Yes, “making lemonade out of lemons” sounds better, but I have no lemons — they froze! — along with half my garden. I’ve lost everything remotely tropical and I’m none too happy about it.
I mean, I can’t cover the entire yard. Not the orange trees or the grapefruit. Not the Lantana (pretty weed flowers) or the palm trees. And the garden?
At least I tried. I tried to protect my limas, I did. I also tried to protect my sweet peas. But that dastardly Jack Frost nipped them clear to their buds! But what did I expect?
He is a villain after all. I think. I must admit, I’m not well-versed in my winter fables, but as a Floridian, I haven’t found it a necessary dimension to add to my repertoire — until it froze in Florida.
Four times before Christmas! And destroyed my lima bean plants.
And my sweets, although this was expected. Good news here: I can still salvage any underground treasures that may be hiding beneath the surface.
I did manage to cover my Poinsettia. Located on the back patio, this was a much easier task. Aren’t they brilliant?
There is a bright side to this cold weather. While it won’t be a white Christmas, it feels like Christmas. I don’t know about you, but something just doesn’t seem right about perspiring while Christmas shopping. Unless of course, you’re that last-minute shopper darting through the mall, shoving people out of your way because you can’t find that little doo-dad Billy asked for two days before Christmas (forgot to include it on his list to Santa and now it’s YOUR job to see that he gets it!).
Yes, well, kids need to learn “in every life a little rain must fall” and that the real meaning behind the season is about giving, not receiving; giving love, sharing blessings and basking in the joy of spirit (good luck with that). Some adults could stand a refresher course on this lesson.
But back to that bright side — just look at these carrots! Glorious and green, they’re thriving in this weather!
And my cabbage — they’re cool and comfortable. (Remind me next year to only attempt these plants in my fall garden. Easy, reliable — and I don’t have to freeze my little cotton tail covering them!)
But alas, need another reason to be merry and bright despite the loss of green? Get creative! I grew tired of dashing off to the compost pile during this cold snap, and decided I needed a kitchen composter. So I made one!
Okay, I didn’t actually make it. I painted it at my local “clay, glaze and fire” place and they baked it into perpetuity for me. After scouring the internet for one and finding none that matched my kitchen (I DO like to coordinate my colors), I decided I should create my own! And what a great idea. Using a standard carbon filter for the lid, I now have a place to deposit my kitchen scraps (and hold them indoors for days without stinking up the entire house!). Isn’t it grand?
No more dashing outside and freezing my pumpkins–no, no! We’re talking solutions, here, and cute ones at that. And to think I was distraught over my garden. Not me. Hope springs eternal (so long as we allow it!).
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