How do perennials, such as lilies specifically do with freezes? Roses can take a lot, but I have a bunch of lilies growing and I am new to lilies so don't know how much effort is worth it to expend trying to protect them.

Exactly why I waited this week. I did not trust the 37-40 degree lows to stay that way.

I did plant out a few peppers in my sunniest beds, but I have back-ups in case and will protect them.

Grapes are leafed out but supposed to be good down to 29 degrees.

Tomatoes ae sill in WOWs. I can close up most, but a few are growing out the top and will be covered.

Other than that all I have out a few cool weather items and lupines, pansies and calif poppies that are supoosed to be good at mid-20's.

Cross our fingers!

Aaaaaargh. Yeah, I saw a similar forecast for here, as well.

Sorry L Clark, but I've no idea about lilies as I've no experience with them yet. I assume they're pretty tough, given how much they're planted in parking lots and other inhospitable landscapes.

I've got a gorgeous volunteer (bird planted?) grape vine leafing out big time on the north side of the house in a cold spot, but the tomatoes, peppers, sunflowers and zinnias ain't going out until after this cold front is well behind us. I've been burned too many times when they say, "Temperatures should hover just above freezing" -- only to have it dip down to the low 20s.

I'm hoping they're wrong and it swings the other direction and we just get much needed rain in the upper 30s. But you know how it is...

* I'm assuming this is also the case for members in the other Rocky Mountain states, as well.

--L

L Clark, I recommend covering the lilies if you can. I will be covering my peonies and throw some large nursery pots over leafed out hostas where possible.

Fortunately I didn't go ham on the annuals outside yet. I have purchased quite a few but they have yet to be put in containers so I can just shove them in the garage.

I have rising cannas and dahlias in pots outside, I will huddle them all together against the warm side of the house and throw a frost cloth over them.

Gardening here sure is exhausting sometimes!

Forecast keeps getting worse and worse for me. Now record cold, they say.

popmama wrote: Gardening here sure is exhausting sometimes!

I know, right?? The forecast isn't budging. If anything, they're calling for slightly colder temps than before.

Here's a super helpful link I just found from Echter's that lists which plants can take a sudden Colorado cold snap, and which can't. It lines up with my experiences overall, but your mileage may vary depending on your elevation/microclimates: http://www.echters.com/Reference/FrostHardiness.htm

And of course this weather switcheroo just has to happen when all the high school graduation parties are going on...

--L

Great list.

I see that African Daisies appear at both 4/20 and 5/20. I think that 5/20 is right.

I di not realize that cosmos could go out April 20. I have been holdin a dozen plants.

Jerry

Laura, thank you for that link! I am deciding which of my perennials to protect with our collection of Home Depot buckets and my 6 wall-o-waters; it's very helpful!

What about clematis? I splurged on some late last summer, they've come in great, and now I'm sick at the thought of losing all the growth. I am planning to cut a box to fit over their bases but does anyone have tips on protecting the climbing vines?

3 of our 4 clematis made it through the 14 degree night in Mid-April with nothing more than temporary drooping. The 4th died to the ground but has recovered just fine.

It was cold enough to kill off our daffodil blooms that had just come out.

Jerry that's very reassuring! Thanks!

I was going to ask about clematis. good info, thanks

gjcore,

Your iris are gorgeous. We only have two blooms right now. We decided not to cover anything. Too much to cover so we just are going to let it ride and see what happens.

Aw! They're sooooo very pretty!

Our strawberries came through fine. I had two yesterday and one today. They were so sweet and delicious. Looks to be a fair number ripening over the next few days as the heat returns.

Also been enjoying the chives both before and after the snow.