Two frosts so far and likely a third tonight... and no appreciable relief from the drought. Cold weather generally means it's time for the mums to come into bloom. I really do enjoy them but hate to devote too much space, so I found an out of the way corner and packed them in. This spring I got rid of hundreds... they are definitely prolific multipliers. I don't mess around with just any mum... mine have to be from the University of Minnesota breeding program as they are the cold hardiest available to the best of my knowledge.
If you are tired of losing your mums sold at the local outlets to harsh winter conditions, you really need to google Faribault Growers and their very extensive collection of mums from Minnesota! They are nice little plants that run a couple bucks or so. Purchase them in spring, pinch through at least July 10th and you'll have quite a nice show the first season... in a couple of years you'll be giving away plants by the dozen if you so choose!
As you take a peak at some of my mums, you'll note that the colocasias have some frost damage... it's been a long season and for the first time ever I'm not stressed about frost as I'm not taking a whole lot in this year... I've always hated the house being taken over monstrous plants... no more, I've had enough of that... brought in my cattleyas, a tropical water lily called 'Tina', a couple oleanders, the Christmas cacti will come in soon (cover them on these nights with frost), a large jade plant and my old Beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm), which by the way, won't get watered again until April!
Here are some of the mums in bloom just now...
I'll close with a few photos taken at dusk this evening...
Take care, Larry
