I went to sleep last night, after a beautiful 70 degree day, and I woke up this morning..rub my eyes..WHAT? There is Two Inches of SNOW outside! I had no clue..none! Where they predicting this?? My power was out when I woke up, just came back on now at 10:30.

What do I do about all my plants?? I knocked some of the heavier snow off everyone,..but I didn't want to harm any new buds. The pansys must be in shock! Should I just leave them be? Cover them? Help!

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), April 09, 2000

Answers

Kritter...we didn't get snow, but Friday evening, the wind chill factor here was 6 degrees! Two days earlier, it had been close to 80 degrees...

-- Brooke (WilferdW@aol.com), April 09, 2000.

Hi kritter,

Just woke up this morning to 3-4 inches of snow. But hey, this is Alberta -- snow in April is more what we are used to than the balmy temperatures we've been having. Up here it's "May showers which bring June flowers". Folk lore here says if you plant before May 24th, you'll lose your garden to frost.

(ps Thank you Tricia for sending me to this site!)

-- Lois Knorr (knorr@attcanada.net), April 09, 2000.

Lois, I would love to see Alberta someday. In the meantime, I guess I get a taste of it today..eh? I hate when you think Spring has sprung, and then some freak snow storm poops on yer pansys! On the bright side, I had Juuust a little more wood left to burn laying on the hearth..and now I can clear it all out and make room for the summer hearth residence...namely the large portable CD player and a large vase of fake flowers. (and 1,000 other items my family sees fit to put in that newly freed up space)

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), April 09, 2000.

Kritter...

...My pansies did get shocked a little, but I believe it was more from the severe and prolonged wind we had on Friday, than the dip in the temperatures. Pansies are notoriously hardy and usually do quite well, even after a surprise spring snow...

...I would try using a very diluted feeding of plant food and make sure you keep any plants you are concerned about well watered for the next couple of weeks. If it doesn't stay below freezing for long (which it shouldn't, they will probably be ok...

...I remember a few years ago, I got 4 flats of impatiens from WalMart free of charge (they were in their trash barrel) because we had a sudden snap of very cold weather that lasted several days in a row...and the flats of flowers were very stressed and looked dead...I saw the flowers in the barrel, thought "What the heck?", and asked the garden center manager if I could have them, since they were being thrown away...Those impatiens turned out to be the prettiest, most prolific batch I've ever planted; they not only survived...they thrived!

-- Brooke (WilferdW@aol.com), April 09, 2000.

Kritter,

It came from Illinois. (Where else?) WE had the same experience, 70 degrees down to 20. With a couple inches of snow. Happily it is gone now, but we may get more tomorrow. (Gag)

gene

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), April 09, 2000.

Kritter,

You need to move further south. It's warmer here. Just snow showers. You yankees have the worse weather. I'm glad I live below the mason/dixon line. :-)

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), April 09, 2000.

Boy O boy, here I was feelin' sorry for myself because this breeze made it a little too chilly to sit on the dock wearing shorts in the afternoon shade!

Actually, it's been just cool enough to really get some yard work done, which is exactly what I've been doing.

But, for you folks in the frozen wasteland (north of the Red river), I just gotta say that my tomatos are up about 3' and have little green 'maters on 'em already. You all can remind me of that brag when July gets here and I'm cryin' the 102 blues.

Actually, this has been the nicest year so far that I can remember down here. The winter was so mild, it seemed like three months of spring. Awfully dry, though. I just know we are gonna pay for it this summer.

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), April 09, 2000.

kritter, I REALLY appreciate the effort that you and the midwest frlians went to keep the snow from entering New England. Minor (non-accumulating) flurries yesterday, but boy, those winds! Far worse than the tail end of the hurricanes from last fall. Meanwhile, the Red Sox home opener on Tuesday might be snowed out. . .

Your plants should be fine, and if not, consider it practice!

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), April 10, 2000.