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Sunday, March 24, 2013

HERE COMES WINTER, AGAIN.

Just when I thought it was safe to get everything out of the greenhouse I discover it wasn't. A strong cold front with blustery, unfriendly winds will drop our temperatures into the low 30s tonight. The forecast is for 34° but like as not, in my garden, there will be a frost. Preparations have been made.


The wind has already knocked down my pretty heirloom narcissus 'cheerfulness'. I moved the bulbs from under the yaupon tree where they had not bloomed for 2 years. Now, they have more light and were rewarding me with blooms. I would prefer to see them in the garden but their musky fragrance is welcome in the house too. I think I love these ones above all the others.


When the blooms on the grocery store primroses faded several weeks ago, I put the plants out in the garden in morning sun. Now they have started to bloom again. I wonder if there is any chance of their survival to next year. Probably not, but this second blooming is a bonus I was not expecting.


I have spent most of the day in the potting shed and greenhouse. Both were in a terrible state. Passing from one to the other I enjoyed the cross vine which now covers the whole of the greenhouse roof. I will have to cut it back this year because when out of flower it is not the most attractive and if left will likely bring down the roof. Pruning this vine is a regular occurrence.


All my tender plants are in the house or up against the house. I am hoping the wind will drop before it goes dark so that I can go out and cover the peas, tomatoes and succulents. Now it's tea time!

11 comments:

  1. We are getting ready for winter's return here, too. Though, one wonders if it really left. We will have measurable snow by morning, unfortunately.

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  2. My mother always said, 'Don't plant anything tender, until after Easter.' She said there would always be an 'Easter Spell'...cold weather.
    She seems to have always been right on this one. I've been fooled many times, into planting too early.
    We'll probably have a hard freeze down here this week. I just hope it doesn't hurt too much of the new growth. Can't cover everything.

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    Replies
    1. Until this year I never planted before Easter but our warm winter and early spring tricked me.

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  3. You are wise to prepare...it's coming from here, the wind is chilly, and this is about the coldest late March I've seen in 21 years of Abq...we were lucky to only get 26F for a low today!

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    Replies
    1. I prepared but am tired of covering things. I never had to do this when I lived in Canada. I never grew anything that wouldn't survive a winter.

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  4. I've worked all day watering, covering, moving. 28º is predicted for the Hill Country Sun and Mon nights.
    So much new growth in harm's way. Rats!
    My grocery store primroses in-the-ground experiment have returned for 3 years running now. They get dappled morning sun only in summer, struggle with the heat, and disappear. Each time I think I've lost them for good, but they have returned each spring thus far.
    Love those 'Cheerfulness' daffs!

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    Replies
    1. I am glad to hear about the primrose. They really should survive a winter easily but it is the summer I worry about.

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  5. It's going to be just above freezing here but there are many plants that won't like that. I've brought the basil back inside and the tomatoes are covered. So many plants to think about since I put them all out in the last week. We'll see.

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    Replies
    1. I hope everything survived. Basil will be the big test!

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  6. Just above freezing here for the next 3 nights. Time to haul some things back inside, just in case. Need to rig a cover for the big Amaryllis bud in the middle of the front garden. The first bud froze, I am determined to salvage this one. 'Easter Cold Spell' and 'Blackberry Winter' -- yesterday was so warm, today the wind is like a knife on my face.

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  7. Warmer here today, most of the snow is gone. Put together a hoop house for the veggies before the snow, performed quite well. The trumpet vine reminds me of my grandmothers garden, she gave me a slip once and I grew it up a telephone pole. The utility company however didn't appreciate it.

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