Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Frosty Foxgloves


The temperature dipped down into the 20s (F) on Monday night, and my backyard foxglove farm was coated with frost when the sun came up.


I grew all those from seed, and as you can see, some of them haven't made it. The squirrels dug up a few, and others simply dwindled away. But I'm taking a very hands-off approach to their survival. I have too many anyway, so Darwin needs to go to work for me here.

I know I say this every year, but this may be the last time I mess with foxglove seeds. The ones that survive will be pretty in spring, though.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

20F is quite cold for London. Let me check, ohh, minus 7. The survival of the fittest is underway.

Moving with Mitchell said...

Your foxglove seeds statement is like some famous singer announcing their retirement — until next year. They even look pretty covered in frost.

Steve Reed said...

It was high 20s F -- more like -3 C. But still cold!

Steve Reed said...

Ha! "It's my FINAL TOUR! I SWEAR!"

Tasker Dunham said...

That's quite a lot, but I bet you have even more self-seeded ones.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

I can see daffodils pushing through in the border next to Foxglove Farm. "Foxglove Farm" could be nominated for a Newbery - the tale of a city dog called Olga who went to live on a farm and frolicked with the farm animals while her owner milked the cows with his bare hands.

Boud said...

Those sound like famous last words of the gardener..

Bob said...

We had an ice storm on Sunday and, with the exception of branches breaking off the hundred or so trees on our property and falling to the ground, the iciness was quite pretty.

Ms. Moon said...

Bless their little foxglove hearts. They may be done but check them on Easter as they may rise from the dead. Who knows?

Pixie said...

Your boss definitely should not have come into work and you guys were right to send her home. What the hell people, although even I want to bend the rules sometimes.

I hope the foxgloves survive, I hope mine survive too. It's been so cold this winter. We had a wild winter storm the other night, lots of blowing snow and wind and it's cold again.

The Bug said...

I like your frosty foxglove nursery!

Anonymous said...

I love your perspective, "...Darwin needs to go to work for me here." I plan to adopt that for so many things!

Sharon said...

Frosty foxgloves make future frilly flowers. (Sorry for that little alliteration.)

Ed said...

I had to google why they call it Foxglove and it certainly wasn't why I had assumed.

ellen abbott said...

They may surprise you and make it through. We're supposed to drop into the 20s Friday night. Today though is warm enough to have the door open.

Red said...

Some plants are prepared for frost.

Margaret said...

Brrrr! Some plants do very well in frost; hope these survive to bloom. I like their leaves!

The Padre said...

Dang - But Makes For Some Priceless Images - And As Long As Olga Girl Is Warm, Life Carries On

Cheers

Wilma said...

That's pretty cold! But I bet you have survivors in there, even if only from reseeding themselves.

Jeanie said...

I do love their leaves. I hope more than a few survive, Steve. I'm trying to winter geraniums. I'm not optimistic!

Linda said...

I gave up on seeds so long ago I can't remember. I decided I didn't have the touch. Looks like you are doing ok. Can't wait to see the end result.

Kelly said...

They do look quite lovely with the frost on them. Since you seem determined not to plant from seeds again, I hope some of these survive! Speaking of Darwin, I haven't seen any "Darwin Awards" in recent years. They're always hilarious (in a sad way).

Bindu said...

Hopefully, some will survive and make you happy in the spring

Catalyst said...

They look all right to me but what do I know?

Steve Reed said...

We do have some wild ones at the side of the house. They seem to self-seed quite well. The cultivated hybrids take a little more nurturing.

Steve Reed said...

Probably! :)

Steve Reed said...

Did you ever see the movie "The Ice Storm" with Joan Allen and Kevin Kline? One of my favorite films. (Kind of a tangent, but there you go.)

Steve Reed said...

I don't think they'll all die. The hardy ones will pull through. Foxgloves are wild here so they're made to survive an English winter.

Steve Reed said...

I think it's sometimes hard to step back and evaluate one's own situation objectively (re Covid). Sometimes another person is needed to point out the obvious.

Steve Reed said...

It's natural that some of them will die, but most will survive, I think.

Steve Reed said...

Absolutely. Nature will take its course.

Steve Reed said...

Fabulous! :)

Steve Reed said...

I thought it was just the shape of the flower -- no?

Steve Reed said...

I think some of them will certainly survive. The stronger ones are equipped to overwinter here.

Steve Reed said...

Yeah, they're durable and made for this climate.

Steve Reed said...

I like their leaves too, though I sometimes have trouble telling them apart from other plants like borage or alkanet.

Steve Reed said...

Nowhere near as chilly as you are in Colorado, I'm sure!

Steve Reed said...

Yeah, some will surely survive. (Fingers crossed!)

Steve Reed said...

We just bring the geraniums indoors. They look terrible for a few months and then in the spring they come out again.

Steve Reed said...

It all depends on the seed! Some grow more easily than others! But they ARE a pain, particularly when the squirrels decide to dig them all up. :/

Steve Reed said...

Yeah, I haven't paid much attention to the Darwin Awards recently -- but I'm sure they're still happening.

Steve Reed said...

Fingers crossed! You'll see pictures in May or June!

Steve Reed said...

Many of them are fine. I didn't mean to suggest they'd all die -- just some of the weaker ones.

Bob said...

I did see that. I am a sucker for Joan Allen.

Colette said...

RE: Foxgloves. For years I grew biennial foxgloves in NYS, they self seeded and always survived the hard winters. In fact, they naturalized in some of the wild areas of our property. I agree that some of yours will survive.

Ed said...

Yes, the flower looks like an gloved fingers. I'm not familiar with them and just had the picture above to go upon and was trying to figure out exactly how they looked anything like gloves or foxes.