I was just reading Graham Rice's musings on plants that grow in the coldest climates. He observed that the resources he consulted did not agree on which plants were tough enough to take USDA zone 2. If you've been gardening for any length of time (which of course Graham has), this won't surprise you. First, [...]
FAQ
What’s the Difference Between a Frost and a Freeze?
October 11, 2009 – Posted in: FAQ, WeatherLast night the National Weather Service issued a frost advisory for our area, and we did indeed get a frost. They are issuing a freeze warning for tonight. What's the difference? I contacted a member of the local weather station staff. He told me that Both [the frost advisory and the freeze warning] are only [...]
What Happens to Plants After an Untimely Freeze Part 2
June 1, 2009 – Posted in: FAQ, WeatherIn Part 1 I mentioned the two hard frosts and a freeze we had recently, all of them rather later in the season than is typical. I illustrated how different species in the same genus reacted to the freeze differently, and also gave examples of plants that were damaged even though they were protected. Appearances [...]
What happens to plants after an untimely freeze? Part 1
May 27, 2009 – Posted in: FAQ, WeatherPart of what makes my cold climate garden cold is the fact that we live in the bottom of a valley, and cold air flows downhill and settles all around us. So however cold the weatherman predicts it will get, it's usually colder here. Often, ten degrees colder. For example, on May 12th, when a [...]
When is my last spring frost?
May 9, 2009 – Posted in: FAQ, WeatherUsually, when you want to know your last spring frost, the experts send you to a hardiness zone map, a chart, or even the NOAA records, conceding that this will only give you a ballpark figure. If you really want to know your local last frost date, consult a neighbor--at least until you've kept records [...]
Did my plant make it through the winter?
May 8, 2009 – Posted in: Acquisitions, FAQ, Plant info, What's up/bloomingSpring: when a gardener wonders which of last year's new plants made it through the winter. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote down a list of things I had planted last year but hadn't seen make an appearance yet. Here's the list, with my current thinking on each (click on each thumbnail to enlarge): [...]
Mud Season: A primer for newcomers and Southerners
March 10, 2009 – Posted in: FAQ, Mud Season, WeatherMud season has finally arrived. As I have had more contact with gardeners in other climates, I've come to realize that certain aspects of my climate are completely foreign to them, so I thought I'd explain mud season for those who have never encountered it. It will sound pretty elementary to my fellow cold climate [...]
Why rain gauges break and plants heave
December 28, 2008 – Posted in: FAQ, WeatherIt was a balmy 57F out today, a pleasant change from last week's snow, so I took a stroll around the garden to see what I could see. I saw the new growth of sedums at soil level, and I saw colchicums emerging from the earth, way too early as usual.I also saw the damage [...]
Snow is good for dormant plants
December 19, 2008 – Posted in: FAQ, Weather"Finally, a decent snowfall." That's my first reaction as an ornamental gardener, thinking about the dormant plants. Snow is a great insulator and keeps the soil--and the roots of plants--warmer than if that same soil were exposed to the air. This is one reason why Ellen Hornig of Seneca Hill Perennials can grow many plants [...]
Plants that still look good in late autumn
October 26, 2008 – Posted in: FAQ, What's up/bloomingThe mums and the last of the double colchicums are still throwing out new blooms, but after a hard freeze they look like wet facial tissue. All but the stubbornest trees have dropped their leaves, and most perennials, if they have any leaves at all, are looking either yellow, brown, or mushy. But there are [...]
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