Florida-style winter wonderland

Last night it was supposed to drop into the 20s for anywhere between eight and twelve hours. Needless to say, I didn't bother to cover my plants. If you've been reading this blog you know I ascribe to the "tough love" gardening philosophy. Plus I'd gotten a bit complacent -- the previous freezes that were forecast hadn't hurt anything in the yard. Not so this time. Here's the body count:

Crinum in front yard



Backyard bed



This hibiscus doesn't look too bad in the photo, but it has that distinct droopy look in person. It was definitely zapped.



I meant to pull in my white bird of paradise but forgot. Thankfully it looks unharmed.



And finally, here are some shots of the orchard that I drive by every day on my way to the office. Isn't it magical? This is the first time I've seen them ice it down. I guess they were worried about the blooms and new growth that had started to appear on the peach and plum trees. The icicles remind me of a winter wonderland! (Click on the photos to see them bigger.)

The plant spa

The plant spa
Originally uploaded by sassycrafter

Brrr! It's supposed to get down to 27 degrees tonight here in Gainesville and I just got in from dragging my plants into the warmth of my laundry room, aka the plant spa.

The tender in-ground plants got swaddled in blankets and tucked in for a cold winter's nap. The key is to make sure that the blankets go down to the ground so that they trap the residual ground heat. I'll leave the blankets on through the day tomorrow because we're expecting more freezing temperatures tomorrow night.

I'm also trying something new tonight -- propping up the blankets with a broom -- because the last time I covered the crinums I snapped a few leaves.