Today ...

[Neto]

"I would not feel so all alone - Everybody must get stoned."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm-po_FUmvM

Bob Dylan. He does say, bu y the way, that this was not about drugs. (So hope no one is too offended. Put the ban on me, I guess. Maybe my pastor will work with you to get me released again.)

[ohio jones]

... and then there's the musical satire of Steve Taylor: "Everybody must get cloned."

[violet]

Tonight, we may get a possible freeze.

The newly built greenhouse will be put to a test I suppose. I also suppose, I have some doubts, as we put up plant lights and a small space heater just in case.

So, in the greenhouse, we have all the baby plants that were started, three baby ducks and six rabbits and a heater. Let's hope we built it well...LOL.

[temporal1]

Tonight, we may get a possible freeze.

The newly built greenhouse will be put to a test I suppose. I also suppose, I have some doubts, as we put up plant lights and a small space heater just in case.

So, in the greenhouse, we have all the baby plants that were started, three baby ducks and six rabbits and a heater. Let's hope we built it well...LOL.

i’m hoping you will update .. i’m wondering if you may have added too much heat?
it’s surprising how much heat a 20-40 watt incandescent light bulb can generate in a closed space.

also, in large open citrus fruit groves, when freezing temps threaten, they use large fans (no heat) to keep air circulating, this is effective in preventing freezing. we used to use a small house fan in our basement in summers to prevent mold caused by humidity. it worked well. at low cost.

i have fond memories of my mother rigging up a temporary warm space for newly hatched chicks using a cardboard box and a small light bulb to keep them cozy.

in my area, freezing (32F) is freezing, but probably not a “hard freeze” of teens-20’s.
i would expect your greenhouse would stave off occasional frost without additional heat .. unless low temps were extended over days. using bedsheets to cover/protect gardens overnight is common in my area.

i’m not an expert. i’m interested in your results. also, your planting zone?

i have a sweet bunch of violets that popped up by my entry door this year.

[Robert]

Tonight, we may get a possible freeze.

The newly built greenhouse will be put to a test I suppose. I also suppose, I have some doubts, as we put up plant lights and a small space heater just in case.

So, in the greenhouse, we have all the baby plants that were started, three baby ducks and six rabbits and a heater. Let's hope we built it well...LOL.

Did you know that rabbit ears radiate a lot of heat and they can help keep the greenhouse warm? I am sure it would take a LOT of rabbits, but it does help.

[violet]

I had no idea about the "rabbit ears"....fascinating.

I am in zone 6a and I agree that a hard freeze is below 32. Last year a hard freeze did in all of my fruit tree flowers. The flowers seem to be in good shape this morning. Interesting about the fans in the grooves, I will have to remember that one! My mom suggested that I cover all of my fruit trees with sheets as well...however, winds do sweep through and loosing all of my sheets could become problematic and I am not so sure how to secure them successfully to the trees without gobs of work and duct tape honestly. I have all of my tomatoes in little greenhouses inside of the greenhouse.

When I went out this morning the greenhouse was not even "comfy" warm. It was tolerable warm, as I was wearing a winter coat. The ducks were huddled beneath their light, so they were not hot. The rabbits were fine as well. In years past, we have lost animals with a quick temperature drop. It seems rabbits really are not all that hardy. They can withstand cold temps, but not sudden drops. So, it has been warm lately and then turned cold suddenly. We did not wish to take a chance. (incidentally along with murder hornets, there is a hemorrhagic rabbit disease sweeping though the country as well and we really did not wish to loose any of ours at the moment... )

It might be important to note that my greenhouse is "recycled" from old windows and leftover lumber that my husband had lying around. Air tight it is not.

We are supposed to have the same weather tonight. I am not sure I will use the heater again...as I don't know it was really needed. I was being "over cautions" last night. I've put so much effort into my plants that I was nervous about losing them...I started my eggplants in January.

[temporal1]

When I went out this morning the greenhouse was not even "comfy" warm. It was tolerable warm, as I was wearing a winter coat.

The ducks were huddled beneath their light, so they were not hot. The rabbits were fine as well.

In years past, we have lost animals with a quick temperature drop.
It seems rabbits really are not all that hardy. They can withstand cold temps, but not sudden drops. So, it has been warm lately and then turned cold suddenly. We did not wish to take a chance. (incidentally along with murder hornets, there is a hemorrhagic rabbit disease sweeping though the country as well and we really did not wish to loose any of ours at the moment... )

pages back, was it you that found 3 pairs of socks were a good choice in winter?
in my long life, i have found people who live in different planting zones tolerate air temps differently.
i’ve experienced some of this, too. i was very sensitive to cold after living in so cal for a couple of years.
it took me a couple of years to readjust after moving north.

bed sheets and wind are hopeless! natural sails. it’s often the calm nights that let the cold settle in lower places, that damage, sheets work for calm nights. (details, details!) gardening is lifetime learning.

fluctuating temps are hard on plants and animals.
appleman had a tragic orchard year in Ontario. the problem was an early mild spring which resulted in early apple blossoms. then, a freeze. they lost a lot. without apples, his workers suffered. it wasn’t the freeze, which is normal+expected there - it was the early blossoming. he had more time for the forum that year.

they weathered the storm, and have continued and grown, i believe. but it must have been quite an experience.
the value of faith to help guide through the tough times cannot be over stated.

last winter i was walking one February day, temps near 0F. i passed a small flock of robins in a large shrub near my house.
they were so cold. i wanted to bundle them up and bring them inside with me.
i wondered if any would make it through that night.

[JimFoxvog]

Today my wife and I got our second dose of the Moderna COVID vaccine. No side effects were noticed. It feels good to get that done.

[Joy]

Today a dear friend passed away unexpectedly of blood clots. She loved the Lord.

[Robert]

Today a dear friend passed away unexpectedly of blood clots. She loved the Lord.

Sorry for your loss while I celebrate her victory.