LL Bean's holiday commercial ("The snow is coming down on this New England town...") makes the NE seems so charming! And then I think about being cold all of the time...it makes 90/90 summers (90 F, 90% humidity) seem downright bearable. For those of you who dream of moving south, you'll feel right at home here in the NC Piedmont. We have a HUGE influx of folks from NJ and NY! Yes, our summers are hot and humid, but the weather is delightful from October through June. Of course, we're getting a bit of that cold air here as well -- our low on Friday night is forecast to be around 10 F (very unusual), so I too am taking precautions with my figs and other potted plants. Good luck to everyone... As for the global warming comments, the shift to the "climate change" label hardly qualifies as vacillation. Rather, it better reflects the reality of what we face -- an overall, average warming trend that is likely to make weather a whole lot weirder (the key here is "weather" as opposed to "climate" -- there's a big difference). Some areas will be warmer, some colder, some drier, and some wetter. The climate will be warmer, but local weather may be anything but.

Plant the wescot in an area that won't get winter sun and stay consistently below zero .wrap the tree in burlap ,if you do indeed plant it on sunny side of your house put up a shade along with covering it . Also cover root system with fresh grass clippings thick layer or maybe mulch but this will keep the roots frozen all winter . The tree will suffer no dieback if its kept cool in in shade all winter. Beauty thing about that also you can leave it covered until late April or may it helps control a late bloom. I planted 4 westcot last year one other in my moms yard in north facing side of home with out any protection what so ever except snow pile on top of roots kept it dormant . No protection and no sun,That tree did second best of the four only die back on taller limbs . The ones in my south facing yard were wrapped in burlap but still exposed to winter heat hence the many buds dying . I also shoveled snow around the trees in winter this helps keep it frozen . Theirs lots of ways to do it but I think you will be fine. The manchurian apricots survived minus 50 at u of sask and fruited.the westcot and morden604 will produce best tasting as they are bred with other sweeter varity. I've read that the plan old wild manchurian apricot fruit is not very good eating .but it's hardy to minus 50 and if you let fruit ripen on tree it will still be better than store bought green ones :) ......Konrad it's not going to freeze here again lol I'm very interested in your sunrise strain you acquired . It's a manchurian strain and will set fruit all manchurian are self fruitful. Westcot Brookcot M604 Sunrise Mandan. (USA) Mongold (USA) Scout Manchurian strain ( can be variety of different mixes) All of these are prunus Manchuria they all set fruit alone and all can withstand very cold temps . Most important thing is you gotta keep the sun off them in winter and they will probably survive anything . What's the difference between minus 40 and minus 50 ? They feel exactly the same lol

Ohhh! Very nice! It's amazing how fast the morning sky changes, isn't it? Keep taking those early morning photos, I want to see more. Kt

I put a wood look Coretec LVP throughout most of my first floor, in our beach house. You will get some of the cognoscenti who sniff in derision about LVP - but I love the stuff. I have dogs and they can't make a dent in it. My main home has wood floors throughout, and they currently look like I ran a wood chipper over them due to maniac dogs running and having way too much fun on them. (Yes, I've trimmed their nails, in case anyone intends to suggest I try that. I use a dremel once a week, their nails are incredibly short...they're just young exuberant dogs who like to run and play, and they're scratching the heck out of my "real" wood floors in the process.) In theory I would prefer "real" wood, but in my life real wood causes me more trouble than it's worth. YMMV. :)