Baby, it's cold outside...
Central Texas gardens are being slammed with ice and even snow in some parts. I feel for our northern friends who have it so much worse than we do. We're feeling very deprived of our "normal" warmer early spring temperatures.
Iris, wisteria, and Texas Mountain laurel buds are being sabotaged. Delicate new shoots on perennials have bitten the dust. And, our evergreens will once again be slow to start their growth.
Here are a few signs that it's really cold in my garden.
This Japanese aralia will recover, but isn't this one of the most pitiful things you've seen in the garden. It's hard to believe that it will perk back up when the temperature warms back up.
After several years, the pump on the birdbath fountain died. I replaced it a few weeks ago with one that was the same size - to fit in the reservoir - but much more powerful. It has a great bubbler. If you look carefully, you can see that the majority of the water is frozen, except for the bubbling center, announcing loudly to the bird world that the water bar is still open for business.
Luckily, both the plum tree and the loropetalum were already in full bloom when the ice hit, so I am still enjoying this sight in the back landscape.
It's 31 degrees and raining this morning, so I guess it's time to settle in with the seed catalogs for a little bit longer around here.
That aralia looks very sad. This freezing weather makes me feel the same way. I'm ready to get outside and plant stuff. I hope it's over soon.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad. And I remember how long it took for last summer's garden to get going -- and some things just never did perform well all year. I hope next Friday is the end of it.
ReplyDeleteWe're experiencing the same thing in Dallas. Who do we speak to about this weather?
ReplyDeletePeter - That's funny -- you're right, there ought to be a complaints department!
ReplyDeleteThose pinks certainly bring the feel of spring into the garden on such a miserable day. I am sorry to miss coming out there today so it is nice to see the beautiful pink blooms. I think I need more of those early spring shows. My daffs have been hit 3 times this week. I think they have given up.
ReplyDeleteThat plum looks so pretty, especially with the deeper raspberry of the loropetalum in front.
ReplyDeleteRock Rose - We missed you. My daffs perked back up after last weekend's freeze and I have more coming. I see buds on my irises, so I guess they will be ok. Buds on the Mountain Laurel may not be so lucky - they were almost ready to open.
ReplyDeletePam - I do love the early spring color in the grey winter garden.