Below Zero

Coldest temps of the season so far.  At 5:48 this morning it was MINUS 6 degrees.  The snow cover is so deep that all the plants are pretty well insulated.  In Wednesday's blizzard we got about 22 to 25 inches.  Entire shrubs have disappeared below snow cover, with not a ripple in the snow above to show that a whole woody plant is buried below.

The temps on the porch are below freezing for the first time this winter, at just under 30 degrees.  While that's a freeze, it should not do any harm to the tender perennials (the salvia coccinea and others) that are overwintering there.  The potted rosemary 'Madeleine Hill' is hardy to well below freezing, but keeping it on the porch protects it from winter wind.

Boy, it's cold!