Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Flower and Flurry


This white comfrey appeared of its own accord in our garden this spring. Mrs. Kravitz next door used to have comfrey, and a year or two ago she tore it all out -- but I'm thinking this must be a descendant of hers. We have some too, but ours has purple blooms and is supposed to be a variety that doesn't re-seed. (Regular comfrey apparently re-seeds like crazy, so while I'm happy to have this now, it may eventually become a pest!)

I woke up at 3:30 a.m. and checked the weather app on my phone, which said it was 30º F (-1º C) outside. And sure enough, when I let the dog out a few hours later, there was frost and the bird bath was frozen solid. I have no idea how the plants have fared.

Yesterday afternoon, we had this:


What a crazy year! I think last night was the coldest one we're expecting, but nighttime temperatures aren't supposed to rise above 40º F for the foreseeable future. 

Queen Victoria: We are not amused.

Here are some garden shots from the past few days. I think most of these plants should be OK through this cold spell -- fingers crossed!


Our bleeding heart (dicentra) is performing again, with the forget-me-nots as its back-up singers. I always like this combination.


One of our azaleas is blooming, but I'm not sure how the flowers will handle the freeze. Stay tuned.



We have several violas that have come up on their own. Mrs. Kravitz gave us a flat of violas last year, and although all those plants eventually died -- they're annuals -- apparently they re-seeded pretty vigorously. They're scattered around the patio and in the flowerpots.


This is actually a weed known as hairy bittercress. I kind of like it, so for now I'm leaving it where it grew in the pot with the lupines. Like comfrey, it can become a pest, though.

37 comments:

Moving with Mitchell said...

I wasn't familiar with comfrey or hairy bittercress. It's a shame they're so invasive. Can't believe your weather variations. We've been surprisingly stable temperature-wise in recent weeks. Daytime temps have ranged from around 60-70F. Good chance of some rain coming later in the week but temps will climb. I know I've said it before but, I love your garden. What a great way to live in the city.

David said...

You have an amazing garden and your pictures are always an inspiration. For a garden that is definitely not the fussy, manicured kind of garden, it is beautiful. You always come up with spectacular photos. Thank you.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

It was snowing like crazy in that video. A veritable blizzard. Did you rush out to build a snowman? We had actual snow up here - half an inch of it on our lawn but as the day progressed it melted away like an orange-haired president.

Anonymous said...

Hairy bittercress! Interesting. Lol at YP's melted away like an orange haired president. I subscribed to your YouTube and it appears slightly more interesting than mine but it is a hard call.

Steve Reed said...

We're thankful for it every day. I just wish it was warm enough to sit outside!

Steve Reed said...

I'm glad you like them! Yeah, for me, part of the fun of gardening is seeing what nature does all by itself. I am not a manicurist!

Steve Reed said...

We built a very tiny snowman but as soon as his upper half was completed his lower half had already melted.

Steve Reed said...

Ha! My YouTube channel (as they call it) is really just a place to put videos that I post to my blog. I don't think you'll find anything there that you won't also get here!

Bob said...

Our azaleas are blooming like mad in fuchsia, pink and white. Just gorgeous.
And while we cool to the low 40s at night, during the day we hit 70s and 80s. It's the perfect weather.

And I have decided that, when I get in a certain mood, that I shall be called Harry Bittercress!

Ms. Moon said...

Snowing on the spring flowers! How odd. And yet, I know it happens. I think that last night was indeed the last night we'll have temperatures in the forties for a very long time. It's been glorious while it's lasted.

Ellen D. said...

When you mention your neighbor, Mrs. Kravitz, I always think of Gladys Kravitz, the nosy neighbor on the "Bewitched" TV show. Do you remember her? or are you too young? I hope your Mrs. Kravitz isn't the snoop that Gladys was!
Your flowers are so lovely!

Sharon said...

Wow, snow in April. It gave me a chill just thinking about it. I love seeing all the flowers and I hope they survive this freeze. I heard on the news this morning that some of the pubs there will be able to open up soon.

gz said...

Hairy bittercress..put some leaves in with a leafy salad (autocorrect made that buttercreams 😄)
No, we are not amused either. Unfriendly weather.

Tasker Dunham said...

Comfry I can control. Bittercress I can't.

Anonymous said...

Your flower garden is so beautiful. I love seeing these photos because you always help me remember the names of the flowers we have blooming here. Thank you for that. Hope the weather warms up there.

Steve Reed said...

Oh, how I would love a 70-80 degree day. Harry Bittercress is an EXCELLENT "drag gardener" name!

Steve Reed said...

Things are supposed to get a bit warmer after tonight, at least until the weekend. But I am OVER this cold. I want it to leave.

Steve Reed said...

That's exactly the joke. My neighbor's real name is not Mrs. Kravitz. But she is somewhat Kravitz-like. :)

Steve Reed said...

So far so good on the plants, I think. And yes, the pubs are supposed to reopen (in a limited capacity) on Monday. I'm not sure we'll dive right in, but I hope to be able to go soon!

Steve Reed said...

I read that it could be eaten! I had no idea! Now I have an excuse to keep it. I'm growing salad. :)

Steve Reed said...

Apparently bittercress has a short life cycle -- 12 weeks -- so it re-seeds really quickly. (I read about it!)

ellen abbott said...

the weather has been very weird this year. if the bird bath was frozen solid then probably the azalea flowers didn't survive. pansies and violas though are tough. mine made it through that week of nights in the 20s and teens, a little damage but they are blooming profusely now.

Steve Reed said...

Oh, good! I'm glad you get a little "memory boost" from my posts!

Steve Reed said...

Yeah, the violas are fine so far. Surprisingly, the azaleas seem OK too. We may have more cold-hardy azaleas here than you have in the South.

Margaret said...

We've had very cold nights too. Are you using portrait mode? I have a new IPhone 12 pro(my 7 didn't have it); I need to play around with that setting more.

Red said...

Your garden is already very colorful. Most plants should be able to withstand a light frost and what you have is a light frost.

Catalyst said...

I'm always amazed at your horticulturist knowledge. (You know the old joke, don't you? You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her . . .)

Allison said...

Your garden is wonderful, it gives me plant envy.

Steve Reed said...

You mean for the video? I just turned the phone on its side. The still photos were taken with my Canon camera.

Steve Reed said...

I'm sure in the scheme of things it's very light, but to me it feels Arctic!

Steve Reed said...

Well, I'm not THAT knowledgeable. Google helps a lot!

Steve Reed said...

Well, I have cactus and bougainvillea envy! The grass is always greener. Or the mesquite.

Linda Sue said...

A two flake snow man? Just a little test to see just which plants are hearty.

Ellen D. said...

Your photos are so pretty! My favorites are the violas! The color is so lovely. Thanks for sharing!

Steve Reed said...

I'd rather not be tested, but I guess I don't get a say in the matter!

Steve Reed said...

Glad you liked them! The violas ARE nice, especially since they're completely free, courtesy of nature (and Mrs. Kravitz).

Blondi Blathers said...

Comfrey, you say? Does anyone in your social circle have psoriasis or eczema or something like that? A medicine man I know says to apply the leaf, fuzzy-side-down, and keep it there several days (or replace it with new leaves if you are fortunate enough to have one of these plants). -Kate