really? a may 9 snow on top of everything else this spring?
WE OLDER HUMAN TYPES sometimes kid that we are 29 (as in years old), but I’ll tell you what: 29 (as in F degrees) looks like shit on a garden in May. And yes, I said shit. I am old and I am cranky, and foot-tall Astilboides (above) and taller Actaea (aka Cimicifuga) and Rodgersia (below and bottom photos) are cranky, too.
As is the whole place, which was to be open for Garden Conservancy tours today if not for you-know-what, which canceled all that. Thank you for listening. I will shut up now.
Oh, maybe not before saying a P.S.–This is something I posted on Instagram first, where many other gardeners reacted in empathy because last night’s cold wave touched many areas both nearby me (I’m in the Hudson Valley of New York State) and far afield. Join me on Instagram.
Is anyone else tired of bagging their tender annuals that shouldn’t have been put out yet, but we were tricked into it by the 70 degree weather that seems like a dream from the past? Every night at 11, I creep out in a nightgown and old sweatshirt to put drawstring, plastic bags over my hanging baskets that I created myself. The whole scene is something out of a horror show.
HAHAHA!!! I love the profanity, Margaret. You took the word right out of my mouth. Here in North Central NJ, many tender plants were on their way up and some all the way out–hosta pushing forth was turned to glob, rising astilbe now a crumble of brown tips, wisteria buds- all dead, azalea flowers–no more, blooming viburnum carlesii, drooping, bleeding heart, all bled out, etc, etc, seriously nipped by frost. So yes, “shit!” is the word I used, too.
HAHAHA!!! I love the profanity, Margaret. You took the word right out of my mouth. Here in North Central NJ, many tender plants were on their way up and some all the way out–hosta pushing forth, rising astilbe, wisteria buds, azalea flowers popping, blooming viburnum carlesii, bleeding heart, etc, etc, all nipped by frost. So yes, “shit!” is the word I used, too.
Hi Margaret, I can commiserate as I have many of the same plants and live in CT. Nearly cried when I saw the damage done to all of my big, beautiful Astilboides Tabularis. Question: should the plants be cut back to encourage new growth or leave it be in all it’s damaged glory? If anyone has a suggestion, I’d love to hear it. Thank you!
I am part of a fb gardening group
in Beacon, NY and we have been pleading with new gardeners all week not to plant tomatoes…sadly some ignored our advice. Patience is king in gardening.
Not quite as far north, but my annuals grown from seed are patiently waiting by the door to go outside and play in the dirt. Bringing them outside and back inside every day is sure getting old also. Live near the beaches of Delaware and the ferocious winds aren’t helping much either. Oh well, I guess we’re all in this together. Hopefully spring will come this week.
I took pictures of snow on trees as soon as I woke up, and then on rhododendrons. Luckily my daffs, tulips and magnolia seem fine. I saw Himilayan blackberry coming up, and mulched them! Why do garlic mustard and other weeds thrive with the snow?