Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Forecast: Snow in the desert

Driving back home from the Phoenix area the other day, I noticed the snow-capped Santa Catalina Mountains as I got closer to Tucson. There was just a dusting of snow on them, which is pretty typical for this time of year. I thought "As long as it stays up there..."

We have had a couple of rainy days since, and then it happened- the forecast says "SNOW in Tucson" today, and freezing temps tonight. Now I am sure there are plenty of people, my son included, who are happy at this news, even excited about it, but I am sure not one of them. I had my fill of snow and cold before I moved to Tucson, and I have no desire to experience that again.

I walked around my garden yesterday, and the thought of snow and frost is so depressing. So many of my plants are budding out and greening up. This next picture is an Alyogyne huegelii, or commonly called "Blue Hibiscus" although it really isn't a Hibiscus, the flower does look similar. I bought this last summer, and it has never bloomed, but there are tiny little flower buds on it- just waiting for sunshine and warmth to turn them into blooms. I don't think they are expecting any snow though! I haven't even covered this little plant on the cold nights, but I don't think the little flower buds will stand up to freezing temps, the same way the rest of the plant did.


Below is one of my 3 Passion Vines. Two of them did not even die back, and now that there has been some warm weather, they have new shoots growing in every spot imaginable.

I will be out tonight covering up everything I can, and hoping this latest cold snap doesn't last, or seriously damage anything. While I slept and dreamed about Spring, some gremlin borrowed my camera last night and left me with this little image to greet me this morning. It did snow a little last night -are at least there was enough slushy stuff to create this little guy.

So Happy Bloomin Tuesday- no blooms but a snowman from Tucson!
To see other Bloomin Tuesday posts please visit Ms "Green Thumb" Jean.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope your garden fairs well during this freak weather Dee!

Anonymous said...

What a hoot - a snowman in Tucson! Love that other little garden "thingy" in the photo above the snowma - a little gate or support or something?

Nancy in Sun Lakes AZ said...

You have expressed exactly how I feel, Dee. Up here in the Phoenix area it was just rainy, cool and really windy (trees down in my neighborhood) last night. But tonight (Tuesday)they predict possible frost. Ugh! Just when everything was going so well!

Suzanne said...

I don't imagine that little snowman will last long. Here's wishing you sunshine and warm temperatures. (Feel free to wish me the same!) ;o)

Unknown said...

I want a passion vine. Lord knows that I know about running around crazy covering plants, I have found that a sheet and then a bucket over them works best for me. Kind of like layering clothes.

playsdolls said...

Hope your plants do not get bit by the cool weather.I adore the passion vines.

Anne Fannie said...

Dee:
It's really hard to imagine snow in Tucson! When its 120 degrees one day this summer, think of this day! LOL
I do hope your garden hangs in there during this weird weather!
Love, Ann

Carla said...

I know you are excited about future blooms. Love the guy holding the passion vine-a bird with antlers?? Glad your gremlin REMEMBERED to return the camera, my 'darlings' don't always remember to do that.

Wendy said...

Love that little snowman! Hope your other plants don't get hurt.
Happy gardening.

Aiyana said...

Hope the forecasters are wrong. They are frequenty wrong, but as cold as it was last night, I'm afraid we will also have frost here in the Phoenix area. No snow though! I too was hoping to get through the winter season with no frost damage. I'm most worried about my Natal Plum shrubs that look so good now!
Aiyana

Jean said...

I hope your plants survive the cold. We had rain and 51 degrees today. The snow is melting fast. Jean

Diane AZ said...

The last couple of years we haven't had to cover anything during freezing weather. After so many years here, it seems the mature trees help to keep the garden cozy enough for the more tender plantings to survive. Love your snowman picture, and that reindeer thingy?

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I hope all is well in your garden, Dee.

We have thick snow here, which is a little unusual. It has covered the snowdrops, but they are little toughies!