Take the frost and be thankful.

That will put everything to bed.

Dave

Will...they are weathermen...and it's 5 days away. What are the odds they called it right?

tj

Too early for bed! Some deciduous plants will actually die if they don't send the energy down to the root system. I have no idea of the effect with conifers.

tj, you're right. Who knows but I have my eye on it. If it just so happened to go a little lower than they are forecasting that spells trouble if a freeze hits.

A frost is a freeze only at ground level. Air temps could be in mid to upper 30's 1-2 ft. off ground. Are they calling for temps 32F. or below? If so then you have some concerns.

Dave

I'll just wait and see. Calling for 34 degrees. Its just amazing that it was in the 90s a week ago.

how does it feel .. to become a farmer.. and now understand the vagaries of mother nature ... she is a wicked mistress .... [i would add other comments.. but GW wont let me.. lol]

a mid winter thaw.. is much worse ... lol

ken

whaas-

Been watching the Euro for a few days with what it wants to do with that cold air. I noticed this morning that the most current run doesn't drop the high as far south, keeps it in N Wisconsin vs the previous run that dropped it into SE Iowa. Still very cold (most likely 30F's for here), but I doubt frost with that setup. Still plenty of time and lots of model runs. 6z GFS is also a little warmer (850 temps aren't as low). I still think someone in Wisconsin sees some 20Fs.

Ug, your late growers like Metasequoia have to hate this!

Whaas, if it makes you feel better consider during the life of our older trees all this has happened before and all this will happen again. Just mother nature doing some genetic engineering of her own weeding out the weak.

toronado3800,

Good assessment about what has been going on for 1000's of years. So many of use are growing out of zone plants that are not native to our area. Time and time again mother nature will go from one end of the spectrum of being to hot or to cold. This process will in time eliminate those plants that can't endure these extremes and fall by the wayside.

One, Pinus strobus cannot endure days in the upper 90's or lower 100's in my area. One that I will not be planted again.

Dave

Good call, low went from 34 to low 40s. Sure could use some rain though...nothing for the 10 day forecast.

hmmmmm...

Euro this afternoon takes the high now from Sioux Falls to Detroit on day 4/day 5... as in the chance for frost just increased a notch. If your near the lake you will be fine. I may be in thick (cold) fog here in the Mississippi River valley.

Still a few days away, but keep those mittens and jackets handy. I need to move a row of Norway Spruce/Balsam Fir once everything goes dormant.

Chance of rain? Looks almost nonexistent the next week or so. Very dry around these parts. I've been watering again about every other day. 87F and sun today.

Just thought I'd say I enjoyed Wisconsin's beautiful terrain Friday thru today. I was in Madison yesterday, and stayed north of Madison 30 miles at an old friend's place that she converted nearly forty acres of a corn field, back into the natural prairie & added three lakes.

It was so truly amazing, I walked away with a new felt appreciation to what she had accomplished. I actually liked it more than any garden I've ever been at because, there was non-stop action: cranes and ducks and herons and birds, god there were BIRDS everywhere!

It was one of the better experiences of my life.

....................
Stay warm up "dar" where the cows and Wisconsin Lutherans co-exist! :-)

Dax

You're leave us hanging with no pics!?! Although I can imagine. There are quite a few pockets in WI, especially the northern tier where this time of year is quite spectacular.

Did you end up going to the Madison Arb? Debating whether I go there in a few weeks or the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

Pics soon. The conifer collection was weak so I'd recommend Chicago; not well-groomed, tags missing on several specimens and 95% spruce. Otherwise juniper & strobus pines, a few banksiana and that was it.

The deciduous collection however is out of this world fantastic. I posted a thread on the Trees Forum & I'll be adding to that soon. I'd of met with you whaas but I hadn't seen my friend a minimum of 16 years and wanted to spend time with her this time.

Regards,

Dax