I check three reports, two using the local zip code but where the weather stations providing the info are in different locations and one using the zip of a town in the county west of mine. Because I'm low on a river bottom, in winter I match that western zip more than the ones for my county. It's not as reliable for summer weather temps, but for some reason there isn't as much variance during the warm weather months between locations either. Micro climates, elevation all make a difference. It's when they all miss it badly that I'm facing disaster. Usually happens at least once and so far this winter they haven't been that far off though they've been late to update it causing a last minute scramble. Really hard to stay on top of the weather here.

With KXAN, I entered our area and it's fairly accurate. Our immediate area is hills and valleys. We're on a hill, so I can figure it being a little warmer when it's still. It's the valleys that get the freezing nights. 'Closer to the creek.

Wonder what the pioneers did to gauge the weather? Guess they lost lots of plants and animals before someone figured out how to read the clouds and the winds each season. I'm thinking tonight will be a "three dog night" here!

I normally am pretty good at tracking the weather, but I dropped the ball this weekend. My heart fell to my feet when I saw that ice this morning. I am sooooo lucky our micro climate on our hill saved my butt last night. I brought them all in today and will start over again for this weekends nice temps. I lost a bunch of priceless collectables last year when I had made a home made green house out of a gazebo. The forecast was changed at the very last minute and temps fell to 21. My rigged greenhouse did not stand a chance. This year I have not taken any chances, so this morning I was really unhappy with myself.

We are so close to spring that I keep wanting to start some seeds inside. Last year we had a freeze warning in mid April. It really is hard to know what the rest of winter will bring. Everything is coming out of dormancy to soon. I even saw some new black bamboo sprouts coming out today. That really surprised me. It is still really early for bamboo. That must mean that the soil is warm enough now.

Did anyones mountain laurel bloom last year? None of the ones on our land bloomed and I noticed the ones in town did not either. I had never noticed them not bloom unless a freeze zaps the blooms, but that did not happen last year. Just thought it was odd.

@Esperanza If you want something temporary that you can take down in spring, you might look over the one we have. It has lasted many winters. We just fold the plastic and store it in a big square. The pipes go along side the fence on the side of the house. This one is about 20 feet long, but it has been shorter . . . and longer! Not the prettiest, but I like that it disappears in the spring.

I started out with a small hoop house about 3 or 4 feet tall and about 6 feet long to cover some tropical hibiscus that were planted in the ground. I only had a couple of strands of Xmas lights in it. Our then Extension/Master Gardener guru was over at my house and noticed it. It wound up in an article he wrote for Texas Gardener magazine.


http://garden.org/ideas/view/B...

Sandi, that is a really great idea. Thank you for sharing

You're welcome!

I just got back from a long wedding weekend in San Francisco. It was warmer there than it was in Southeast Texas! They had higher temps then usual. We have lower temps then usual.

On the wedding day the sun was shining and it was 73º. It made for a beautiful outdoor ceremony. And even comfortable outside when we left at 10:30 pm! I am sure glad I didn't bother to pack that bulky, wool dress coat.

On Sunday, I went to a Field Archery range with my uncle and walked for 3-4 hours shooting 28 targets. It was my first time and I had so much fun, mostly chasing arrows. Spending my uncle whom I hadn't seen in 40 years was pretty awesome, too. That day was sunny, breezy, and gorgeous!

Now I am home in 42º, rainy cold day. I think I want to go back to Sunny San Francisco!

Well, a little bit of cold rain wasn't going to keep me inside today. I mention that I need to go to Barton Springs Nursery to order some seeds this afternoon. DH pops up and says he'll go with me. Not good. We get there and I tell him to wait in the car, I'll only be a few minutes. Nope, he follows me in. After the seed order, we walk out into the covered greenhouse. It's really cold, so I suggest he wait inside. Nope, he'll walk around with me.

I could have spent an hour in there, but hurried through and picked up a few things, including a dwarf Lion's Tail/Ear. I did find a whole flat of scented geraniums. I used to have a collection of them, but moved toward tropicals and let the geraniums go. Bought some parsleys for the butterflies and me.









It will be 78° Saturday and 73° Sunday. We'll enjoy it while we can!

I am looking forward to this weekends temps too. I also prefer to plant shop by myself. Gardening addictions should never have to be explained. It always sounds something like this...

Hubby: "Why do you need that?'
Me: "Because, I do, I told you that you could wait in the car"
Hubby "but, don't you have enough plants?"
Me, " No!!!!!!, let me shop in peace please"

Just substitute "Wife" for "Hubby"!

I prefer shopping for plants with other gardeners. Nothing like having an enabler to egg me on!

Ugh! 27F right now. When this warms up the 10 day forecast doesn't have any below freezing temps in it, but I have to wonder about a couple of nights with lows predicted around 34F. It's not unusual for me to run 4F below the predicted temps. But beginning Friday there are 5 consecutive days of highs in the 70s predicted and that will send those things that have already started growing back to growing after a temporary stall. I hope we can finish out winter freezes without dropping into the low 20s or teens again.

Ya, it is colder than expected tonight. I had already brought some of my plants back out when the high was supposed to be around 38 tonight now it says 34 on one station and 33 on another. Hard to believe the weather is going to be so drastically warm this weekend. By spring I should be super buff with all this plant moving.

Yup. This time is gonna be a miss for the weathermen. Nearly noon and the temp is on 29F. I don't know at what time it went below 32F last night, but there have been a lot of consecutive hours @ or below freezing. Hours of freezing or below have a cumulative effect even when the temps aren't all that low. They've now taken high temp for the day down, but it's going to have to warm up quickly to even meet the new forecast. Overnight now at 33F. It's sure to be colder than that, I think. Overcast skies aren't helping the day to warm up. I wish I'd brought a few more things in, but too late for that now. They'll probably survive, but might have benefited from a bit of protection.

Texas weather doing its thing. All day they've been revising the forecast - lower and lower temps. The predicted high of 48F is now 38F (I seriously doubt I'll reach that here). The overnight low of 34F is now down to 26F. The 70+F day on Friday is now stuck in the 60sF. The original plan was to move some of the stouter things out today and resume taking more out on Friday. That's not happening.

Boy, don't I know it. Every time I see a glimmer of hope that it will be warm enough to ship some plants, the long-range forecast gets lowered day after day.

Even though we have hit near 80º, I recall we have had some really, really cold and wet days. It's only February. I am trying hard not to jump the gun and wait til March 15th or later to avoid frost. "Been there, done that" and lost a bunch of annuals before from the top during a late March freeze.

I have learned now to wait till end of March to early April before I bring out anything I have indoors..well, except for Plumie Celadine, it is taking our cold swings nicely.

@needrain I had to look up Eastland County! Of course, it's going to be cold up there! Go get those plants in! It will be 35 tonight here. I think we'll turn the heaters on in the GHs, just in case.

I guess nearly everywhere in TX it's going to be cold tonight! Hope everyone takes a few minutes to look around the yard for those stray pots of bulbs or seedlings. Get 'em inside!