Boy, do I feel liberated by making the decision that only the strong will survive in my yard. If it freezes, oh well. It won't be replaced with the same thing. I am just OVER the hauling and covering. Not going to do it any more! My mainstay shrubs and trees will be freeze hardy, or at least will come back, if they freeze down somewhat. Annuals, etc, I will replace, but I won't be bringing them in.

I'M A FREE AND LIBERATED WOMAN!! WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!

It feels good. I'll just go sit by the fire Tuesday night and let nature do her pruning and thinning of the things I have left in the yard.

Try it. You'll like it.

*grin*

Marcia

Hey Marcia. Don't rub it in. Hahaha. I get where you're coming from though. But I want mangos! My yard was low-care for years and then I stumbled on the garden web. *lol*

Yes, when I moved into this place, I decided that I was going to have a "survival of the fittest" mentality. I decided that I wasn't going to spend all of my time protecting and watering my plants. I wanted my place xeriscaped and self-maintaining for the most part. I plan on doing minimal watering and periodic fertlizing and some weeding. Otherwise I want it to be "hands off". Life is too short! I would rather spend my time learning how to grow veggies!

However I will be in Orlando Wednesday through the weekend. Brrrrrr!

Heather

Let's not forget though...some things that will live to 26 degrees (mangos), will die at 32 when they are young. I too hope to be liberated, but I need my trees to get bigger first!

I reckon it's okay to be semi-liberated (not to be confused with semi-literate, of course) and have SOME things that need pampering. Eventually, I may have a few tempermental plants in my yard again, too. But not until I have my beds full of tough, hardy plants and everything looking good. Once that is done, if I want to experiment with tender things in pots here and there...a VERY FEW, ONLY...I might. But for now, I'm really being hard-hearted. Like I said in another post, I just told them all they had to get tough or die!! I'm going to be BRUTAL when the cold weather is all past. My rule of thumb will be to rip out anything that died and replace it with stuff that's good for at least one full night of 32 or below before it croaks.

*stomps off sternly shaking fist at tempermental plants and letting them know I'm REALLY serious, here*

Marcia

Marcua, I rold mine that i they want to stay warm they have to knock on the door and bring their own selves in. So far three have knocked and it was funny watching them drag themselves into the house. Now there is knocking on the patio door. It s the plumeria wanting to come in and the dang thing has sprouted leaves once again. These dang plants just will not leave me along. *g*

Marcua, if you want some company on pulling weeds since I am feeling better I woul love to come over and work next to the coleus qyeen. Linda

Hi
Have worked for years to make the "Perfect" Gh for zone 10 but just when there's going to be a real test the system broke down lol. I had great hopes for it.lol
After all these years I still refuse to believe orchids are NOT garden plants but I still think they are far prettier growing natually on the trees??
Oh welll, This year I only have 3 plants that are rated
at 60. , but they are in pots and I do have a "warm "room in the house. For the orchids will revert back to the old frostcloth heat thing lol Gee and not two years ago I had the chance to put them back into pots!!
Good luck everybody!!! gary

"My yard was low-care for years and then I stumbled on the garden web. *lol*"

LoL! Me too, Atreelady! I blame the Florida Forum folks. When first joining, I really thought to sign up with the moniker "Twig" and still thinking of switching my nic to that. But you wanna know what? This forum even has me buying composted cow poopie. lol.

Good luck to everyone with this coming cold snap....and....best wishes for a.....

Don't be so quick to condemn plants after the freeze this week .
The temps have been know to dip much lower in Central and South Florida .
You might be amazed at what will return after looking like a blow torch hit it .
I have seen plants return after a year .
Woody stems have a much better chance than say -soft plants like Impatiens .
20's here and I will see some leaf damage .
Do not run out and prune afterwards !
Back away from the clippers !
Wait until at least mid February - please !

I nurtured two little mangoes that are now grown ups and way too big to get covered when there is threat of frost! They are loaded with blooms and probably the top ones will certainly get burnt (oh another funny English language thingy)here on the boundary of 9 and 10. We are predicted to have 34 and32 in WPB and I am always 5 degrees colder here.

Good luck with your mangoes in chilly Orlando.
Bernie

IÂm singing the same song as some of you. I decided I would not cover and let Mother Nature decide upon survival in my garden. But thenÂsomeone at the Garden Club brought in some bromeliads and I took one. First it was in a pot on my lanai but it pupped and then I had two. So I planted one under the palm. And that one pupped. Cold weather descended upon our location and I held fast  I would not cover. And the bromeliad got some brown leaves which I looked at for the rest of the growing season.

That bromeliad is a prolific one and after a couple of years my patch under the palms is looking good. Now I cover because I remind myself that for lack of one night of effort, thereÂll be brown leaves the rest of the year.

But thatÂs the only plant IÂm going to plant that needs covering. OhÂexcept for the new little Fireball brom thatÂs on the lanai but is pupping. ItÂd make such a colorful groundcover under theÂ

(I blame Fawnridge. Have you looked at his garden album? There are enough oohs and aahs there to cause a weak willed gardener to plant a tender tropical(s) that they shouldnÂt.)