Did our Severe Cold Winter kill the Bugs?

When temperatures were in the 20's, teens, and even the single digits so many times this Winter, I felt like it would kill off some of the bugs. I've heard many people say, "At least we won't have so many mosquitoes, ticks, and flies this summer!"

Our Birdbath stayed frozen for days

Well, I'm afraid that just isn't so. Ask any old-timer, and they will tell you the bugs will still be here when temperatures warm up. I didn't have to ask an old-timer, because early this morning I found a tick latched on under my clothes. And it has been cold outside this week! 

My father told me of a spider he observed from his front sitting room window during the coldest period this Winter. When night time temperatures were 7 degrees and day-time warm ups crept just to the 20's, the spider remained curled up in a ball, appearing to be lifeless. But when the weather warmed up, the spider would slowly begin wiggling as if waking up from a long nap. Once he seemed satisfied that it was sufficiently warm enough to get to work, the spider would get busy rebuilding his web. 

According to entomologist Xing Ping Hu, research professor with Auburn University, the reason insects are so resilient is that they have adapted strategies for surviving the cold. Hu pointed out that both of our coldest states, Alaska and Minnesota, are bothered by mosquitoes during the summer, so why would mosquitoes be affected by the freezing temperatures in Alabama and Georgia? Yellow Jackets are the only insect population that might be affected here, because they are susceptible to the cold. (See AL.com). That will probably be good news to all the runners who were stung during the Boy Scout Troop Trail Trek in West Point last Fall.

Global Warming: Where Is It?

Global warming has been a topic of much discussion for quite a while now. Former Vice President Al Gore even won a prize for his movie on the subject.

If global warming is actually occurring, it isn't anywhere near our garden. We've endured early morning temperatures in the twenties for over a week now, and early morning temperatures in the teens for 3 days. In fact, the predicted high today is 28 degrees, which is, if I heard them right, according to our local weather station, about 20 degrees below normal for this time of year. 

When temperatures are this low, a gardener and owner of backyard chickens must take many precautions for the safety of his animals and plants.

First and foremost is water. All water in our garden has been frozen now for over a week. Although most of the days have been sunny, water in our birdbaths and pet waterers has not thawed, even during the warmest part of the day. Water is necessary for survival, even when temperatures are in the teens. Make sure your animals have access to fresh, clean water at all times.

Provide an area of shelter out of the wind for your animals during these freezing weather episodes. If possible, provide heat or a heated blanket or even allow your pets indoors at night.

About the plants, I don't know what to tell you about that.  Container plants should be watered at least every few days, but I can't make myself stand out there with a hose when it's this cold.

Here at Shady Gardens, we're all eagerly anticipating next Wednesday, when temperatures are supposed to climb into the 50's that afternoon. And still, the night time temperatures will again drop down into the teens...