The society has been purposely subjected to cultural scaremongering for decades. We now see the results.

We cancelled our plans to go to Charleston for the Azalea festival. Maybe next year. We don't have any known cases in our area but are limiting the possibility of exposure. We are in the demographics for having a bad case of the virus due to age and existing lung problems. We are doing more than our usual spring clean up in the yard and planting out some of the things in my pot garden and rooting bed. My goal is to get all the spare plants I have started in the ground this year and try to limit what I purchase. (Ha Ha)

While the virus must be respected, there is no need for the coverage the media is giving it. With their coverage they are succeding to create panic in the streets.

Our local news media, is giving breaking news reports when a people go in for the virus test, and then another special report when the results are released.

I live in Eastern North Carolina. There are 10 million people in the state and 20 cases of the virus, From what I have found there are about 1000 cases in the US. While preventing the virus from entering our country is correct, 24 hour news coverage of emerging cases is not warranted for the size of the infected population.

That 1000 cases may be grossly understated. The disease is spreading exponentially. In my state, there were 369 confirmed cases Wednesday, 447 on Thursday and as of midnight, 568. And that is just in my state! NY has over 400 confirmed cases.

Nurseries here are open for business although too early in the season to have much in stock yet. But I will be avoiding the plethora of local plant sales....too many people gathered together and I really don't have room for much more anyway. Heronswood Nursery, which is the site of one of the better sales, has already cancelled their 4/4 Open Day and sale.

The media is somewhat warranted so there is awareness around proper hygiene and Social interaction.

The virus is spread by those that are asymptomatic as well so you’re basically going to get to the level of influenza without a vaccination - research what a vaccine actually does to prevent spread.

Cancellations are necessary to allow more time to study the virus and develop a vaccine so our healthcare system won‘t be overwhelmed.

I didn’t look into it much but check out the Spanish flu pandemic and the parades of 1918 - St Louis vs Philly.

Its basically winter here yet with frozen ground. I don’t plan on getting into the garden until early April at the earliest.

Corona means crown to me, what that has to do with a virus from China am not sure.

Google tells us that "It is so called because of the crown-like spikes seen under magnification."

I don't have cable or network TV and am not exposed to that level of talking-head histeria. The coverage online is adequate and warranted from what I have seen. Epidemiology and other scientific fields should be valued for the body of information they offer. The politics are ugly but not acting on the recommendations of the CDC and WHO could be disastrous. I work in a medical laboratory that will begin testing for COVID-19 this week, and if any staff member, especially couriers who pick up speciemens, falls ill it will trigger an investigation and lockdown that will seriously stifle the operation of the lab. Not to mention if our clients are shutdown, we will have nothing to test. Its pretty ugly.

I am wrangling my daughter and working a modified schedule but this whole thing might actually allow me to get weeding, a drainage project and a rainbarrel project done, ya know, if I can continue making money and paying my bills.

I had a thought the other day that, besides live music (which is not going to happen--concerts are being cancelled all over the place), I am lucky that gardening is such a big hobby--I can stay at home and not feel shut-in. I am digging a new patio (don't tell my husband) and considering what other new things I can do in the garden this year.

it is so called because of the crown-like spikes seen under magnification. Thank you for that Bookwoman.

Just imagine marketing a product (I'm thinking beer) with a name like Corona. Wonder how this will affect sales?

Since my interest is mostly with woody plants I see a dire forecast for marketing over the next several weeks. Right now is our prime time to move woodies.

I think tomorrow will be interesting for announcements. Government offices and buildings will be open again or announcing closures. Probably more events getting cancelled. Last week there were a lot of closings or postponements announced.

The closing of last week also saw the states getting more lab service running, so that likely is going to soon start impacting reported numbers for cases.

I know in my state it went from first 2 confirmed in one area to 33 confirmed in several areas across the state between Tues to yesterday. 26 tests are pending, 205 negative, and 661 people under monitoring in self-isolation.

U.S. confirmed cases are around 3,000+ according to some of the latest stats. A thing to note is that the CDC listing is not current, and behind the numbers a bit. Hopefully we might get an update there tomorrow as well.

Had a walk in the garden today.

That early record cold did some damage especially early fall plantings.

Persian parrotia - dead

Acer First Flame - 3 of them dead

I’m going to post a reminder for myself in August - “hey idiot don’t think about planting in the fall - remember last year and the year before and the year before”

I find it interesting how the comments reveal the likely source of information people are using. Count me with the science and intelligent media crowd!

This might disrupt my work a bit so I've put off mail ordering not knowing if money might be tight, although a hundred bucks or so isn't going to REALLY make a difference with bankruptcy or whatever if the stuff and the fan meet, however I feel it may not be responsible.

In a few weeks when the weather is nicer we'll see if I spend some at the real local nursery or do some more trading or actually divide the hostas or what.

If my $.02 matters look to China, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and Italy to see how to handle or not handle this. Some of the former have been dealing with it longer. They have had these lockdowns and they've largely worked.

Our hysteria is caused by a lack of a believable consistent message / policy, a lack of testing capability and a lack of resources. Once we can test enough ppl we'll figure out the true 1st world mortality rate. If any hospitals get overwhelmed there may be panic. As quarterly capitalism dictates, we apparently only have 101% (or embarrassingly close to it) enough beds and respiratory machines for the average number of patients.

For next time spread my idea the government should not just hand out quite soo much money for do nothing welfare. We/They should buy whatever medical machines or supplies are necessary from retooled assembly lines and store them until needed or they start to age then we donate them to some poor country as we buy the next round.

the government should not just hand out quite soo much money for do nothing welfare

You mean like the Trump tax break to the wealthy?

Embothrium, yes, and corporate bankruptcy welfare and I will include some of the more traditional welfare also. Straying off topic but back in the day our welfare involved giving out free land to folks from sea to shining sea or making ppl cut paths through new National Parks or working for the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Its a necessary thing, we can't have folks' kids being kidnapped for ransom but its still begs to be abused by the rich and the not so rich.

It's overblown, but what are you gonna do? Hope too many people aren't affected by this and it blows over quickly.

L. Clark, that ship has sailed!!

Yeah, a recession is coming, I fear. And it always hits the poor the hardest. It's a sad time for our country... and the world.

I feel like it is the entire thing is overblown. When we get real data, it won’t be much different than the regular flu. Meanwhile the economy Is crippled.

On a personal level, I decided to back out of a house purchase as I felt taking on a new, larger mortgage wasn’t wise. I also had concerns about having to sell my current home this spring- who knows what will happen.

As a teacher I have the next few weeks off from work, so that means much more time to spend working on my garden. The current grocery store situation is stressing me out. I have supplies, but I cannot expect to just run to the store for whatever ingredients. Stock is low and now stores have limits on customers permitted in and limited hours. I have no desire to wait in line so I will be trying to use up my pantry I guess.

Folks data is already released At this point and the US has a chance to learn from the mishaps.

Government will mandate that the country shuts down on Thursday. If it doesn’t our healthcare system is going to be f’ed.

Whaas, why Thursday? I kinda figured we'd do a state by state thing dragging it out. The tone from Washington has changed lately I guess though.

We've already shut down. Since Monday every social and leisure activity I do in my week, other than solitary walking, has stopped. I have 150 sprouting alliums and 250 blooming violas all due to be ready for my daughters wedding at the end of April. Yesterday we learned it can't go ahead.

As to the entire thing being 'overblown' tell that to my future son in law's Italian family who are going into their fifth week shut up in their flat in Rome. And check the death figures for that country.

My coworker came back from a vacation to a Caribbean country Thursday. Came to work Friday with some minor cold symptoms, we swabbed the person and tested for our standard respiratory pathogens. At the same time the molecular manager just happened to include this sample in the COVID-19 assay validation. Find out Monday afternoon the sample came back positive for Covid-19, after everyone had been working with the person all day Friday and Monday. Lab shutdown. Everyone had to get tested and go home to self quarantine. I had been feeling sore throat, chills and headache all weekend, and the 16 hours waiting for my results were a mental rollercoaster ride. Turns out everyone else tested negative, but it could have been much worse if that person never got tested or worked somewhere that wasn't already taking distance precautions, using PPE, and sterilizing everything every 2 hours. Be safe people.

whaas, I don't even do fall planting here in west MD. Maybe I'd try it if I lived on MD's eastern shore where the ground doesn't often freeze solid....

Maybe we should be following a different model. Wall off and isolate the elderly and the immunocompromised instead of closing down all these businesses, schools. Then allow the virus to run its course in schools and among younger people. This way the bulk of the population will fairly quickly develop herd immunity in weeks rather than months to years ... without a huge pressure on the health system, theoretically. No better way to stop spread than if a great % of population is immune. Of course extensive testing would be important too, to assure carriers are not intermingling with non-carriers. Problem is how to keep people away from those most vulnerable, like where elderly are living under same roof as grandkids, etc. Or sick healthcare workers in nursing homes, assisted living.

Otherwise we are kind of kicking the can down the road. Yes, I get the 'flattened curve' thing. But what's to say there isn't another spike as the population starts to move again, since fewer are being exposed and no immunity is being built up. And we're hoping summer kills off the virus, or our health system can regroup to take care of more sick, or a vaccine will be developed. Those are not guarantees.

But the cost to our economy over 4 to 6 months to a year of this may affect more people negatively than the illness would, potentially sending muliti-millions into unemployment, poverty, unsustainable quality of life, despair, suicide, crime. This is no way to LIVE.

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These Facebook posts are coming out of the UK from a group of young growers. I think they are message worth sharing. It will be interesting to see what happens to gardening and how well garden centers survive. In the US, garden centers are making the case that they are essential business where social distancing is possible and that they should not be forced to shut down. I just got news that the Chicago Botanic Garden decided to shut down. I would think they would be opening their gates up for free so people could get fresh air.

Some of us don't live in climates where you can garden this time of year...

The National Trust is closing its buildings but trying to keep its gardens and parks open and waiving entrance charges. Outdoor exercise is vital to the health of the nation.

Corona virus is indeed meaning crown. It's due to the distinctive crown shaped sugary proteins on the exterior of it that gives the name.

I'm not surprised to hear some garden venues are being closed. A lot of other industries are being impacted too. There's another thread around here asking folks what they are doing about their mail order perennials that have already been ordered too. How to treat packaging, or how long can something sit in it's packaging.

For me... last year was a pick em up year, so this year is a finish planting them in, potting up, growing out, ect more than going to get some. I got a lot because I worked a bunch last summer at a tiny local perennial nursery.

And I picked up my seed starting supplies at end of season last year, and typically get done ordering seeds shortly after Christmas after I get my seed cash :) Usual for me. Some of the earliest ones started a couple weeks ago, and I started another couple trays today. Yes indeed, be like Bill :)

With nearly 500 deaths in Italy in the last 24 hours, isn't this something much more than what some deem to label a "normal' flu season? I have personally never known anyone having died of the flu, though with a vulnerable elderly mother and family and friends having endured recent bouts of pneumonia, I'm particularly very concerned! Viral community spread is just beginning in my region, today in a large grocery store, I was taken back to see so many elderly and feeble out and about and none of them taking notable preventative actions. Only had I seen one young mother along with her two children wearing masks and there was me with mine and my solid wrap around eyewear. COVID19 is very contagious and easily spread by coughing and sneezing, as I looked around that store, 98% of the folks were open targets! Social distancing and hand washing can't protect you from breathing in the virus when someone coughs or sneezes anywhere nearby! With the heads up advanced warning we've been given, I was confident of a lower transmission rate in North America, now I'm thinking many shall perish for the lack of simple preventive steps.

As for plants, when I had begun to see this ugly situation arise in China, my attention was rather very diverted away from plants in general. Sure, I ordered up the garden seeds and a small handful of perennials from one place, though the rest of the orders have been withheld.

Won't be hiring any landscapers this spring. I will be thrilled if my carryout restaurant business doesn't go completely under. I will be even more thrilled if my pregnant wife and baby on the way stay healthy! Due in one month and the docs have suspended the rest of her checkups. What a f'ed up time for the world.

Denver Botanic Gardens shuttered earlier this week. I was supposed to be attending the Tree Diversity Conference at DBG yesterday. I'm disappointed it cancelled, but I support their decision. I used the day off to shop and deliver groceries to my elderly parents. Both have compromised respiratory systems and should not be out and about. It breaks my heart to see elderly folks at the stores, be it from the lack of a support system, ignorance or stubbornness. I'm glad to see some of the stores offering them the first few hours of the day to shop with less exposure.

Of the 2 local nurseries I most frequently visit, 1 is closed at least until the end of the month. The other is operating as normal. I have 8 grafted conifers coming in, mail order, from Oregon in a few weeks. I'd not be surprised if that gets disrupted in some way.

In the big scheme of things, none of that seems very important right now. I share the concern of what's to come and how we begin again in 2, 4, 8 weeks or 6 months from now.

We're still snow covered, so no planting to be done here. I'm focusing on sowing seeds inside for the vegetable garden and taking stock of household supplies. Of all the things I thought would be unattainable, I didn't expect it to be toilet paper!

My husband works in the wind turbine industry and so far, it's business as usual. He's still going to work every day. I work at a local court, which is now on skeleton crew, handling only emergency filings like protection orders. I'm mostly working from home at this point. We've had 2 confirmations of COVID-19 positive individuals being in the courthouse and I'm sure there's been more than that.

I'm trying to limit my news intake, listen to more music and give the pets a little more attention. Best wishes for a healthy, happy delivery, Peter!

The nearby state forest was packed today. Went to my other more obscure location and only a few people.

With three labs and a couple rug rats need some space. Patiently awaiting temps in the 50s. Have a couple transplants and then several conifers that just arrived.

Italy had 240 deaths during the October 2019 to mid January 2020 flu season.

Italy had 5,500 deaths during early Feb 2020 to today with covid19

I went to the nursery today and bought a red twig dogwood and a green giant arborvitae. I was worried they might have to close down in the coming days and I wanted to get these sometime next month. Might as well spend money while I still have some left!

Not saying this isn't super serious (it's serious), but from 2013/14 to 2016/2017, so four years, 68,000 people died from flu in Italy. 68,000/4 = 17,000. Italy is the second oldest country on earth and I'd bet almost all of those old people smoke or were smokers at one point in their lives or were married to a smoker. Old people and people that associate with old people SHOULD absolutely isolate. I'm not trying to minimize this, but I feel some context is needed concerning Italy, which is a massive outlier for some reason. Imo the best course of action is to isolate the old and otherwise high-risk people and let everyone else attain herd immunity. We can't keep this up for too much longer or we'll destroy the world and life wont be worth living for anyone.

A few friends awaiting their home!

I hope none of us become a number. Stay healthy, love your family, your friends and yourself.

Rest easy my friends.

A few pieces that eased my pain for any loss you may have or are expereincing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipbukl6oFoQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FQtSn_vak0&t=1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9sTgQ_GYJY

Been on the news, but this post has discussions on effective treatments:

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/03/17/an-effective-treatment-for-coronavirus-covid-19-has-been-found-in-a-common-anti-malarial-drug/

Kind of interesting, many on the web spewing in March this CV19 is just an overblown panic created by the media have gone underground. With 100,000 expected dead by June 1, 2020, it appears this pandemic is far worse than ever thought. But onto the topic at hand - with many drivers diverted to essential goods, many of the ornamental items have been sitting around in the heat and suffering from lack of care, including in their final retail spot. It depends on the distance traveled, but there are definitely far more dried out plants than I can ever recall seeing in other years.

It's incredible how our lives have changed since I started this thread 10 months ago. We now take wearing masks for granted. Christmas trees were expensive and in short supply. My region's large trade show normally held in January was cancelled. Upcoming non-profit plant sales cancelled. Likewise garden club meetings, botanical/nature club meetings, extension presentations etc, have opted for virtual presentations instead. So lets have some good news. In my case I got vaccinated yesterday at a walk in clinic, how about you? Give us something to look forward to when the days get warmer.

(I doubt the groundhog will see his shadow on Tuesday).

Good for you, Sam. I’m waiting my turn and will gladly take the vaccine when it’s available for me. It feels like the only way to reclaim a more social life.

Visitor traffic at the public garden was exponentially higher in 2020. Many of the visitors were dog walkers which is fine with me. The increased interest in gardens feels very positive to me.

sam_md, the legitimate weathercasters think winter will hang on late this year, well into March. 7" snow here, dry snow at first but the last couple inches wet and heavy. Trees bent a fair bit.

Here in Wisconsin, visits to state parks and forests have increased significantly since last March. It wasn't all good, as the DNR had to briefly close some facilities due to people leaving their trash around. Come on people! Still, my hope is there will be a renewed (and sustained) interest in getting back to nature.

Every January several of our friends get together and have a "Living Room Adventure," where we show pictures and talk about the places we visited the past year. Due to Covid, it was done via Zoom last month. Normally these annual get togethers center around far away places some of us have visited. This year the theme was overwhelmingly centered on places closer to home...in some cases our back yard or local woods. I see this as a positive. :)

Unrestrained littering at gatherings of Americans is typical, with the movie segment showing the aftermath of the original Woodstock festival for instance being representative of a norm rather than something only "dirty hippies" do.