In a normal Spring, I wouldn't worry about overnight low temperatures dropping into the 20s. Things in the garden would just be beginning to push up in the first week of April, so nothing would be in danger from sudden frosts. But with this year's unseasonably warm temperatures all through March, the garden is way ahead of schedule. The martagon lilies are up a foot; my rockii peony is about to bloom for the first time this year; the woodland peonies are in full bud and starting to open; and the clematis has a record number of buds.
So the last two nights I've gone into the garden to try to protect what I can — which is not really that much. I've used old plastic plant pots and big 5-gallon plastic buckets to cover the lilies and the smaller peonies. I covered the big clumps of lilies and big peonies with old sheets draped over wire cages and bamboo stakes. Then I held the coverings in place with clothes' pins or bricks so things wouldn't blow around in the breeze.
The temperature was 28 degrees F. (-2.22C) when I got up at 7 a.m. this morning. When it rose to 34, I went out and removed my protective coverings. But I left them nearby to use again next week when it looks like the weather pattern will continue. I will hate to lose any plants but at least I am not a farmer or orchardist whose livlihood will take a hit from these low temps. We've already had a truncated maple syrup season from the hot weather; now farmers and gardenrs must contend with the cold.
Image No. 1: Peony Coral Sunset under a bucket; No. 2: Clumps of martagon lilies in the driveway border; Nos. 3 & 4: Covering a huge clump of martagons with a sheet draped over bamboo stakes; in the foreground a smaller clump of liles has been caged and covered with a sheet.
