Weather gamblers — big losers
Gardeners who gambled on another warm weather winter in the southwest
lost. Who knew our cool beaches would be cold, our horticulture drooping and our restaurants overflowing with gardeners and snowbound bodies looking for a warm drink? Really!
We will thaw out soon, so everyone just slow down and enjoy a little bit of a different lifestyle while you can.
Visitors from Boston and everywhere north of Virginia, just relax and stay put. You are having an unplanned adventure that will go down in history books. If your big goal in life is not to shovel trucks full of snow for days and days, stay put.
I understand there is a long list of hardships with this kind of surprise adventure, however Mother Nature is the boss right now and no human is going to change her wild-ish ways.
We will have to change to fit our needs as best we can. A good time for some old-time conversation, hours over a warm meal or drink, or an afternoon stroll in the insistent rays of our afternoon sunshine. We may be able to help someone that is having more problems with this inclement time than ourselves.
Keep advised of weather situations and figure out some plans that will work for you or even help someone else with their plans if they are completely clueless about what to do.
Locals can extend a friendly hand to those stranded here, a friendly drink or visit time. Strike up a conversation, I know any New Yorkers stranded here would love to trade stories with local New Yorkers.
Have a weather report party. The technology nowadays can certainly make the news events up North worthy of viewing. Have a snow dance. Plenty of Pubs and Bistro’s right here in the Cape.
It is not all snow up there. A couple of days ago family from the south of Jersey called to complain about no snow but a mean temperature of 20 degrees. I meekly complained about my 45-degree morning and was almost laughed right off the phone. That did not make me feel very much warmer.
My bedding plants are not much warmer either. They are hanging in with the frequent periods of afternoon sun and sleeping under the sheets. I always knew geraniums and marigolds were cold hardy and they are proving that. I have a beautiful orange and white ground orchid that I bought at a roadside plant sale about 5 years ago, doing so well, but a favorite trailing coleus is definitely not doing well. A pot of fox tail is doing great. Also a few 3-year-old caladiums are doing pretty well. They are setting out in a front plant bed without any cover to protect them – not even a sheet.
Speaking of caladiums, they are a hardy plant, some for sun some for shade, with large colorful leaves. They are a tuber plant and after setting them out and watering them well to get them started, they are just no care. Just leave them in year around.
These easy lovelies will be for sale March 13 at Jaycee Park, here in the Cape. That is the annual Plant and Yard Art sale by the Cape Coral Garden Club. An all-day event right down by the river, north of the Cape Coral Bridge. There will be a large sign on Del Prado. It is free, lots of parking, also free, and a great way to spend a Saturday strolling around among flowers and vendors. A craft table will be available for the kids.
A hugh raffle and a few snacks will be available. Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Remember warmer days will soon be here. Take this time for a cool break. Make a new friend.
Happy gardening till we meet again.
H.I. Jean Shields is past president of the Garden Club of Cape Coral.