webesemps said: I'm imagining ear muffs on both Marilyn and MR!!

You'd better believe it! More than earmuffs: one of those badger hats with fur all over! We hit the jackpot this morning with 21.6 below zero (and that's what the thermometer says in farenheit -- forget the windchill) I do not function well in this kind of cold...

It makes me hurt to just think about that kind of cold.

I can't even comprehend that kind of temperature and coldness. I suggested to hubby that we should move out of the state because one day I saw 4 degrees on a thermometer...

Me too! That is way to cold for my southern blood to even understand. I saw that Michigan reached -41 the other day I would be packing my bags! We have been covered in ice the past two days. Most schools shut down and several wrecks on the highways. ( Texans do not know how to drive in snow/ice) I have been fretting about the semps this whole time but am trusting that they can handle the 30 degree ice. This week is starting to be the worst weather as far as the yuck factor than we have had so far all winter. Being stuck indoors do to ice after feeling spring like temps makes it feel like spring will never come. Getting up the stairs to feed the chickens yesterday was a slip and slide nightmare. Even the poor dogs almost slid off the deck trying to go out.
Keep warm everyone!

Oh yes, those frigid temps are way too harsh! I have experienced them when we lived in Winnipeg before, just way too dry cold to the bone beyond freezer coldness. We would get it at -40C and it equates the same to -40F..and we experience that base temp, then add windchill factor, it becomes like -50F or lower. Can't even bring out the trash without wearing triple layers. It is the kind of cold where as you breathe in it feels like the cold air is slicing your nostrils all the way to the lungs. By then when we step out of the house, the only part not covered are your eyes. Our winter jackets were rated to -25C to -30C but in that cold you would need another layer inside.

February is always the pit of winter coldness..always terrible. We would be lucky then to get Spring early in April, sometimes there are still flurries in May. I remember feeling very warm when temps start climbing back to -10 to -15C (5 to14F) afterwards.

Tarev, I would need to take some kind of learning course, should I ever move to a more northern climate. All that kind of thing is another world to me. Hopefully on the bright side this constant dips into freezing this winter will help the semps out. Some have had active growth already, while others have stayed dormant. The color changes have been truly fascinating to watch. The ones that first starting changing have now gone back to green and now the green ones have color. These little guys are just too much fun. Something new everyday. I actually enjoy weeding them because I get up in there and see all the details. The gravel I used on top must have had a lot of wildflower seeds in them. I have been picking out tons of sprouts several times a week.

My semp containers also needs some weeding now, I think I may have reused some soil which I had for muscari, and they are popping up..I thought I have taken out all the muscari before reusing the soil.

And I really need to remove some dried out leaves too, the brown collar of dried out leaves is not pretty and might harbor nasties.

I would think that would be kind of pretty with those blue blooms popping up through little saucers of color. They don't last that long. Maybe they can live together until the blooms are done? Sounds pretty in my head anyway. Maybe in person, not so much... he he

The leaves do bring some nice contrast to the shape of the semps Have been dilly dallying about it too hahah but I will focus first on the dried out old leaves..and I am planting some freesias today so that will keep me from pulling out the muscari for awhile.

Semp rubellum 'Mahogany' truly enjoys the cool temps then our sustained warm-up..got bigger now:
Comparing it to Feb 2015

And today's photo:


And my noid bolting one on the wire basket is just so ready to show:

Looking good tarev. I love 'Rubellum Mahogany', and yours looks so healthy and happy.
Your wire basket should really fill in this year.

Tarev the little smaller green ones in same container as Mahogany look good too!!

Very nice! My wreath planted with semps is still covered with snow -- I do hope the plants have survived! Doesn't look as if I'll be able to peek (eyes or camera) for at least another week, though. I know jealousy is not a pretty emotion; I'm sure struggling with it right now, though!

gg5 said:Tarev the little smaller green ones in same container as Mahogany look good too!!

Oh yeah! Those are Semp 'Kalinda' they are equally happy too!

Thanks Lynn, Greg and MR!

MR, not to worry, soon your jealousy will disappear in joy with the coming warm weather. Then we can rejoice in your new photos.

That is right MR! You will have much better temps than we do here as we head on to our super dry and hot temps...survival of the fittest for my semps.

I sure hope so -- right now the temp. is sitting at 41; then according to the National Weather Service (yes, I'm also a weather junkie) back down to snow; Saturday night 8 degrees and nothing above freezing again 'till Monday (44) and that's as high as it's predicted to go in today's 10-day report. They predicted an exceptionally warm spring for the Northeast. Haven't seen it yet...

At the 91F temp right now..so noid semp on the half basket has started to bloom, enjoying the swan song:

Its too bad because you now have to replace it, but it sure is pretty!!