In the deep throws of winter.

 I awoke this morning to what is (so far) our coldest morning of winter. It was (drum roll and cymbal crash) freakishly cold at 25°.

BRRRR!!!!

Us Southern Californians are not used to such incredibly frigid temperatures. I had to build a very temporary greenhouse for Cleopatra, my beloved papyrus plant, but the rest of my flora just had to cope with the extreme climate or die. I don’t think any of them were seriously impeded, but I will have to keep an eye on Minnie, my China Doll plant. I probably should have covered her to avoid any frost issues, but I didn’t.

It should be noted that I am usually careful to ensure that my plants are climate appropriate. My two exception are Cleo, who doesn’t like to drop below 40°, (okay papyrus is native to the Nile Delta, where it doesn’t drop below 40°) and my rhubarb plant, Rutger. Rhubarb has no business being in the Southern California desert during the summer. But oddly enough, he is surviving (yes, Rutger needs special attention all summer, but he loves the winters here).