Jay, Our winter weather has been abnormally cold and wet in Love County, and with very few 'abnormally warm' days, which is great because those very warm days wake up the trees and perennials too early. Jan. and Feb. both were below-average in temperature and above-average in rainfall. Although March is not half-over yet, it is showing a trend, once again, for cooler than average but perhaps only average in rainfall. Since the last few years have had too much warmth early on followed by later cold that hurts the young plants, I am enjoying the return to more normal weather. I hope it lasts. Our long-term forecast, based on El Nino's slow 'death march' back to more normal Sea Surface Temperatures, still indicates a cooler and wetter than average spring, which I feel is preferable to a warmer and dryer spring. Unlike last spring, we are not out fighting mega-wildfires daily and I am actually able to get things done here at our place. Our 15-day forecast looks exactly average for our county in terms of temperatures. I hope to get the last of the cool-season crops into the ground this week. They're going in a little late because the ground has been too wet, but maybe going in a tad late will lessen the likelihood of freeze damage. After I am through with the cool-season crops, I will just watch the soil temps and air temps and plant warm season crops by them and not by the calendar. This may be the first year since 2007 that I will get my warm-season crops planted "on time". Unfortunately, I'm already seeing the imported cabbage worm moths and it seems there's a lot of grub worms in the beds and paths....many more than usual, but we save them as we dig them up and then Maddie and I feed them to the chickens. Lady bugs, butterflies and some moths, bees and wasps are out and about and all the frogs are singing at night now--not just the spring peepers. The wildflowers have been later this year, probably in response to the cold temps, but more and more are showing up daily. Our winter ducks have left us to head back north. I'm liking this spring so far despite the still cold nights. Honestly, our weather swings back and forth so wildly that it is hard to define what a normal spring is, but I'm liking what I see of this spring so far. Dawn

Synopsis... as of 3 am...a 991mb surface low is located just west of Jefferson City MO...with rapid pressure falls to the east and northeast of this low. The rain snow line is approximately from Stockton Illinois...to Iowa City...to near Ottumwa...with convection along and south of that axis continuing to produce occasional burst of heavy wet snow...while a more steady snow continues to the north. Farther south...upright thunderstorms continue to fire from near kirks ville through the quadrant cities...this convection earlier brought thundersnow...but is now a mix by latest reports or just rain. Heavy snow and blowing snow is found from central Iowa through eastern Kansas. An incredible evolution of dynamics is set to take place today as a new deformation zone is forecast to develop over the County Warning Area as temperatures aloft become cold enough for all snow. During this time...a massive pressure drop is forecast creating favorable conditions wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour through this evening. Short term... today will be tremendously changeable day...as the central areas begin with moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms...then rapidly change over to heavy wet snow and high winds...blizzard conditions. Our west should see high winds develop around 5 to 7 am...and a Blizzard Warning continues...now until midnight. Have upgraded the central counties to Blizzard Warning through midnight as secondary deformation zone is forecast by all models...and is now forming in eastern Kansas as shown on satellite and radar. This new def zone should be very intense...and compared to the current one over Iowa and Nebraska...it should be smaller in size. This tightening is common with very intense cyclones...and should not be viewed as a diminishing feature. The gradient of around 30 mb over Iowa today should be more than enough for very high winds sustained around 40 miles per hour...gusting to 50 - 60 miles per hour through this evening. Tree damage and power-line damage certainly appears likely due to wet snow accumulation on them stressed farther by high winds. Visibilities should be sub 1/4 in open areas over most the County Warning Area in heavy snow today. ... it begins... it appears the Burlington through quadrant cities to Freeport counties will not change until 9 am to 11 am...but once it does... a high impact event will unfold. Rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour should allow for a quick 4 to 8 inches of snow along the Mississippi River in southeast Iowa northeast to around Freeport. Heavy quantitative precipitation forecast in models is concerning for more snow...and will be watched closely as things evolve...though the wind is as much as a threat as any with this event.

I wouldn't bother taking it inside unless it gets into the 30's at night. Let it go dormant. Your plant should have gotten it's last feeding about a month before dormancy sets in. This year is obviously too late but I wouldn't worry about it. Xerophyte is right about the best thing being complete dormancy. Do you have any unheated rooms or maybe a utility closet that stays above freezing? It doesn't need light and very little water while dormant. I'd stop watering it now in preparation for dormancy. Cool moist soil can cause rot. Take it back into warmth and light sometime around Apr and give it a dose of epsom salts (diluted in water: 1 tbls to 1 gallon water) to wake it up. You can keep it outside during the day once the temps warm up and leave it out 24/7 once the nighttime temps are about 60. Start on a regular fertilizing schedule and water as needed. Until it gets really hot you won't need to water too often. Hopefully you'll have flowers next summer. Karyn

DelWH - it is alrady a yearly event. I trade the cuttings to a nursery in Pasadena for vegetable starts (they have an awesome selection of heirloom tomatoes). wrcaz - the tree is on the south side of the house. If I was doing it again, I wouldn't put it that close to the house. If there's sun, it's getting sun. It's in full sun all day long. Peg - yep, it sure did grow too good. I never in my wildest dreams it would do that well. jandy - the nursery I mentioned above has done just that. I know two of them sold for $185 each. And they were thrilled to get them at that price. Of course, it's Pasadena...big bucks in Pasadena. sbrow156 - I prune in Feb or early March. Fewer leaves to contend with. And it's dormant, so less stress on the tree and less sap pouring out of the cuts.