" it's still bloody winter!" Well Pieter, for most of us lol! That is going to take vigilance and perhaps extreme measures to keep clausa safe. Even for you the weather could fluctuate wildly. Do you keep some winter blanket (fleece) for occasions like this? There must be times you might have to bring a pot or three inside for a night or two?

Laurie, I don't bother with blankets... I may perhaps put a cloche over a smaller pot but they simply stay in their shelter which is like a mini greenhouse without a door.

Having said all that, I do bring a lot of containers in to force. I have been participating in spring sales for one the local garden clubs. This year the sale is the last Saturday in March and the plants won't be large enough to make a decent presentation if I left them outdoors. They'll come in early February...

Pieter

Found a picture....

Wow, Pieter! Pips already? It’s 3 degrees F here in zone 6a. No signs of pips here, lol 😂

debra

Paula, that rack @Lowe's ought to look pretty fugly by now.
BTW, nice to see you're using your old handle again/still...
Pieter

Ha! I also stalk the sale rack at Lowes, looking for things they’ve almost killed. Picked up a half dozen Astilbe one year for a dollar a pot because they werent watering, and they recovered nicely with regular water until they established.

It has started to unfurl.... and I'm seeing quite a few more, will have to take some more pictures.
Pieter

clausa doing what it does so well....spread...

Pieter

As I believe I have said before, I'm cheating, and my wife approves... I'm cheating to get my potted hostas to break and leaf out pretty much, in time for a fundraiser sale for one of local gardening clubs...

'Wind beneath my Wings'

Most of them are well on their way and a fair number of them have already been transferred to an open greenhouse to harden them off. Sale is March 28th and I expect them all to be looking just fabulous dahlin'
Pieter

They look terrific already and by the date of the sale they will indeed be fabulous!

Time for an update...

'Chinese Sunrise' nosing up in the yard....

'Undulata Albomarginata' recovering nicely from fairy ring...
Pieter

Time for some more pictures, not to rub it in but to remind you all that brighter things are just around the corner...

Here's 'First Frost'...

...and 'Lemon Frost'..

'Chinese Sunrise'

Enjoy!!!
Pieter

I did enjoy!!! Still snow here but spring will come. I imagine the plant sale went very well.

Yes indeed Laurie, the sale went well for me, MUCH better than last year's... Now it's a matter of letting the rest of the plants catch up and I'll probably do a carport sale towards the end of the month.
Pieter