Baby, it’s cold outside—everywhere!

This picture of the rapids in winter is from last year; it's pretty much the same now.

But I feel sorriest for those in the south who are experiencing single digit temps with no snow cover to protect plants that are normally hardy for higher zones. And, unlike me, they’re not used to this. I can only imagine their horror. Cheer up, guys, your cold and snow will be all gone in a couple weeks! Mine, on the other hand, will be here for at least 3 more months.

I am used to it though, and I have several strategies for getting through the frigid times. One involves a lot of indoor bulb growing, and I’ve already talked about that (and will again).

The other involves planning a week in a warm place if at all possible. The only thing that bothers me about that is that the landscaping at the average tropical resort is generally kind of boring. I’d love to see real native flora in its natural setting; one of these days I’ll have to go on some excursion that would allow that.

My third strategy for getting through the winter is shared by almost all other gardeners: I read plant catalogs and put in some orders. I have plants coming already from Brent & Becky’s and Select Seeds and now it’s Plant Delights Nursery’s turn. Both SS and PDN are offering an really interesting dicentra: a climbing yellow variety. I am considering ordering one from each and seeing which does best. PDN calls their “Athens Yellow,” and SS calls theirs “Golden Tears.” Apparently it was bred by Allan Armitage (and it is listed on his site).


Interesting. Anyway, my all-summer-blooming dicentra has kind of wishy-washy pink flowers, so I’m very interested in a yellow variety. PDN also had a yellow hardy gladiolus and a beautiful yellow hellebore. This may be the year of the cool yellow plants in the GWI garden.

I did not mention probably the most important strategy I have this year for getting through the winter—planning this years's garden bloggers' meet-up in Buffalo. I hope I will see you there.