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In all of my years of gardening & farming I have never seen a devastating spring freeze such as the one currently affecting the eastern half of the country! This frigid weather pattern developed over central Canada during April 2nd & 3rd this past week, and began to sink south over much of the north central plains and Great Lakes states beginning Tuesday April 3rd. By Wednesday April 4th temperatures had fallen from the mid 60's and 70's locally into the low 20's in a matter of hours! This transition followed a 30 day period of balmy, warm conditions causing trees to bud and leaf out, and perennials to accelerate new growth. Daffodils had bloomed, tulips developed stems and buds; while early spring bulbs had bloomed in profusion.
I followed the weather reports hourly to see if conditions would moderate, but after five days (including today, April 8) there has not been any hope of 'warmer' conditions. Our local low temperatures have been around 20F for most of these five days; the "highs" have reached above 32F only once topping out at 34F for a very brief hour or two.
To add insult to injury the winds were bitterly cold out of the northwest from a powerful low pressure system over Lake Superior and central Ontario. Wind chill factors for each of these five days ranged from single digits to mid teens! Soil that had warmed for cultivating and weeding was now a frozen solid pavement!
Needless to say I am not alone in this predicament, since at least the eastern half of U. S. has experienced all or some part of this record breaking cold air mass. The real tragedy is that it followed a month of warm, balmy weather that triggered new growth in trees, shrubs and all perennials. For me personally the most damage has occurred in the iris gardens. Their leaves are frozen a sickly green, lying flat on the ground. I had just completed trimming over 500 plants and removed all the debris from the gardens. My concern now is that flower buds which might have formed deep within the leaf bases have been killed.
Entries and Updates
Apr 8, 2007
Shown here is one example of freeze damage to perennials. This is the clematis, Guernsey Cream which had leafed out and formed flower buds. Needless to say, it will not be blooming anytime soon!
Apr 8, 2007
These King Alfred daffodils escaped serious injury since they were sheltered beneath a large Scots Pine.
Apr 8, 2007
This white bleeding heart was not so fortunate. It was completely frozen to the ground.
Apr 8, 2007
This TB iris was only planted last July (2006). The freeze damage is clearly visible as dark streaks running vertically in the leaves. There is also considerable 'wilting' of the leaves.
Apr 8, 2007
This clump of irises probably escaped freeze damage with a few inches of snow cover.
Apr 8, 2007
An Oriental Poppy is 'burned' from the extended freezing temperatures.
Apr 8, 2007
This clump of 'Vanity' is clearly damaged severely.
Apr 8, 2007
This old shrub rose 'Lillian Gibson' has suffered serious damage to new leaf growth. This is among the hardiest of old shrub roses, yet it could not withstand the ravages of prolonged sub-freezing temperatures. I also noted all other roses look similar to this one.
Apr 8, 2007
Here a clump of early triumph tulips lays on its side. Freeze damage is clearly evident.
Apr 8, 2007
This clump of Pinocchio tulips didn't fare much better.
Apr 8, 2007
This is one of my favorite landscape shrubs 'Viburnum judii' which is among the hardiest of shrubs. The flower buds hang limp as though sunburned. It is planted on the east side of the house so it got some protection from the bitter winds.
