This past week as cold temperatures hit and the snow fell, it was easy to see the outline of daffodil clumps in my garden. Mine all have foliage at least 4 inches tall. With some, I can even see the hint of yellow through the last protective casing of the leaf. I worry. Does this mean no daffodil flowers this Spring?
As we all look out at sleet, ice and snow this week, I thought we could look at the bright side of cold weather and the benefits of it for your garden. Take heart. The ice and snow will move out soon. Nothing lasts forever, including bad weather.
Give it a try. Get your kids or grandkids on it! Its not too late to harvest the flower heads. You may have to wait for them to dry inside for a few days, but what else are you doing in this ghastly/beautiful weather?
Here we are in the end of January with temperatures at 9 degrees this morning. I find this a particularly tricky year to read a garden because of widely vacillating temperatures. Deep drought and wet conditions with the help of snow and ice also adds to my indecisiveness of what to do and when.
Back in the day, I remember December as being the time when garden clubs would call some of my clients asking if they could come cut boxwoods for wreaths and other decorations for historical site tours at Christmas. I always considered garden decorations of these types as a cheerful bi-product of the important task of pruning boxwoods.