They have been blooming out there all winter so far. Last night, it was predicted to get down to ten degrees, which it did. So, I did bring them inside. They were already frozen stiff at 9:00 p.m. This morning, they were perfectly fine. I will keep them in until this deep freeze passes, but they have already wintered many nights in the low twenties! I guess the concrete porch, brick wall, and porch ceiling help too, but still! I am amazed.

Have you had any surprises like this? Anything that flowers during winter is a treasure in my book.

Hope everyone is safe and warm. Remember to check on your neighbors.

Martha

Cold hardy plants make a plant version of anti-freeze, of which water is a component.

Linda

I haven't been able to do the same with petunia, though, so I guess I'll keep trying. Gotta learn something about how to help it survive so I can get a "perennial" effect for the flower bed instead of working at it each spring.

Should displays of hardy flowering plants get a bit damaged by severe cold, try giving them a good haircut and see if they come back from the crown in a few days.

Though I am in a much colder climate now, pansies are planted in the fall and if nicely established will survive temperatures in the single digits.