I don't know what the temp was this morning. I finally drug myself out of the house about 10 o'clock and it was chilly despite cloud cover. My plants, however, seem to be absolutely loving it (except for the heat lovers). I've never seem the campanula leaves so big, the persicaria polymorphus (fleece flower) leaves so huge, the hostas unfolding like beach umbrellas. Aquilegia is still blooming, both the Texas Star and the Nora Barlow (gorgeous nodding pink and white blooms). I just can't believe the size of everything and so green.

Apparently, the spring foliage plants are basking in the cool nights. The Nikko Blue has never been so big with so many blooms ready to burst into color. The Blaze climbing rose is full of buds, the lavendar is putting on buds, the nepeta is beginning to send up bloom stalks, the jackmanii clematis has tons of buds, and my mystery clemmie has tons, too. The Virginia Sweetspire is loaded. I have a bud coming on my new hitchhiker elephant ear - yeah! The thalictrum 'illuminator' is sending up its blooms, so it is settling in very nicely. The ferns are loving it - especially the Japanese Painted Fern. The holly's are doing well, but would probably like it a bit warmer. 'Blue Angel' hosta is as big as I have ever seen her. About 6' across, with foot long and wide leaves. She's a beauty. The begonia grandis are leafing out from the tubers and bulblits dropped on the soil from last year's bloom. Hosta 'Honeybells' is bigger this year, about 2' across and wide, and lancifolia has finally put up more leaves this year. The petasites variegata couldn't be more gorgeous.

My two pineapple lilies came back this year, too! Salvia 'May Night' is so big and beautiful, and blooming like crazy. Achillea 'Moonshine' is about to open and is about 3 times as big as last year when I first bought it.

It just looks like a lush jungle in the back yard, and I've never seen it like that before. What a haven!

So the cold nights, for me, have been marvelous for the garden, and I wish they would continue on and on and on and on......

Susan

I had some frost on the windshield of my car Friday morning (I live in OKC.) All of my plants are in good condition. I was worried about the tomatoes but they are doing just fine. The only plant that seems to be affected at all is the hibiscus. There are a few brown spots on one branch of leaves where the icy wind was blowing on it but nothing major.

Sorry Susan, but I wish for this cold streak to end. This weather is starting to depress me. Spring is my favorite season and I somehow feel like I'm being cheated out of it (just kidding.) I also miss the big thunderstorms that we are supposed to be having this time of year and the rain, too. Just doesn't feel like Spring.

And not making matters any better, my hubby came home from work sick on Thursday with, headache, earache, clogged nose, sore throat, coughing, fever, the whole enchilada and was in bed for two days. I have been popping vitamins, sucking on zinc lozenges and Sootherbs and praying that I don't get sick. Well, I started feeling the tickle in my throat and felt so bad by 5:30 that I had to leave my step dad's birthday party. Also, I have no one to take care of me because hubby is away until Friday on assignment. Aaarrrrgh! A couple people told me there is a highly virulent flu-like virus making the rounds, so watch out!

Oh, well, the weather is so crappy I probably wouldn't want to get outside and piddle in the yard, anyway. I know it will get better eventually.

Oops, I meant to say that I had frost on my window Saturday morning. Cold medicine making me dingy.

I don't mind the cold nights as long as they remain frost-free. And I know that the cool nights are contributing to how beautiful the flowers are this year...I do think that when it is cool the colors are gorgeous and don't fade as fast.

But the combination of cool nights and dry weather are keeping most of the veggies in my garden in a state of "suspended animation" where they are growing a little, but not quickly enough to suit me.

My big fat green tomatoes show no inclination to want to turn red! And, as long as the nights stay this cool, I won't plant the "hot season" crops like okra, sweet potatoes and black-eyed peas into the garden yet.

Susan, your garden sounds lovelier than ever. I am glad it is having a banner year!

Jill, I hope you're feeling better and that the virus has about run its course with you.

We're supposed to be in the mid-40s tonight (Sunday), but then last night it was "supposed" to be 42 and it was 34, so who knows any more?

Yeah, I should take pictures, huh, Dawn, with my invisible new digital. Click, click!

Ejill - I can vouch for the virus, I've missed 5 work days total because of it. Three with the initial bad, and 2 when it evolved into pink eye. Hope you feel better soon. I figure if I'm gonna be sick, it might as well be when the weather's not so tops!

Susan

Thanks for your kind words Dawn and Susan. I do hope the virus runs it's course quick so I can get back out into the garden as soon as the weather turns nice again in a couple days.