Magnolia grandiflora leaves damaged by hail.
Today, I am very cranky. If you don’t want to read further, I completely understand.
“Why?” you ask.
Well, central Oklahoma had another freeze last night, and what wasn’t frozen was heavily frosted a la winter birthday cake. For Pete’s sake, it’s April 3rd already, and I live in USDA Zone 7.
It’s 43F right now (10:00 a.m.) with a projected high of 67F. On Saturday, the high is supposed to be 78F. Sounds nice, but do you see all of those temperatures bouncing around like Mexican jumping beans? It’s hard on the plants, and on gardeners. Normally, I worry about the projected lows until April 15th, but this is the craziest spring of my memory. We’ve had really balmy days, followed by high winds and hail. We had snow last week, and now, get this, the northwest part of the state (where the heaviest snowfall was) is warmer than further south and east.
Acer palmatum 'Tsuma gaki' stragetically placed on next to the house on the east side.
It’s kind of nippy today for April, so I don’t feel like going outside and working. I know, northern friends, I’m a wimp. So, what gardening stuff can be done? I could re-pot my tomato seedlings in larger containers, but I’m not too excited about that. Or, I could stick those seed potatoes I got yesterday in the mail in the ground or in a really large container. Nah. I think I’ll just go shove them in the center of the shredded leaf pile. Yeah, shoving something will make me feel better.
Sunlight behind one of the prettiest garden corners. Note the tiny daffodils. I don't know the variety.
Oh, just ignore me. I’m sulking. Mother Nature is a harsh parent, and I’ve been sent to my room.
Heaven knows that I think it’s OK to be cranky about cold weather! Maybe the cooler temps mixed in will help your flowers last longer. Last year we had a bit of a heat wave right as my tulips came out, and they lasted about 2 days. Oh well.
Yes, VW, that’s a bright spot in the whole mess. The flowers which are left will last longer.~~Dee
I hear you, Dee. I’m cranky too. Came home from the nursery yesterday with many goodies … 32 tonight ~ 2-4 inches of snow tomorrow 🙁 and the rest of the week doesn’t look too spiffy either!
joey´s last blog post..DAISY (APRIL FLOWER of the MONTH) ~ HERB ROASTED RACK of LAMB with PORT CURRANT SAUCE / CAULIFLOWER GRATIN
Oh, Joey, that’s worse than my weather. I feel your pain.~~Dee
I’d be frustrated too, Dee. Those extreme temperature changes are no fun. We’ve had an incredibly cold spring here. The snow is usually near gone by this time in April.
I hope it warms up and doesn’t go below freezing again for you!
Thanks, Kate. I think this will be the last of it.~~Dee
Hi, Dee! You are not alone, girlfriend! I was grumpy ALL WEEK LONG because I’m positive the weather folks predicted weather in the 70’s. Maybe it was, but did they mention that accompanying those temps would be a freezing cold agitating wind from the north? No, they did not. So I also could barely get myself out in the garden this week. For what? Yesterday morning was an insult to April when the birdbath froze over. WHAT?? See? You’ve got a sister in CA. 🙂
Hi Kathryn, yes, those north winds can be bitter, and they make me feel bitter too. 🙁 ~~Dee
It is supposed to freeze again here this week. Sulking with you.
Sigh.~~Dee
Dee, keep looking at that last shot to lift your spirits … what a charming and beautiful vignette. And remember, all too soon we’re going to be lamenting the heat of summer!
Thanks, Cindy, and don’t you know it!~~Dee
You poor baby. You deserve a good whine with all that hail damage. That Mr. Freeze should be ashamed of himself for ruining your parade of spring flowers.
One would think so, ‘eh Lisa?~~Dee
Our weather changes haven’t been so dramatic… It’s just mostly staying way too cold. I’ve only had 4 crocus and one mini iris bloom thus far. At least the crocus should be blooming like mad by now. *sigh* I’ve learned in my zone 4/5a to wait until the first week of June to plant vegetables outdoors. Every year I get anxious and plant a front porch container just after Mother’s Day, and I usually have to replant it about the 15th of June because a late frost caught me off gaurd!
warmly,
Aisling
Aisling, I’m sorry it’s still so cold there. We are in the midst of yo-yo weather. Two more freezes & we should be in the clear. Here’s to that and you getting to see more crocus.~~Dee
Those temps have been erratic lately. We’re forecasted to have below or at freezing temps Monday and Tuesday nights. Hopefully those will be the last cold snaps. I’m sorry about the hail damage to your magnolia!
Hi Dave, I saw from your blog that you were chosen as the BHG blog challenger for gardening. Congratulations!~~Dee
This HAS been an amazing spring and so much better than some that northeast Oklahoma has served up since we moved here.
I think it was 2 years ago that we had a hard freeze on April 15th after weeks of balmy weather.
Our great consolation is that the drought has not returned … yet.
Gardening makes us flexible if not tough.
Martha´s last blog post..Blossoms at Blossom’s
Martha, I’m glad your spring is going better than mine. You all deserve a break.~~Dee
Oh, Dee. You have every right to be cranky — this see-saw weather is enfuriating and it’s so hard to get excited about getting started when you get smacked back down as hard as you have this year. Hang in there … but a potted plant at the grocery store and take a break for a week — blog, surf and read seed catalogs or something to take you mind off the mess. Then you can go back fresh after your time-out!
Thanks, Diana. Today is lovely, but tomorrow is supposed to be terrible. I guess I’ll go plant those late potatoes.~~Dee
I understand why you are cranky, I would be, too. In fact, it looks like I might be cranky on Monday because we are supposed to have two nights of below freezing temps on Monday and Tuesday, and some trees and shrubs are leafed out here, too. Oh, I’m going to be Real Cranky if that happens!
Oh, Carol, I hope not.~~Dee
Isn’t it crazy? Here it is the first part of April, and the weather is still unpredictable!
Brenda
Brenda, that’s really odd for Texas.~~Dee
I am so sorry to see the hail damage to your magnolia, Dee. This roller coaster weather ride is very tough on we zone 7 gardeners…it teases us with too warm too soon weather and then knocks us out with freezes. I see that our forecast keeps getting more dire; now below freezing temps are forecast for early next week! …It’s time to get the sheets out again! …and that last shot is lovely! I adore your blue containers…all the blues! gail
Thanks Gail. I found these for $24.99 at Westlake Hardware. Couldn’t believe the price.~~Dee
Oh no, sorry. It will be in the 50s for highs two days next week. Lows in the 20s? the poor tomato transplants are getting twisted and leggy.
paula´s last blog post..Finished Stuff, Mostly
It is blowin’ a gale out there now. Crazy weather all around. Hope your tomatoes survive.~~Dee
They are saying 3-12″ of snow this weekend in NE. It was in the 70s last week for three days (a bit hot, but I agree, the roller coaster is very wild this spring). Two weeks ago the tornado sirens went off. Should I even bother covering things up for the snow, no.
Benjamin´s last blog post..Dr. Me
Benjamin, I am so sorry to hear that. Nah, I would cover since stuff shouldn’t be budded out too much yet.~~Dee
You are understandably cranky, with all that up and down stuff. We want spring to progress from cold to warm in a smooth, steady groove. We can imagine how great everything would look if it did. It never does, and we don’t expect it to, but when there are wild fluctuations such as you’ve experienced, that goes beyond any expectations.
BTW, the last shot is lovely.
Thanks, MMD. I’m just anxious for more settled weather.~~Dee