This morning on Live With Regis & Kelly, Kelly said "maybe it's not getting colder, maybe we are just all getting wimpier"! Eveyone all around the country are talking about the extreme cold.
Pretty much the entire country has experienced extreme cold temperatures this last week. Here in my hometown near Orlando, Florida for the 4th straight night we have seen sub-freezing weather. Historically, this has only happened twice before.
Interesting fact, prior to the holiday season as part of the "decorations" one home in my neighborhood actually had the grass spray painted to appear as though it had snowed. I say, be careful what you wish for!
Around Central Florida, folks have covered up their landscaping with blankets and sheets. Something that is never done up north. But with Central Florida being a "normally" sub-tropical climate, we plant some things, that cannot tolerate these temperatures.
Despite the frigid temperatures, two days ago, my Grand Crinum Lillies still made an imposing presence in my landscape. What a difference a day makes, the bitter cold last evening changed all that.
Sadly, this morning I discovered them to look like wilted spinach when it is in the frying pan getting sauteed. Hopefully they will quickly recover their attractiveness in the Spring.
Additional victims of Frosty Florida.
There really is no way to protect the entire landscape. I hope that most of the landscape plants will recover.
I told you it wasn't going to be pretty. Tonight the temperatures are expected to go down to the mid twenties again, however not quite as cold as last evening. This will make 11 nights in a row under 38 degrees and 4 nights of freezing temperatures. Remember this is Central Florida, home of the famous mouse, where many folks visit for the sunshine and warm weather.
Whatever part of the country you live in, you may be thinking you have it much colder, and that is fact. This Florida frost will however take it's toll on many of us. It is already projected that the cost of Citrus will increase by at least 30% to us all. It is too soon to judge the damage and effect/cost to the end user for additional crops damaged like cabbage being grown in Florida this time of the year.
Time will tell the permanent damage to some of these plants. Obviously this one did not fare well at all.......it is pretty sad.
Some plants protected by larger trees or adjacent to the houses just got burnt on the top leaves so far. They should do fine with some pruning once all danger of additional frost passes. With delayed pruning, if these frigid temperature happen again, the upper dead foliage will protect the lower unaffected foliage.
I am so glad that I did move my African Violets into the house about 1 1/2 weeks ago, knowing how fragile they are. They are temporarily residing in the bath tub.
For anyone who questions why I take the time to journal on line like this.....my photos and thoughts of better days in my garden are permanently here for my own enjoyment.
This sign sits on my counter in the bathroom.
Around Central Florida, folks have covered up their landscaping with blankets and sheets. Something that is never done up north. But with Central Florida being a "normally" sub-tropical climate, we plant some things, that cannot tolerate these temperatures.
Despite the frigid temperatures, two days ago, my Grand Crinum Lillies still made an imposing presence in my landscape. What a difference a day makes, the bitter cold last evening changed all that.
Sadly, this morning I discovered them to look like wilted spinach when it is in the frying pan getting sauteed. Hopefully they will quickly recover their attractiveness in the Spring.
Additional victims of Frosty Florida.
There really is no way to protect the entire landscape. I hope that most of the landscape plants will recover.
I told you it wasn't going to be pretty. Tonight the temperatures are expected to go down to the mid twenties again, however not quite as cold as last evening. This will make 11 nights in a row under 38 degrees and 4 nights of freezing temperatures. Remember this is Central Florida, home of the famous mouse, where many folks visit for the sunshine and warm weather.
Whatever part of the country you live in, you may be thinking you have it much colder, and that is fact. This Florida frost will however take it's toll on many of us. It is already projected that the cost of Citrus will increase by at least 30% to us all. It is too soon to judge the damage and effect/cost to the end user for additional crops damaged like cabbage being grown in Florida this time of the year.
Time will tell the permanent damage to some of these plants. Obviously this one did not fare well at all.......it is pretty sad.
Some plants protected by larger trees or adjacent to the houses just got burnt on the top leaves so far. They should do fine with some pruning once all danger of additional frost passes. With delayed pruning, if these frigid temperature happen again, the upper dead foliage will protect the lower unaffected foliage.
I am so glad that I did move my African Violets into the house about 1 1/2 weeks ago, knowing how fragile they are. They are temporarily residing in the bath tub.
For anyone who questions why I take the time to journal on line like this.....my photos and thoughts of better days in my garden are permanently here for my own enjoyment.
This sign sits on my counter in the bathroom. Gardening a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow.
That sums it up, doesn't it?
I think for now with another very cold evening ahead, I will put a fire in my fireplace and pull out some of my Garden & Seed catalogs and plan my gardens for the Spring.
2 comments:
Regis and Kelly are the wimps. But anyway, your palmaria should come back. I read they go dormant in the cold only to make a comeback. I totally understand why you journal this. It is fun to look back and see how much we have learned.
I am sure that they will all come back and your yard will look beautiful again.
I am so used to everything being covered in snow, and brown it's no big deal to me. One of the most exciting parts of the year is when the pretty little crocus' come peaking up through the snow, I know that spring and summer, flowers and bees are all just around the corner....
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