I gave in and went to a greenhouse today to buy a bunch of annuals. I got a really good deal, and splurged when they told me they had a special going on where I could fill up my flat for $16. I figured that my splurging was justified because two weekends ago Mother Nature decided it would be funny to freeze all my plants to death. In total I got 48 plants; here’s the list:
- Cherry Tomato Plants x4
- Hawaii Shell Pink Ageratum x4
- Bells Frosty Lavender Snapdragons x4
- Bells Red Snapdragons x4
- Riviera Marine Blue Lobelia x4
- Jewelbox Mix Celosia x4
- Ambassador Rose Wax Begonias x8
- Polka Dot Plants x4
- Super Elfin Blush Impatiens x4
- Super Elfin Blue Pearl Impatiens x4
- Red Sizzler Mix Salvia x4
Anyways, after my purchase today I realized that I have now learned my first major lesson in Minnesota gardening.
LESSON #1 – In Minnesota, DON’T assume that the weather will stay nice enough to leave your plants outside!
It was 80 degrees outside when I left for home that Friday, so I thought that my plants would be alright for the weekend. It was that fateful Sunday, two days later, that it snowed and my poor plant babies died. (Here is a picture of one of the lucky survivors.) It was that traumatic moment that drove me to spend beyond my budget today, so please heed my advice and wait a few more weeks before keeping those plants outside!
I feel for you. Here in Colorado we have the same problem. It was 35 last night!
Wow, I didn’t realize it was getting that cold in Colorado too! It’s very frustrating, and hopefully the weather will warm up for both of us very soon!