After 2 Freezing nights...

[thistlebloom]

Well at least you know that your window well greenhouse works great!

 

[ducks4you]

True. Thanks for ALL of the hugs, everyone. I'm not devastated. As a matter of fact, I discovered 6 bags of 2011 grapes in my big freezer, so we'll be able to make some jam, at least.
The hydrangea still looks crummy, but it's not dead. Apparently north of me in WI, I think, some orchards have lost a great deal of their crops. I didn't lose ANY apples, peaches, pears, cherries or black raspberries. Every day more sugar-snap and other peas are up, along with sunflowers along the south side of my garage. I lost several volunteer squashes, but one in the corner of bed survived and the geranium I planted with the asparagus is doing well.
LOTS of volunteer cherry tomatoes are up, healthy, and survived the freeze.
I guess I'm now an expert on what to do next time this happens. row
Here's a warning:
In 2007 we had the same thing happen, warm March, freezing in April. We had quite a strong winter after that.
I'm working on my 2012-2013 winterizing this summer.

 

[ducks4you]

Just found out re: hydrangeas and frost/freeze damage.
The "Midwest Gardener" folks had 2 questions about them last night. They recommended doing NO PRUNING for 3-4 weeks. Since this years blooms come from last year's growth, you could lose possible flowers if you prune them back.
They ALSO said we could have a nother frost/freeze before spring is over, so keep you covers handy.

 

[desertlady]

oh darn weather ! I went throught the samething , its so unpreditable !! Im in Arizona and temps suppose to drop again. its like a roller coaster here !!

 

[Jared77]

Here in Michigan they are estimating the orchards lost 90+% of the cherry crop and almost as much in apples. I just hope we've gotten the weird weather behind us and we can have a good warm summer.

 

[ducks4you]

Gosh, I'm SO sorry for those orchards, and all of you who won't be enjoying much fruit from your trees this year.
We were JUST far enough south and our fruit trees were past their blossoms and had already set fruit, or else it would have been a repeat of 2007, when the freeze took the blossoms AND our fruit.

 

[ducks4you]

Well at least you know that your window well greenhouse works great!

It REALLY has! I don't know why I never thought about using those before, but I'll be putting pots in the 2 other south-facing window wells, with some glass covers, later this week.

 

[ninnymary]

O.k. Ducks...I've finally gotten the nerve to ask another dumb question. What is the purpose of those window wells? Do all of your windows have them? Doesn't water collect and then leak from the bottom of the window?

I'm just a city girl who has much to learn from you all!

Mary

 

[nachoqtpie]

When I lived in Ohio... we had those window wells for the basement windows.

USUALLY there is rock and whatnot there so there will be drainage and it won't just go into the window.

 

[ducks4you]

ninnymary, nachoqtpie is correct, and I concur bc I don't get any water through those windows in my basement.
I am a transplanted country girl, formerly a resident of suburban "Chicagoland." I probably ALWAYS was a country girl, in my heart, and in the mid-1960's, when we lived on Phoenixville Pike, now a suburban area SW of Philadelphia, I thoroughly enjoyed running and playing our one acre property year round.
I know that the window wells enable me to insulate better in the winter. Just never thought to treat them like greenhouses until this year. I real 'DUH' moment.
ninnymary, I'm no expert, and I've put away my sharp teeth. You can ask ME anything you wish. ;D