As I strolled through the garden, I admired the deep green leaves of the thyme, parsley and creeping phlox, indeed some strawberry leaves were still vibrant and green. They contrasted sharply with the bare branches of plants that had long lost their leaves when temperatures dipped below zero.
I wondered what allowed some leaves to survive while others succumbed.
Then I wondered if people were like plants: some endured and thrived in hardships while others perished in a light frost.
The pansies still blooming beneath a thin layer of snow on December 10th.
Thyme, strawberry and dandelion still green on December 10th.
Winter is only 11 days away, yet these plants are still green. Given the lack of daylight, they’re probably not growing at any rate. They’ve endured temperatures as low as -5 degrees Celsius, freezing rain and snow.
My lettuce — the first time I planted a fall crop — is doing well. I cover it with a small frame with plastic. It’s doing fine, but there’s not much growth. I doubt it will survive the below -10 temperatures we’ll get soon.
Lettuce undercover. Photo taken December 8th.
The lettuce under the cover.
The garden never fails to entertain. I love being in it in every season.
Diane McGyver 