Month: February 2026

It’s getting on in February, just the last week of the month. This is how the weather has been – we’ve had 80+ degree days, then a few days later freezing nights. Last night it was 35 at midnight, and by 8AM this morning it was 30. And tonight will be cold, but not as cold. It will still be in the 30’s, but not as close to freezing. But by Wednesday it should be around 85+ degrees. How’s that for fun weather.

It’s warmed up enough that I’ve turned the yard watering system back on. I’ve also started some seeds, and put lawn fertilizer out. I put some lettuce seed out in a pot, they’ve already sprouted. I tried this since I was at the garden center and they had pots for sale with various lettuce growing in them. It looked like someone had mixed various lettuce seeds together than spread them in the pot and let them grow. The ones I saw had green lettuce, red lettuce, ruffled lettuce, arugula, and even Romaine growing in them.

The garden stores, yes the big box ones, are getting new plants out. They have fruit trees, some flowers, lots of soil, even bulbs out for sale. It’s nice to go out and see all the new things available.

We even went out and found some roses. After the freezing temperatures we had the other week, we definitely had plant damage. We did cut back some that looked like they had bit the dust. I’m not sure what they are, but I think its a type of artemisia. It looked like it had been burned by the cold. In desperation I cut it back, almost to the ground. Well, that seemed to have revived the plant. It’s got a lot of new green growth on it in a matter of about a week. We also put out some new mulch. I will have to dig some of the mulch up as I bought some caladium bulbs I want to put in. I also bought some flower seeds I want to get in.

Since we’ve had this wild weather I also purchased some cloches off the internet to help give some seeds and plants a chance of surviving any cold we get. The ones I got are taller than wide, and plastic. They feel flimsy, but if they work I’ll just go with them. They have little tops on them that allow you to control airflow and warmth. I have them on my basil seeds to help it germinate. We’ll see if they work.

Well, the cold seems to have finally moved off of the area. But we had some brutal cold. We had cold that froze plants, yes I lost quite a few of my potted plants. Such is life. I’m sure I’m not the only one that lost plants. Even now, there are still small patches of ice left around. Most of the the patches are in area that are in shade or in the corners of roof lines. So, not much of it left.

Even after we began warming you could find ice spots in the shaded areas of the walk paths. It could make for some interesting walks. Since some areas are shady most or all of the day, due to trees on both sides. Some of those areas stayed wet, and or icy depending. It actually took quite a few days for the ice to finally melt and the water to dry out.

But here we are on the other side of the cold for us, we are finally warming up. And by warming up I am talking about it was mid 60’s today, and we’re due to make high 70’s with possible 80’s later this week. But we don’t really have any rain in the forecast.

Well, we may have lucked out with the cold leaving us, but other parts of the US have not. Part of the south, including areas like New Orleans. New Orleans got below freezing. Parts of Florida got so cold iguanas had to be rescued. Some areas of Tennessee have been without power because of the cold, the snow, accidents, and power lines down. Even North Carolina got snow, about 18 inches of snow.

But as I said, here in central Texas we are warming up. Where I have lost quite a few potted plants, I am sure that a lot of garden businesses will be more than happy to help replenish our gardens with new plants. Right now they haven’t begun replenishing their stock, so there’s not much available to buy, but I’m sure that will change quickly.

One other thing about the warm up, I’m sure we will return to allergy season. We’ve had just what cedar likes, a good cold, hard freeze, days of below freezing weather, and now we are on track for 70’s and 80’s. I’m sure cedar season will be coming in hard and heavy.