Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Friday, December 10, 2010

The Weather Outside Is Frightful

Dear Santa,


I have a huge favor to ask of you. If you run into Mother Nature, could you, would you, please ask her to send us warmer weather. Barring that, maybe she could arrange a warm blanket of snow to cover my garden and protect the plants that I so lovingly tucked into the ground just a few weeks ago. I gave them all a nice drink of water and tucked them in for the winter under a mulch blanket, but, I'm just not sure they are ready for the roller coaster weather ride we'll be on over the next week or so. Heck, I'm not ready for the ride! Ups and down with 30 degree changes in temperatures are hard on plants. Gardeners in colder climates often feel a bit envious that we can grow plants they can't. Plants here, are exposed to the elements all winter long and take a beating. Even when mulched well, they can get heaved out of the ground. You should see the heucheras by springtime. Not a pretty sight. Sometimes, I envy the snow cover that protects a northern garden all winter long.

I just read what I wrote and Santa, I've changed my mind. I don't want a warm blanket of snow on my garden. Do you know what the effect of snow is on a city like Nashville? Schools are closed, people rush to the stores and buy all the milk and bread, the crazy drivers are out and sometimes they shut down the government. I have definitely decided that I would rather Mother Nature send us a mild winter,

xxoogail

*Here's a seasonal song for you all

35 comments:

  1. We have a dusting of snow on the ground this morning -- it isn't enough to insulate the plants from the cold, and it has been very cold here. So, please ask Mother Nature/Santa to turn up the temps here, too, just a little bit!

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  2. Hi Gail, We're in the deep freeze here in CT also with bare bare ground. It's scheduled to be the usual roller coaster, maybe up into the 30's (whoopee!) for a couple of days, then down again. I do hope for a long lasting snow blanket at some point, but not yet Santa!

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  3. That is the most adorable 'grown up' letter to Santa that I've seen----could you send it in duplicate and sign my name on one of the copies? LOL
    Hugs, Angie
    who resides in northeast Tennessee
    where frosty upheavals are many :)

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  4. Dear Gail, thank you for making that request, but I think it is already too late! The prediction was for a warm winter, but someone forgot to hit the send button! Stay warm and safe!
    xxxooo
    Frances

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  5. I never thought I'd be asking for snow but I'm with you on that request! We've had temperatures up and down for months now. Snow one day, wind and rain the next, ground frozen solid and then turned to mush. Getting dressed in the morning has gotten very complex.

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  6. Too cute! Seems the bets are all going strong for a mild or harsh winter. Only time will tell.

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  7. Gail, the winter you described with the ups and downs is our winter most years, and yes the heucheras in particular seem to hate it. I'm hoping your winter will moderate, and your plants stay warm. Cute post.~~Dee

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  8. I laughed when they told me about the terrible winter and school closed in Knowxville, close to 10 inches.We had over 6 ft last year, but have been blessed with a bit of warm today, 40's with Saturday in the teens. All is melted here so no snow is fun to travel in, but I like to play in it also.I went out looking for your neat ice formations and think it must be the milder ups and downs you have.All the plants here aren't sending any sap, and are very dormant.

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  9. I love the insulation of a thick layer of snow, and we could use a little more here in Chicagoland. It's nerve wracking to worry about your plants freezing without it. I hope the weather gets better.

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  10. Love it. I must have been "bad" last year because I wrote a similar letter to Santa and he never responded!! We stayed frigid. I hope you get better results, I know you usually have a nicer winter than we do. It's been warmer and drier here so you haven't heard me complaining. :-)

    ps If you are interested in some different Amaryllis, try checking out your greenhouses. That's where I get most of mine. They carry a much wider variety than 'Apple Blossom' and 'Red Lion.' Hopefully Coal won't bother them ~ my cat doesn't pay any attention where he does like certain other plants.

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  11. We've been promised a wetter and colder winter here on the coast, and thus far we're living up to both. However, Mother Nature is apparently gracing us with highs near 70 for the next couple of days. I'll see if I can bribe her to send those warmer temps in your direction after the weekend! ;)

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  12. Perhaps wishing for snow is not the best option :-)
    The winter drives us crazy over here. For such a small island there are huge differences across the country and every year (and I mean every year) we are taken by surprise if it snows heavily. Airports close, cars crash, people fall over...chaos!

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  13. We are at the top of the roller coaster right now with the sun shining. By tomorrow afternoon we shall be whizzing down into the depths of winter once again. Hang on.

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  14. We're bracing for a blizzard approaching tonight to add another 6-10 inches of snow to the already accumulated 14 inches. High of ZERO predicted for Sunday. Oh what fun...

    Maybe we can trade places for the winter :)

    I remember the mass panic of milk and bread (you forgot toilet paper) purchases when living in the DC area during a snowstorm. It sure is an interesting look at survival tactics.

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  15. Hi Gail,

    It's been really cold here too. Got down to 19 degrees the other night!

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  16. I wish snow would fall on the garden, and the woods, but not the driveway and road.

    Here's wishing that you get a mild winter. I am pretty sure we won't.

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  17. It acutally got to 50 here today, and it sure felt better than the thirties we have had the past three days.

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  18. Dear Gail, I hope Santa has some influence with Mother Nature! It was 5 degrees this morning but will not be so cold tonight. By the way . . . we have no snow! Sweet safe dreams to your plants. I trust they will survive the winter . . . you too my dear. Stay warm. ;>)

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  19. You're making me appreciate the snow we have here!

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  20. Gail I've been thinking the same thing, looking at the divisions that I put in just a few short weeks ago.

    Too bad the prediction wasn't for a hard winter, then it'd be mild..

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  21. Gail I'd rather spend my winters snowbirding in warmth so soon I'll head for the mountains in the sunny desert of Arizona! YES!!!I don't so well with the cold.

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  22. Roller-coaster is about right! We've gone from spectacular hoar frosts back to milder damp and miserable. Apparently it will soon return to hoar frost type weather, so may get a white Christmas... Hope your plants survive the extremes!

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  23. Dear Gail,
    I do hope your newly planted beauties appreciate the snuggle of mulch. They really need it in this strangely cold weather we're having ~~ even down in Florida. Warm hugs and wishes to you.
    Meems

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  24. Gail,

    I know the weather is about the same here as what you have. Hoping it'll let up as well, calling for 16-17 degrees on Monday and Tuesday mornings. I have $100 worth of daffodils and crocus to plant, hoping maybe today I can get them in before bad weather strikes us again. Good thing I only paid $50 for them anyway.

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  25. Yes, definitely be careful what you wish for:) We have had some temperature swings, too--it's been in the teens most of the week, and then yesterday in the high 30's/low 40s--felt balmy to me:) Tomorrow strong winds and a blizzard are in the forecast--no fun at all! I've been looking at the bright side, though: at least my plants do have a thick white blanket on them to protect them this winter.

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  26. This has been crazy weather so far -- I would just like seasonal temps. I have two more shrubs to plant and an order of 8 trees from Cooperative Extension that come in on the 14th. Think we will dig our holes today as Tuesday and Wednesday the highs are to be in the 20's and 30's. Crazy!!

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  27. We are that kind of a rollercoaster also. Early cold, and snow, and then balmy weather. Now the Candytuft is blooming, everyones confused.

    Hope that things settle down for you.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  28. Ji Gail, I hope you'll get a warm blanket for your plants! We've got plenty of snow in Sweden this year - more than we usually have.

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  29. I too am wishing for a mild Winter. I lost too much last Winter. We are in a low temp period now.
    I hope your garden, being snuggled in so good, fairs well while we wait for warmer weather.
    Stay warm.

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  30. This made me laugh, as I have a vision of Santa getting everything sorted out to give you a blanket of snow - and then you change your mind!!!

    Sometimes I think us gardeners always want the weather we haven't got!
    :)
    K

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  31. I'm sure somewhere up north Mr. Santa's gloved fingers are crossed and he's whispering into the to ear of old man winter asking him to go easy on things. Surely your heartfelt request won't be denied. Surely... my fingers are crossed too.

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  32. Here in the southern part of Canada we have rain but just north of us there is a snow storm. I think they must be on Santa's list for places to receive snow.

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  33. Your sad little rose looks just like mine! It has been very cold and blustery here, and we had snow flurries today, though none of it stuck. From weather reports, I think you have had more of all that. I hope you are staying warm and safe and are all ready for Christmas!

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  34. Gail, it is Monday morning here in the woods of Robertson Country.
    Bitter cold and blustery snowy winds all night.
    Hope my plants that were moved survived. Stay warm in the City.

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  35. Your letter sounded so sincere and pleasant, like Santa would surly grant your request. But you are right, those states south of here go into panic mode with a light snow, and you are much better of with a consistent mild winter season.I hope your new plants get just what they need for Christmas. Sounds like they really have a good caretaker for asking for such a thoughtful wish.

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson