Just a week ago we potted up some beautiful mandevillas. I've always known not to trust the first of May. We've spent a week at near freezing temps, and I've told them every day, "Hang tough!" And every day they have.
But last night I knew I'd pushed the poor things too far. Temps in the thirties are passable, but twenties not. The only set of sheets I own are on my bed. I called friends for newspapers. No one reads newspapers these days.
My eye fell on the two extra large purple bath towels on my shelf, and there is one more hanging in the bathroom. I had safety pins. I could manage this.
These towels have been so long on the shelf, the grid is imprinted. The safety pins were in the last place I looked.
I wonder how the alium will survive. Every day they are closer to being in bloom.
Here it is yesterday. It looks about the same this morning. Perhaps it's frozen! One more night, and it will be spring.
Last week I worked on a totally new and different project. I put together a GoFundMe for my neighbor. She is a breast cancer survivor, a double mastectomy and silicon implants to replace breast tissue. Now they are leaking and must be removed. But like so many here, she's not employed and under insured. She was willing to do this, so we did.
I had no idea what to do, and actually have no idea what I did. Worst, I did get it on Facebook, but simply cannot get it on Instagram. I know less than nothing about social media. I'll keep reading the directions. Maybe I'll get it next week.
Looking at the purple eyes in the alien helmet up there, I'm reminded that I did not post my last display of towels.
I am reminded because I have thrown an inch or so of the next color, purple, like the alium. But, I have no picture. Tomorrow. There were purple towels from the last warp, but they sold in a flash.
That alium IS an alien! First thing I thought when I saw it.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for helping your neighbor. And those towels are absolutely splendid!
It seems very appropriate that you used towels for your plant wraps. I hope they work. Yes, newspapers just aren't a thing any more. just this week I read one of those earth friendly cleaning features, which said to dry and polish newly washed windows with newspapers! How, I wonder.
ReplyDeleteYou kind of crumple them up and rub the glass. I don't know what part of the newspaper is the key, whether it's the paper or the ink, but the glass just shines!! No streaks at all. Remember, this is what our grandparents used before paper towels! We use the hose and the Windex window spray. IT works wonders too and no spots and no rubbing! p.s. we still subscribe to the newspaper... have for years.
DeleteWe have to work so hard to keep our plants from freezing. I have collected many pieces of fabric to cover things. I have old blankets and sheets.
ReplyDeleteWe keep a shelf in the garage just sheets and towels to cover tender plants. Hope those mandevillas will be good. We are supposed to get temps in the low 80’s tomorrow, so crazy.
ReplyDeleteWe used to keep bubble wrap for the winter when in France. Your towel idea was great.
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteThat cold snap is about to hit here too... crazy year altogether, is 2020... Love your colour wheel and the clever use of dormant towels. Stay warm yourself! YAM xx
Oh my! You have so many beautiful shades of color, Joanne. Your towel wrap to protect your plants is an inspired idea.
ReplyDeleteThe secret of gardening is to find something that thrives in the conditions you have! As opposed to the plants you love. For example, I absolutely love orchids and would love to have an orchid garden on my windy balcony - but that is totally out of the question, so I buy one orchid every year for indoors and grow mother-in-laws-tongue on the balcony. I know that this advice will go in one ear and out the other!!! No offence?
ReplyDeleteMandevillas thrive here, but after the last frost date, which is another week. No offense taken.
DeleteSorry, J. I've forgotten what it's like to live in a place with frosts. We don't get any in Perth.
DeleteIt windy and snowy here too. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteThe alium does look like a wee alien!!
ReplyDeleteCrossing my fingers for your plants! All mine are still inside and I really think they need to be planted out, but it's so cold!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the link for the gofundme for your neighbor? I'd like to contribute--my sister and my daughter-in-law's mother were both double mastectomy patients a/c breast cancer. The MIL had breast replacement and now she's in a care facility with Alzheimer's. Life is definitely not fair. My sister died from heart failure caused by the cancer treatments. :/
ReplyDeleteMy garage and car are full of the plants I purchased last week but thankfully didn’t plant. I also have all those veggie plants that I have been growing from seed in pots since March also in there. The car hasn’t moved since March 3rd so it finally is getting some use as a plant stand. We did not get snow, but did get snow pellets for a few minutes. Snow in May, it sure has been a crazy, weird, and frightening year.
ReplyDeleteThose "eyes" look like the allium is keeping an eye on the weather. Clever idea for the mandevillas, I hope it works, you shouldn't be getting snow this close to summer, it's like you had only a couple of days of spring and now winter is playing tricks on you. No sign of my towels arriving yet, but I'm not concerned, everything has slowed down because of the virus, especially overseas deliveries.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that can destroy that bag is a knife, so if it keeps going from hand to hand to hand, I'm confident it will arrive. Let me know. Based on recent experience I anticipated less than a month.
DeleteNo flowers to worry about here yet. Good thing with record cold temperatures. It's nuts I tell ya.
ReplyDeleteThe close up of the alium is definitely an alien looking creature with beautiful jewel purple eyes! Hopefully the towels are a suitable winter coat for your lovely mandevillas. We've had a cold spell come through here as well. Winter does not want to let go of any of us this year!
ReplyDeleteI almost forgot - Happy Mother's Day!
DeleteI saw that face in the allium right away, it looks kind of friendly, or like someone wearing a mask during this crisis. I like how you covered your tender plants with the towels.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you covered your plants and I hope they survive. It's also great that you are trying to raise funds for your friend. You have a lot of readers who leave you a lot of supportive comments so I'm sure that will make a good start on the campaign. Your rainbow of teatowels look gorgeous. On an unrelated matter I downloaded the book you shared called "Sapiens". I'm a quarter way through and I have to finish within 7 days as its a fast read. I'm not sure I will finish but I'll get close to it. I am enjoying it so far. Thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteI have a stash of old sheets that I keep in a bag for the late summer / early fall to cover plants like tomatoes when there is a chance of frost. Good job with the towels! I'm sorry - I know nothing about Instagram or go fund me pages. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteHere we usually rely on The Ice Saints (11th, 12th, 13th May) as indicators of our final frosts, but this winter has been extremely mild and plantings began early.
ReplyDeleteWow snow when we have 103 degree weather! Hope your plants not only survive but thrive this growing season!
ReplyDeleteBetty
I am pleased (and unsurprised) that you turned your talents to a Go-Fund me page for your neighbour.
ReplyDeleteI hope your mandevillieas survive, and love your towels. Always.
Two beautiful examples of your kindness and compassion Joanne.
ReplyDeleteWe should never trust May for weather. I shall be hauling in my tomato and courgette plants tonight as the cold descends from the North.
ReplyDeleteAs Thelma says - the cold reaches here later today (it is none too warm this morning) - all 'tender' plants to be brought inside.
ReplyDeleteI admire your painstaking efforts to protect the mandevillas. I hope they pull through.
ReplyDeleteI also admire your attempts to set up the GoFundMe. I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to do that. I hope you manage to get it up and running.
Spring is going in reverse here too. Yesterday we woke up to snow and this morning it is minus three degrees. It is nothing short of cruel to have temperatures like this in May.
ReplyDeleteIngenious wraps for the Mandevillas! I'm so proud of your creative problem solving skills. Now I'm looking forward to hearing how they fare when this cold snap is over.
ReplyDeleteI hope the towels work or that the mandevillas are hardier than you fear. I do love your color wheel of towels. and the allium bud!
ReplyDeleteThe alium DOES look just like an alien, LOL!
ReplyDeleteThose purple towels look good on the hanging plants. Cold but no snow here.
ReplyDeleteThose flowers are worth the effort!
ReplyDeleteI have put plants back in my polytunnel...gardening off can wait as we don't have snow, but the winds are bitter
The towels are down tonight because it is pouring a bitter cold rain and the great wet towels would just be too much weight.
DeleteWell, I've made this mistake before. I hope these fellows can tough it through.
Gret plant cover improvisation.
ReplyDeleteFrozen water in the bird baths.
ReplyDeleteIt's the ink, I think. The evening newspaper was vital in my grandparents' house, for the horse racing and to clean the windows. They got the actual news from the radio.
ReplyDeleteP.S. That alium looks as though it's about to hisssssssssssssss at you!
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, That Alium looks like a bird's head to me and a pretty bird, at that. I've never done a Go FundMe but I looked at the page and, you probably already saw but just in case, noticed there was a "help center" under resources and on another tab a video about sharing/posting. Hope you can get it set up.
ReplyDeleteHope your plants make it Joanne. Good luck with your gofundme page.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was against the rules of the universe to have freezing temps in May. But, I guess, in the frozen northlands, the rules are different. My sympathies! And I hope your plants survive.
ReplyDelete