Wednesday, February 9, 2011

unTROPICAL TEXANA ~ AGAIN! THIS IS A TOUGH WINTER

Here's a picture of my frozen rain barrel. If it's this cold here, I can only imagine my poor gardening friends up north and the cold they are experiencing. Still, Metro Houston has stayed above 20, so we are still a zone 9 region for this season. Small consolation when all the plants seem brown and dead. My TWO favorite words on Earth right now....ROOT HARDY.  LOL

Today  Hi 53 Low 23!!!! Ugh!
Tomorrow Hi 43  Low 23!!! Bam!
Weekend Hi 53 Low 29!!! How long will this go on?
Let me check the map ONE MORE TIME. 
I'm in a southern state? Yes
 I'm in the southern part of that southern state? Yes.
I'm along the milder coastal region? Yes.
I'm in a large metro area known as a heat island? Yes.
Hmmmm...something's wrong...it was still COLD as the ARCTIC when I stepped outside just now.
This is the worst winter since the terrible twosome of 1983 and 1989.  1996 was also one for the record books. 
David/ :0)
Rain barrel with 1 inch layer of ice. February 2011
Posted by David at 10:35 PM
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5 comments:

  1. RohrerbotFebruary 9, 2011 at 11:18 PM

    We've suffered some terrible stuff here. My family back in Wisconsin thinks it's funny that we whine about such things. I just think it's all about the time and effort we've spent on these plants to make our garden spaces look wonderful. Some gardeners would tell us to plant native, but the simple truth is that even the natives bit the dust while some tropicals like the guava and loquat came out on top. Hang in there. The turning point is coming soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. FloridagirlFebruary 10, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    I can sooooo feel your pain, David @ unTropical Texana. I have been through this the past two winters. This winter has somehow been more mild, even though it got off to a bumpy start in December. I have only had a handful of permanent casualties in those cold winters, if that makes you feel any better. We lost the Barbados cherry, a Lakeview jasmine (Murraya paniculata), the Lychee tree, and a Chenille plant (Acalypha hispida). Everything else slowly returned from the roots. Yes, I love the term "root-hardy" as well! Anyway, those losses were painful, but rather tiny compared to the grand scale of the garden. I hope your garden will fare as well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cindy, MCOKFebruary 10, 2011 at 8:22 PM

    I thought last winter was bad ... this winter has given me a whole new definition of hard winter. Even the root hardy plants are going to be extra slow to recover. Bring on spring!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jørn Møller JensenFebruary 11, 2011 at 3:13 AM

    Hej David

    I feel with you and your tropical plants. Here in the cold Scandinavia wére accustomed to hard winters. This year the winter was particularly harsh. I`m curios as to how mush has happened, when we get to spring.

    Vh Jørn

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    It was 12 degrees the other night here in NJ but today was over 40 -- yes!!! I'll never complain about summer heat again.

    Thanks for you kind comments on my blog.

    ReplyDelete

I always appreciate your comments & questions! Happy Gardening from David/ Tropical Texana

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