Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Garden Coaching
  • Travel
  • Contact
  • My Gardens
    • The Back Garden
    • The Potager
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Garden Coaching
  • Travel
  • Contact
  • My Gardens
    • The Back Garden
    • The Potager

Say Goodbye to Spring

27 March, 2009 By Dee Nash

by Dee Nash
27 March, 20092 May, 2013Filed under:
  • Spring
  • Wild Weather

Ah spring!

Ah spring!

There is an historic snowstorm barreling toward Oklahoma with blizzard conditions already reported in the western part of the state where my friend, Brit’ Gal Sarah, blogs and gardens.  Often, the panhandle and surrounding area get much more extreme weather than we do in the central part of the state.  However, this storm is so large that we will not escape the snow, nor the freezing temperatures.  Some forecasters are kindly saying we’ll have a low of 33F tonight.  Others are predicting 20F.  That’s not a typo.

I can barely write this, and you, my blogging friends and gardeners, will mourn with me I know.

Meteorologists are often wrong, and as you all know, a degree or two, up or down, can make a huge difference.  Let’s hope that this is one of those times.  Just in case we do get a late freeze of epic proportions, I’ve written about covering your plants on Examiner, so I won’t reiterate it here.

Daffodils and phlox just waiting for a vase

Daffodils and phlox just waiting for a vase

However, for those of you in Oklahoma, or in the path of this storm, remember, you can’t cover everything.  Save only those plants which are the least hardy; your newly planted, expensive or well-loved items like tender shrubs and perennials and climbing roses.  The daylilies will be fine.  Don’t worry about them unless you already have scapes.  Don’t concern yourself with annuals.  They are not as expensive and can be replanted.  Depending on how cold it gets, even bulb flowers may croak, so cut yourself a beautiful bouquet.  The minor bulbs and daffodils themselves will enjoy the moisture and increase in bulb size and number for next spring.

Droplets on daylily foliage

Droplets on daylily foliage

I can tell you that my heart hurt while I was out in the rain taking these photographs, but I still cataloged what I could do.  We had one of these really low, late freezes several years ago, and my ‘Zephirine Droughin’ still hasn’t recovered to her former glory.

So, let’s take a final look at spring.  The next photos you’ll see from me may be ghostly, sheet covered plants and snow, lots of snow.

008

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

Post navigation

Previous Post Dear Friends and Gardeners Week Three
Next Post Dear Friends and Gardeners, Week Four

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. eliz says

    29 March, 2009 at 5:54 pm

    Like I’ve been saying all along, I feel certain your garden will come through splendidly.

  2. Kylee from Our Little Acre says

    28 March, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    Dee, your photos are gorgeous and I would hate to see any of that come to harm!

    Thank you, Kylee. I’m afraid some of it will be burned, but all is not lost.~~Dee

  3. Helen - patientgardener says

    28 March, 2009 at 10:36 am

    Feel for you. Keeping my fingers crossed that it isnt as bad as they have predicted.

    Helen, I’ll know for sure about the freezes in a couple of days, but the snow wasn’t nearly as bad as predicted.~~Dee

  4. Brenda Kula says

    28 March, 2009 at 8:02 am

    We got down in the thirties last night here. And I’m supposed to go to a garden tour today! I haven’t been outside yet. Almost afraid to venture out to even look at the plants and peaking azaleas. Today’s high is supposed to be mid-fifties. What a weird spring!
    Brenda

    I hope your garden tour is still on and you enjoy it. Perhaps it only got cold for an hour or two, and that won’t hurt much. So far, we got no snow, but we are supposed to get down to 29F tonight.~~Dee

  5. Patsybell says

    27 March, 2009 at 11:17 pm

    Last night, there came a frost, which has done great damage to my garden…. It is sad that Nature will play such tricks on us poor mortals, inviting us with sunny smiles to confide in her, and then, when we are entirely within her power, striking us to the heart. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, The American Notebooks

    Patsybell´s last blog post..Asparagus Season Favorite Recipes

    Patsy, honey, I feel your pain. My garden is frosted with icy crystals this morning. It is beautiful now, but later it won’t.~~Dee

  6. Queen Bee says

    27 March, 2009 at 10:57 pm

    OK – it’s almost MN and I still haven’t decided which plants to cover. It’s now up to Mother Nature and I hope she is on our side! The “PolyAnna” in me refuses to believe we will be burned. Although, I am feeling your angst! Have you heard of anyone putting space heaters around the garden? JK

    Hey Debbie, nice for you to comment. We didn’t need to cover last night, but tonight, well, we better. I’m going for the climbing roses, the Japanese maples in front and two of my less hardy roses, ‘Rio Samba.’ They don’t like the cold.~~Dee

  7. Pam/Digging says

    27 March, 2009 at 10:25 pm

    Dee, my fingers are crossed that the temps stay above freezing. No snow on that beautiful spring garden!

    Pam/Digging´s last blog post..Green roof tour, Yucca Do’s move, & another Austin blogger

    Thanks, Pam. Keep those fingers crossed. Big freeze tonight. Dang it.~~Dee

  8. Patsybell says

    27 March, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    Dee, These freak freezes are heart breaking for gardeners. I always run around gathering my prettiest flowers and cut branches of spring blooming perennial shrubs. So inside the house, every room has spring blooms, sometimes till the spring weather returns.

    Patsybell´s last blog post..Asparagus Season Favorite Recipes

    Yes, I did the same and covered what I could. The rest will have to fend for itself.~~Dee

  9. themanicgardener says

    27 March, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    Dee, here’s hoping the meteorologists are all wrong and that if they’re not, the snow falls before the temperatures drop. Is this normal, by the way?

    themanicgardener´s last blog post..Plant Power: Phytoremediation (Arsenic in soil, Part III)

    Well, they were at least partly wrong. No snow. Lots of rain, which is so fine by me. The blizzard conditions being experienced by the western part of the state are definitely not normal. However, a late spring freeze does often happen especially in years of yo-yo winters. It’s why Oklahomans don’t grow a lot of fruit. I just hope the peach crop which is further south in Stratford misses the freeze predicted for tonight.~~Dee

  10. deb says

    27 March, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    Oh no for both of us. I just went outside and covered my tomatoes with large black plastic containers. We won’t get snow, but it will probably freeze just long enough to burn my potatoes which are too large to cover. big sigh. Stay warm.

    You too, Deb. I hope it doesn’t go any lower for you, and that your potatoes are fine. I’m covering mine tonight.~~Dee

  11. Katie Elzer-Peters says

    27 March, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    Holy moly. I hope you don’t lose your entire spring garden! Best of luck. Good tips on what to cover in case the worst happens. I have a hard time deciding! We had lots of unseasonably cold weather here this winter. Yech.

    I may need to consult this post for advice tomorrow!

    Katie Elzer-Peters´s last blog post..We Answer Your Gardening Questions!

    Katie, it’s happened before. I just pick myself up, clear away the dead foliage and onward I go. Summer awaits.~~Dee

  12. Susan Tomlinson says

    27 March, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    I can see from ym radar map that it is grim, grim, grim where you are. Hunker down, Dee! Spring will return.

    Susan Tomlinson´s last blog post..Speechless Spring Friday

    Hi Susan, I think it was so warm here that we got rain instead of snow. The poor western part of Oklahoma though. Bad, bad. Yes, spring will return after tonight. 🙂 ~~Dee

  13. Jean says

    27 March, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    I do hope the weather forecasters are wrong. I was just looking at the radar, wondering if we were going to get that storm (no snow here but hail and wind and cold temps). And I thought of you when I saw that big expanse of white in OK. Ugh. Hang in there.

    Jean´s last blog post..A New Perspective

    Jean, they were at least partially wrong, and I thank them for that.~~Dee

  14. Lisa at Greenbow says

    27 March, 2009 at 2:58 pm

    I have been hearing about that storm on the weather channel. I hope the worst misses you Dee. If I were you I would be filling every vase in my house with those beautiful blooms you have. What crazy weather we have had this spring. You have snow storms and the rain is going south of us every time. Geez.

    I’m sorry, Lisa. I ended up taking all the rain for everyone. We got inches and inches. When I go out to cover, I’ll check the rain gauge.~~Dee

  15. Cindy, MCOK says

    27 March, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    It’s all breathtakingly lovely so I do hope the forecasters are wrong. We’ll be thinking about you and waiting to hear how it goes.

    Cindy, MCOK´s last blog post..Through the Garden Gate: Monday, March 23rd

    Thanks, Cindy.~~Dee

  16. entangled says

    27 March, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    Nature is so cruel sometimes. I’m hoping your next post says that the weather people got it wrong.

    Indeed, she is.~~Dee

  17. MA says

    27 March, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    ok, you’ve got me wringing my hands. Wish I lived closer so I could get there to help. xoxoxo.

    MA´s last blog post..Gotta get it now: Durable Plants

    Mary Ann, I wish you did too. HH isn’t much help in this area. He is very laissez-faire with the sheet coverings. (LOL) ~~Dee

  18. TR says

    27 March, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    Please keep me posted – I am stuck in Hawaii!

    TR´s last blog post..The Buddha Diaries – Travels in Siam, Cambodia and Laos

    Tim, that’s just cruel.~~Dee

  19. Gail says

    27 March, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    Dear Dee, I am heart broken for you…we all understand how you feel….we have worried and been there. I haven’t forgotten 2007. Do rush out there and bring those beautiful tulips inside. This is when I wish we had room to stockpile cardboard boxes…they would help keep the snow off your babies. I wish hugs would help. I’ld send a dozen your way….I do anyway. gail

    Gail´s last blog post..Pay No Attention To That Man Behind the Curtain.

    Gail, it will be, what it will be. Que sera, sera. 🙂 ~~Dee

  20. joey says

    27 March, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    Ouch! Sorry Dee … your spring garden looked lovely, while it lasted, and I’m sure it will recover. We often get snowstorms here when bulbs are in bloom … I have many photos of forsythia and tulips/daffs covered with snow that bounce back. Good luck!

    Joey, it will all be o.k. It’s the freeze that might get it.~~Dee

  21. Diana says

    27 March, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    Oh Dee, I was worried about our forecasted 39, but instead I will be thinking of you now. Your garden is beautiful and so full of life. I hope the storm predictions are more chicken little and you are spared the worst of it. I’ll be taking sheets out to cover some plants and veggies tonight myself. And, in spite of how miserable you must feel, you gave us all inspiration sprinkled with really good advice. I’ll be watching your weather as well as ours.

    Diana´s last blog post..Leaf me alone!

    Oh, well, now it’s snowing. Snow is only festive in December.~~Dee

  22. Barbee' says

    27 March, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    Sigh, so discouraging! The photos and their subjects are lovely. Good luck. Thinking of you and your garden!

    Barbee’´s last blog post..Reading List Autumn 2008

  23. Annie in Austin says

    27 March, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    Oh Dee – even before you said ‘cut yourself a bouquet’ my mind was sending you a message to bring those tulips in for a meeting of the indoor appreciation society.
    Such hard choices! Thinking of you…

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

  24. sharon@sharonlovejoy.com says

    27 March, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    Oh Dee,

    I am so sorry. Cover what you can and all of us gardeners will send a warm blanket of love and hope toward you and your beloved plants.

    Sharon

  25. nola says

    27 March, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn’t get as cold as they say. Forecasts here are for the 30’s; I just hate it when that happens this late in the season! Just when you think you’re safe, here it comes…

    nola´s last blog post..All Hail’s Done Broke Loose

    Well, we can only wait and see . . . but it’s now 32F and snowing heavily (Sat. 3/21/09).~~Dee

  26. JamesA-S says

    27 March, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    Nancy’s right. Keep your head down and it will all be slush very soon.
    Mind you it’s easy to say that from here where all is sprouting and skipping and springy.

    JamesA-S´s last blog post..Waltzing With Fire Ants

    Thanks, James. It was here too yesterday, but gardeners and garden are resilient.~~Dee

  27. Mr. McGregor's Daughter says

    27 March, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Oh, I just want to cry! What a waste it will be if all that gets ruined. We gardeners have to be made of tougher stuff than ordinary people, to deal with such losses and just keep going. I hope it is not going to be as bad as predicted.

    Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog post..Take a Walk on the Wild Side

    I think so too, Barbara. Thank goodness the Lord made us so.~~Dee

  28. Nancy says

    27 March, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    It will be back….someday…

    Ah hates snow..!

    Nancy´s last blog post..Houston Resources

    Uhm, me too, Nancy, especially right now.~~Dee

  29. CurtissAnn says

    27 March, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    Oh, honey, when I look at your photos, I do grieve for you. I look out my window at Jim’s fruit trees that have already gone beyond bloom to leafing and know there is fruit there set. I have a barrel to put over my grandmother’s rose.
    xxxooo

    CurtissAnn´s last blog post..Thursday Book Giveaway– the Valentine Series

    Giving up on the fruit trees here. They’re too large. At least, the deer won’t get the peaches this year.~~Dee

  30. Brit' Gal Sarah says

    27 March, 2009 at 12:22 pm

    Well right now Dee I am unsure as to how accurate the forecasts will be for you, because we are not getting the snow levels they said we would – yet!

    Brit’ Gal Sarah´s last blog post..Rain, Sleet, Blizzard

    On the local news later, it looked bad for you guys. I hope you have electricity.~~Dee

Primary Sidebar

About Dee

Hi, I’m Dee, a professional garden writer and speaker born and raised in Oklahoma. Here you’ll find all my best dirt on gardening and travel. Welcome!

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Subscribe Here To RDR Updates.


* indicates required
Email News
Email Format

Garden Coaching

Garden Coaching

Grow a beautiful and manageable garden with personalized pointers from Dee!

Learn More

Give my podcast a listen!

Our podcast logo! The Gardenangelists.

Search me baby!

Travel

It's time to get the leaves off of the pansies.

It’s time to plan for next year’s garden

9 November, 2022 By Dee Nash

Yes, I know we're all exhausted from the summer from hell in Oklahoma and Texas--or is that just me? But it's time to start planning for next year's dream garden. Trust me, it's time, and who knows? Maybe next Read More

Fun days at the daylily national convention

16 July, 2022 By Dee Nash

For July's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, I want to share my visit to the daylily national convention. A region of the American Daylily Society puts on the AHS National Convention each year. Region 15 put on this Read More

Road trip to Yellowstone National Park

28 October, 2019 By Dee Nash

Bill and I traveled all summer. I'm not gonna lie. It was tons of fun, but after getting back from our road trip to Yellowstone National Park last month, I am tired and will be staying home for a while. I Read More

GOW Footer Widget Header

Ask me a question!

Please feel free to ask me a question here or at my email addy: dee@deenash.com.
I’ll try to answer every question and get back to you as quickly as possible.

Contact Us

Footer

Blogs I Dig

  • Clay and Limestone–TN
  • Cold Climate Gardening–NY
  • Dirt Therapy–PNW
  • Each Little World
  • Faire Garden–TN
  • Greenbow–IN
  • Growing With Plants
  • Joanne's Cottage Garden
  • May Dreams Gardens–IN
  • Redeem Your Ground
  • Rock Rose–TX
  • Toronto Gardens–Canada

Red Dirt Sisters

  • Curtiss Ann Matlock
  • The Not Always Lazy W

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Let’s bring back the Monarchs

Let’s bring back the Monarchs
For more info about speaking and other work, visit my other website!

Dear Friend and Gardener

Join our virtual garden club and share all summer

Join our virtual #garden club and share all #summer

Disclosure Notice

Red Dirt Ramblings participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and its affiliates.

Occasionally, I also accept some garden items for review. If I review one of these items, I will let you know in the post. Thank you.

© Copyright 2023 Reddirtramblings.com · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Sitemap

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...