This is a webcam shot of Rochester, NY. area I captured at 7:30 AM EDT. Jo Ann (ge 1836) lives near Rochester. Can It get any worse for any of us east of the Mississippi River? Edit: In checking the weather data records I see it was 87 F last Monday, one week ago and 81 F last Fri, April 20th. And now this!!!

The extreme temperatures are no good. I have even seen some of my maple trees leaves looked bit by frost. Can't think that I have ever noticed that on a maple before this.

Ack! What are a horrible image. I am so sorry for all of you who have been zapped by the extreme temperatures and relentless freezes.

Not good !!!

Yup, we got snow and I'm south of Rochester near Seneca Lake. Very disheartening to see everything under
snow when we awoke yesterday.

I posted some pics on the GW Daylily forum http://forums.gardenweb.com/fo....

Snow is almost all gone this afternoon but the weather is still uncooperative. Rain/snow mix, high winds again but at least the
sun keeps peeking in and out. I haven't checked out the damage, if any, yet.

Yes, It's terrible! I've had to tarp and cover eight or nine times here in S.E. Wisc. this month alone. Never before like this! I even had to put in 4 foot supports to replace my standard 2 footers. 32.4 F here again last night and I just don't dare to take a chance when it looks like frost is a possibility. I would think snow would be the lessor of two evils but I never experienced what you folks just went thru. For better or worse, we will learn something from all this, hopefully.

As worries as I was in Late March-early April with frosts everyother day. I think my lilies are going to make it. We did get snow and Julia got the most.


I love the "palm terr" stage.

GO! Jo Ann-I love to look at your pics[good luck]

I was worried about your lilies; now I feel better.

I know my Ciara and Cheops are mushy on top. Otherwise they are all looking good. But again, we're having that nasty granular snow/ freezing rain.

Are you too, Jo, and Julia?

We all live within 50 miles or so.

PollyK said:I know my Ciara and Cheops are mushy on top. Otherwise they are all looking good. But again, we're having that nasty granular snow/ freezing rain.

Are you too, Jo, and Julia?

We all live within 50 miles or so.

We had the rain/snow mix yesterday on and off. The sun would be out and then it would cloud up and the rain/snow mix would
start. Today, so far, the sun was shining but I see the clouds moving back in again. The winds are the worse as they make your
face feel like it is frozen. All the snow, as far as I can tell, has melted.

I checked the garden real quick. All the lilies seem to be okay so far. Lots of babies I see are growing. The newest ones I planted haven't
emerged yet. Maybe they are afraid to show themselves. What can you do but just wait it out and see what May will bring.

I usually find the newest ones are the latest to emerge in the spring.

Julia and I had the same weather. I dont mind snow but the frosts are doing baddies on my lilies. I see some brown mushy tops on Lorettos and Conc d'ores.
Its going to be "all over " tonight if the expected 29 degrees hits us. My poor mid season iris that sre budded and the dwarfs that are blooming will become toast.

It was sunny yesterday (Thursday), high 50's and then late afternoon rains came. This morning we are having waves of sleet and very cold.
I guess April is going out like a lion.

TEE HEE I just planted my Edelweiss order because its not going to be any warmer today.
Its hard to plant in the wind with eyes tearing and nose running.I must think its really worth it.
Epimediums and cyclamen I wont but cyclamine plants in spring again.Bulbs in the fall are so much easier.

Tonights 29* temp should wreck havvock with the lilies.

Oh, I'd still cover them Jo Ann. The plants may look a little bent out of shape after this week end but at least you'll save plenty of good foliage for healthy growth and bulb development. I had to tarp again last night and this cold air mass is headed your way for frost and freezing potential for Fri, Sat, and Sun. nites. If you Folks can make it thru the week end, the first half of May looks to be much, much warmer for the Northeast. From St Paul, MN straight down the Mississippi River to St Louis, MO---everyone east of that line has been on needles and pins all Spring, especially those with orchards (and lilies).

P/S Two of my 10 foot X 20 foot tarps tore loose from a couple anchors last nite and I see they're partially collapsed. That usually happens when a cayote or fox gets under there and panics--its happened before.

No chance Lorn I have 400 lilies and no ability to ballet thru the garden to cover now that perennials are up so far.
It will be a "wait and see,hope for the best"

Yes, I know; your gardens are very diverse and arranged in beautiful display--well, maybe if the N/W breeze off the lake is strong enough it will help you but not anyone else south and east of to far inland. Keep you fingers crossed. Most all of my lilies are planted in rows like a vegetable garden so I can tarp but its still a pain in the--back!

I covered in early April when frost came 3 nights out of 7. When there was frost predicted again I just couldnt go into the gardens again.

Believe me I am sweating this weather. In all my garden life I have never seen anything like it.
I hope you are right about the N/W breezes. Poor Julia.is south of me by about an hour and Polly is north and east.

Its too windy and cold to garden so I'll just obcess. Maybe a nice few hours with Jane Austen DVD will help.

I'd say those west of Mississippi River would have had lived thru this to believe it, Jo Ann. Still, my hard work tarping as has paid off; they're stressed by all this going on around them but OK.

One note about this tarping (in case anyone reading this should try it), you need to be aware that lilies need air circulation so you always need to leave open spaces to vent in at the bottom or top and ends. If you don't vent, condensation builds up inside there, especially on the new tiny leaves at the top of the stem and you'll end up with mush---just like a frost. And tarps need to be removed quickly after sunrise or as soon as the temp reaches 32F. Tarping is a technique that is very effective if done correctly, however.

That was deer that must have stepped in or tripped on the anchors--tracks around the outside parameter-- and there they were on the other side of my garden shed--pretty as could be! No damage to the lilies, however.