Death Sentence for an Innocent Plant

Growing up in South Texas, we had a poinsettia in our backyard.  In fact, it was a major part of our backyard, being as tall as the house. 

You can't do that just anywhere... they are very weather-sensitive entities, poinsettias.  One good freeze can kill them... like it did in 1985 in our backyard in Kingsville, Texas.  Ice storm like we'd never seen before.

So, anyway, friend-of-Myrtle Kate-So-Great recently gave us a poinsettia, and, having a history of growing them in the garden, we planted it in the herb garden, throwing some color in amongst the rosemary and lavender.  "Hey, we've already gotten as cold as we're going to get this year.  No sweat."

Wrong! Snow on Thursday!  Texas will be playing in the National Championship, the paint on the floor in the new bedroom will be dry, and our newly planted poinsettia will be sweating it out under a pile of leaves and a blanket.

Will it live?  We'll just have to wait and see....  We've got to go add a couple of layers of mulch to everything, so, be seeing you.

Happy farming!