Who's to blame...old man winter or mother nature, for this incredibly unusual winter? I think I'll blame the man. I heard callers on the radio yesterday, asking questions about their garden plants emerging. Some daffodils, snowdrops, and even iris are beginning to green up and pop through the hardly frozen soil. The Illinois extension authority said, the plants are being fooled into thinking that winter is about over and they should wake up. She said that as soon as we get a cold snap, they will stop growing and act in the usual way for winter. She then told everyone that with the coming cold snap here in the Midwest, maybe now would be a good time to mulch those plants. There are so many Christmas trees available...just cut the tree up and drape the long branches over what you want to cover. Otherwise, rake up a few leaves or use straw. Mine are covered loosely with pine needles. I got an email from my son, Tim, this morning. He loves his hens and chicks and has them in his unheated garage. He said they are showing new growth...should he be worried? Should he water them? My daughter, LA, has a garden of succulents in a pretty plastic garden container. Hers are in her garage in Wisconsin too. I have put mine in the garage every year, because most are in terra cotta containers or strawberry jars and I don't want the containers to break. I just leave them till Spring and simply toss them a little water off my finger tips once in a while during the winter. This year I experimented with a few pots that aren't valuable and left them outside.... lying on their sides...covered with leaves. I think that both ways should be fine. Should he trim off the dead tendrils? I told him no...just leave them alone till Spring. We are expecting a period of cold and snow starting tonight. Right now...it's sunny and beautiful out. Yesterday it hit the 50's again. Wonderful weather for us humans, but not so good for our gardens. I'll welcome old man winter tonight and all he brings...only please let the roads be clear.Balisha
9 comments:
Everything in MD is confused for sure. They will be fine, tho. The first cold SNAP will put them back in to resting for spring.
Have a beautiful week ~
TTFN ~
Marydon
There was an article in today's news saying that there should only be around 10 wild flowers showing in Britain's cities at this time year. In some southern cities they have counted more than 60! We are also due a colder spell in a few days. Regards, Jx
I have things coming up also, it sure is a weird winter.
Thanks for the tips!
Cathy
Balisha, I am always amazed that when you share - your weather is so similar to mine at the edge of Tennessee and Kentucky. Guess I think of you being much further North and colder...
Like Cathy says...it's a weird winter, so far.Well, tonight will bring us snow and more normal winter weather.
Ernestine...I think we are less than 500 miles apart. Illinois is such a long state and when you say N. Illinois it sounds even farther north.Your growing season is always just ahead of ours.
Balisha
we have been very mild also and I have hosta tops peeking through.
we are in for winter it is coming tonight 5-8 inches with a freezing rain topper.
Cathy
It has been so mild here that I still had pink geraniums blooming on the front porch for Christmas. Last week though, we had a 17 degree night and they are gone now.
We need the snow cover and the rain so our Lilacs can store up that water for a good spring bloom. I will welcome Old Man Winter also--with your condition--clear roads.
Odd winter here too. Very mild and lots of gales, then extremely wet then very mild, then very cold and now becoming mild again before the next cold spell with mild again at the weekend. No snow yet,
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