Published Friday, January 25, 2008 10:06 AM
Updated Friday, January 25, 2008 10:09 AM

 

Watts Line

Cold is the death of plants


So here it is January and finally we have the cold weather that folks have been wishing for. (We have wool suits and sweaters that need to be worn, you know.)

But for crying out loud, we didn't need it to be this cold, did we?

The last couple of days, I have worn what I grew up referring to as my "big coat" along with the pair of leather gloves my mother gives me every year for Christmas. As a result, I have a drawer full of gloves, four of which don't have mates. (I figure if I hold onto those four long enough, Momma will repeat a style at some point and the extra will come in handy when I lose one of the mates to the new pair.)

Anyway, we do have a little cold weather every year. Granted, the last few years it's been more of a rumor than anything else.

In anticipation of a freeze, or whenever the TV weather forecasters (better known as meteorologists; and the really hotshot ones who are designated as "certified" meteorologists) predict a freeze, I take note and make plans to pull out the protection for the yard plants that I've dragged from one season to the next for the last so long. I actually have a geranium that's going on five years and a few begonias that have lingered for three.

Then there are the camellias that just started blooming last week. Not sure there's any way to save them once they've bloomed, but there are plenty of buds left that will make it through to bloom in another week or so.

I take the most care with the two big old houseplants that no longer fit in the house because they summer outdoors and have grown into humongous plants. One of them is nearly tree-sized and the only way it could come in my house is if I get a bigger house.

I've had the two oversized once-upon-a-time houseplants for a while. One was from the subject of a profile story I wrote some years ago and the other was from a friend. Another great plant was on the front still adorned with lights from Christmas, so I decided to leave them and cover the plant, hoping the slight warmth from the tiny bulbs would generate enough heat under the sheet canopy to protect it.

They're all great plants, so I make every effort to take care of them in the exhausting heat of summer, dragging them into the shade and watering them regularly when it's hot enough to kill a roach; and swathing them in old sheets, towels and tablecloths when the occasional hard freeze comes our way.

And they've done well all this time - until Wednesday night.

That night when I arrived home, I dragged out my stash of old plant swaddles. It was dark before I got around to layering them on. The wind had picked up, so the covers were blowing off almost as fast as I could put them on the plants. But I finally got them to stay to my satisfaction and before I froze myself.

The next morning, half of the biggest tree was uncovered, but looked healthy still. I left for work hoping it might be okay, but by the time I got home that night it was brown in spots.

That night I was even more diligent and pulled out a big green tablecloth from the laundry and layered that on the biggest of the plants, also.

Next morning, all the covers were off. It looked a little brown all over. I figure it's a goner.

But the light-bedecked plant on the front patio is still looking pretty good. So far, that one seems to have weathered the cold.

I'll know by the weekend when the temps once more rise to flip-flop weather.

This weather will be the death not only of my special plants, but all of us.

Is that a cold I feel coming on? Maybe I'll string a few lights on myself and cover up with an ugly sheet.

Contact Judy Watts at jwatts@journalscene.com or 873-9424, ext. 220