Ricky - I can't imagine the pain of seeing your beautiful gardens in such a state. I must say I'm surprised that this freeze reached so far south in such a devastating way. A vacation sounds like just the thing to keep you from hitting the pruners too early. (Which I already have.)

Kay

I too am really surprised that you've had that much damage. What a shame. Have a great vacation. Send lots of pictures.

The reason (my theory) for the extensive damage is the lake that surrounds two sides of the garden. With nothing to break up the wind, it roared across the water and slammed into the garden. Add to that the distance from the beach, where it was at least 5 degrees warmer, and you've got to figure that as a factor as well.

Kay - I've already pruned as much as I'm going to cut. Most of the trimming was necessary this time of the year anyhow.

Hi

i'm still having a lot of damage show up but I don't think anything was killed entirely. Most of the orchids ,understory palms came into the house. Did lose 100
percent of my pond fish which I've had since 82. .
Birds seem okay at least so far. I think i suffered more than they did . They refused to use the infrared heater . This seems to be the most damaging cold front I can recall. I think the BIG difference was the duration especially with the daytime highs .
Oh well , about all you can do is start over. I'm sure it will happen again but not this year I hope??? lol gary

I've noticed that that plants that all the leaves fell off and already leafing out or at least have buds. My dreadlock tree crotons were bare sticks and now have green nubs. So I started taking off the dead leaves if they didn't fall. A couple of paintbrush crotons don't look as well, they were still recovering from last years cold spell.

katkin - Cut them all back hard now, unless you want leggy Crotons. I have dozens of them that have been cut from 3' to 6' back to 12". This is the time to do it. Cut without fear, they will come back much bushier than before. Of course, if you want them to grow into small trees, disregard.

Ricky,

So, it's OK to cut back crotons now? Without fear, eh? Like the 7-8 foot tall ones out front...If I don't, they will look like crap? I can't imagine the job it will be to cut back these big ole things, but if that's what I'm supposed to do, I guess I'll do it...argh

Randy

Yes, the dreadlocks I trained to be trees and are by the front door. But there are some others I'll prune back and thanks. :o)

I'm not on the water and considerably south and a little west of Ricky. The heliconia Jacquinii bahai that I've been trying to give away to everyone went brown. So did the bananas. The gingers and calatheas suffered the most. The aphilandra sinclariana(sp) may have finally bit the dust. Nothing else died but it looks horrible.

Here is a link that might be useful: garden toast