Dodging the Frost Bullet

Last week Mother Nature played a cruel but not an unusual trick on gardeners. After being unseasonably warm for several days, the temperture dropped way down in to the mid-20’s for two nights in a row. Of course, the Old Fashion Lilacs were opening that seems to be when we are always hit with a surprising bit of cold. That is one reason why I have switched to growing Korean Lilacs and later blooming varieties. 

I have learned many very expensive lessons in my 40 plus years of gardening, but #1 is not to plant out any thing too early. It is always so tempting when the stores are full of beautiful spring annuals and the weather has been teasingly warm. But after “freezing “ so many new plants I finally caught on …do not try to fool Mother Nature. 

So here is the plan I try to stick too…

#1 I do fulfill the urge to plant early some spring color by filling my pots with beautiful pansies, violas, snapdragons, dianthus and other cold tolerant spring beauties. * See list at the end of the blog.  

#2 I plant early spring veggies in grow pots close to the house. This area warms up so quickly and is a great microclimate. My husband and I really enjoy the fresh greens after a long cold winter and they are cold hearted customers. 

#3 As I am in the process of developing new spaces and gardens, I am trying to stick to planting natives. It seems like perhaps they have a built in timer that resets with adverse  weather. 

#4 If a frost has covered my plants within an area that I can easily spray, I will get up before sunrise and spray the frost off. 

#5 Lastly, I will cover my plants. This has become an exercise know as showing the neighbors my wide variety of  bed sheets. Please use sheets not plastic !  I prop the sheets up inside and put the cover all the way to the ground to hopefully trap some of the warmth in the ground. 

I pushed my luck last week and did not do any of the above and I won. Most of the plantings  were close to the house and survived. I believe the blanket of snow helped insulate the plants the first night and then we had a cloud cover that kept the temps a little higher the next day. The only victims were my Nasturtiums and they probably should not have been out side anyway. Since I have not been gardening here long, I had not planted out strawberries or any tender fruit. 

I can’t say we are past the possibility of getting a drop below 30 degrees, after all I was in a zone warmer in Kentucky and did not plant out until after Derby Day. (Traditionally the first Saturday in May)  I believe I am Zone 6A here in Southern Indiana. 

So I am erring on the side of caution.  May 15th is the magic date I am focusing on as my safe day to plant outside.  Until then I will make full use of my screened -in porch and my small greenhouse.  May 15th is by the way my dad’s birthday so I will take that as a sign from above. 

Here are images from the front porch.....AKA the survivors of the Freeze. 

* Some Cold Tolerant Annuals I trust for Early Planting: 

Snapdragons, Pansies, Violas, Calendulas, Sweet Peas, Larkspur, Dianthus, Sweet alyssum and Forget me nots, 

I also really enjoy some of the early Spring Ephemerals such as Virginia Bluebells, Celandine Wood poppies, Brunneras, Money Plant, Hellebores and the many wild flowers. 

New Chapter...New Adventures

Several  Friday’s ago, I officially started a new chapter in my life. I have just now relaxed enough to write about what has been happening.

Because our house in Kentucky sold quickly we had only three weeks to pack up 28 years of life. Sometime in the next couple weeks I will share how two old people with a pickup truck, a small box trailer, 

and lots of help from a few very special friends, successfully moved all our worldly possessions, north and out of Kentucky This will include how we successfully moved my bee hive, that is known for its yummy honey, but very aggressive bees. It was a mad rush and we ended up loading the last trip with the new owner arriving for a final walk through before the closing.

The house was purchased by a person who seems to have as much passion for gardening as I do.

 She loves the land, the gardens and appears anxious to tackle my addiction of planting as many varieties of plants that I could get my hands around. In addition she absolutely loves the old Historic House and the Old Herb House. It appears to me that her plans are to maintain the historical integrity of this amazing Kentucky property. 

We are moving to the house my parents built for their retirement; to a property they loved, gardened, and nurtured for their six children, many grandchildren and great grand children.  We will continue that tradition. 

I have felt their presence here with us since we purchased this property over two years ago. Traveling back and forth and trying to maintain two very different landscapes has proven to be more than I could effectively handle. So the timing of the house selling, along with the wonderful person who purchased the house, and getting the move done, was all a gift from my parents watching over me from above. 

It is fitting that we moved when the daffodils were starting to bloom. My parents many, many years ago here in south central Indiana, started planting daffodils, much as I did at my home in Kentucky. They are everywhere and very comforting.

The gardens at my Kentucky home were outstanding and they will forever be etched in my heart and soul  But I am a Gardener and what do Gardeners do when they leave one place and move to a new spot?  They just build more gardens. Since I have over 150 acres space is not an issue. 

But they will be different different gardens, with more natives, wildflowers and with a focus on developing natural spaces. I have been thinking about how to nurture this land for over two years and the time to jump 

in is now.   

So in between unloading hundreds of boxes I will begin my new adventure in a place that is very dear to my heart, my new home. I have so many amazing friends in Kentucky, it was hard to say goodby so I didn't. We will be coming to Shelbyville at least one day a week to our Blitz Builders Office to work. I hope to see many of you and keep up with the very special relationships that I have cherished thru the last 28 years.

Also know that Brown County Indiana is not far away and a great place to explore, 

my gate is always open 

for old friends......