Someone told me to soak your plants with cold water as the sun rises in the early morning, and it should help save your plants from frost damage. I don't know how true it is, I've never tried. We have mature fully leafed out maples all around our house, where the majority of my plants are, their canopy should and usually does protect my plants from frost, so I'm not too worried about my perennials. Even so, I may get up and look outside, and soak the plants if necessary. None of my annuals have been planted out, so they're all in the garage. Not taking any chances on $100 worth of annuals getting fried. It'll be another couple weeks before they get planted anyway, so hopefully no more of this frost nonsense. Karen

The open blooms are likely to be damaged, but the buds are quite hardy, even if they are showing color. I don't know what the temperatures are predicted to go down to in your area, but covering with a sheet that goes clear to the ground wouldn't be a silly thing to do. No plastic.

If your sour cream walnuts are crystallizing and you want them more fudgy, you can try a couple of things. 1. Calibrate your thermometer. Check to see the temperature is accurate by putting it in boiling water. Does it read 212 degrees (or whatever boiling is at your altitude). Sometimes a thermometer will be off a degree or two. Once you know you can allow for that. 2. If you substitute a different form of sugar, the crystals don't bond. So reduce the white sugar by a tablespoon or two and use corn syrup instead. 3. The soft ball stage actually starts at 235 degrees with 240 being the maximum. At 240 you have to be pretty speedy getting the walnuts on the tray and separated, especially if you're doing a double batch. It's fine to back off a bit on the temperature, resulting in a softer creamier coating. Try 236, for instance. I hope this helps. Carol

When I posted this, I was curious about the weather, but now I'm paranoid about the deer. I have a Meyer, ST, Satsuma, Tango, NZL, Pink Lemon, Key Lime, Persian Lime. The deer have never touched my citrus...yet; they eat everything else. I'm sure a day will come come they do go for it, but I've been lucky so far. During the summer, I tuck the pots up next to the house at night, behind some bushes. But this time of year everything is dead and there's no cover. As much as I would love to leave them out, I'm would be devastated if they deer 'sampled' them. I guess I have to sacrifice the morning light for trees that are not eaten. I really need a greenhouse and a way to keep the deer away. They have no fear here. Last summer I lived in constant anxiety and would wake up in the middle of the night because I heard them tramping around the garden. I'd run over to the window and bang on it and yell at them. Everyone thinks I'm crazy, they are probably right.