some more pictures before the major event.

[txbeyer]

Sue Salley,

I lived in Chattanooga for 8 years before moving to Houst on, but knew a holly specialist/grower in Knoxville who taught me so much about Hollies. The worse winter weather I remember in Chattanooga was a -10 degree night when the electricity went out and I frantically came up with a novel way to save my plants from freezing that evening - using glowing cinders from the fireplace in a metal container to radiate heat. That night it was -27 in Knoxville - a winter to remember.

[sue salley]

Bob, I remember that winter too. It was the coldest I've ever seen. I don't want to ever have another one like it. I'm a little north of Knoxvile so it was probably even colder here. I hate cold weather. I didn't even like it as a kid.

[Ann B.]

Well, well....

My garden is about to MELT!

Tuesday morning forecast:

weather.com 28 degrees
wkrg.com 25 degrees
accuweather.com 24 degrees
wunderground 23 degrees

Lights are on in the greenhouse.

Propane heater is ready in the greenhouse.

Kerosene heater is ready in the porch.

Electric heater will be turned on in about 15 minutes (tonight's low 29-31) in the patio, and I am tempted to turn on the others.

We are expecting record lows, and I know that means my friends up north are really being hit hard by this one.

Bummer! At least I am prepared as I can be. My special amaryllis seedlings are on the patio, but if it looks like it's going to be 23 degrees, they will be sleeping in my bedroom!!!!! We RARELY get that low!