Southern Frost

It’s time for Met Monday with Between Naps on the Porch.

met monday

And Blue Monday at Smiling Sally’s

bluemonday

We had our first frost of the season this morning. Now, we aren’t supposed to have another freeze in the 10 day forecast (who knows after that), however, I’ve been making some plans for my outdoor plants.

You have seen pictures of my ferns hanging around the back porch.

See one of them there in the background
See one of them there in the background

Well, once again, I’m going to see if I can keep them through the winter. For the freeze, I brought them in. As long as  the lows stay in the upper 40’s and 50’s I’ll leave them outside, but for a freeze, I’ll bring them in. I’ll admit, while I usually do very well with house plants, I’ve never had much success with ferns. They usually end up dried out and shedding all over the floor. I am, however, going to try again.

The problem is finding a place for them. Outside, they don’t look that big, but when you bring them in, they seem enormous.

I’m thinking about putting one on the piano.

See how big it is!
See how big it is!

I may have to come up with a way to raise it up higher. It is hard to see the pretty Waterford lusters.

Mozart?
Mozart?

The Mozart bust that my piano teacher gave me when I graduated from high school is hard to see through the forest of fern.

Metronome
Metronome

And the metronome is kind of hidden too.

The other fern is situated with my bird of paradise plant (remember the one that only blooms every 7 years?).

IMG_5405
I love the blue planter

I see lots of vacuuming in my future.

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We’ll see how it goes. My other house plants are pretty low maintenance, but ferns just aren’t. They require plenty of moisture and care. Maybe, I’ll be successful this year. I do love how they look in the house. They make me feel like I have saved a bit of the summer inside.

Do you bring your outside plants in for the winter? Tell me about them and how you keep them alive.

Today’s Lagniappe: Alabama Cookies
YUM!

  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1-1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 cups regular oats
  • 2 cups chopped pecans
  • 1 cup Rice Krispies
  • 1 cup flaked coconut

Preparation:

Cream shortening, gradually add sugars, beating well at medium speed of mixer. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well. Combine flour and salt, add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Stir in oats and remaining ingredients. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 325° for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly on cookie sheets, remove to wire rack to cool completely.
Makes about 6 dozen cookies.


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Comments

25 responses to “Southern Frost”

  1. shy Avatar

    Same here, I love the blue planter.

  2. Sheri Avatar

    Ooh I love your house plants! I am trying so hard to learn how to maintain them, but I have, like, the black thumb of death.

    I have a linky party and a plea for help @ my place: http://theshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2009/10/room-month-bedroom-conundrum.html Want to check it out? (I apologize if you already linked, 1/2 asleep. LOL)

  3. CC Avatar

    Love that gorgeous planter and your ferns are so pretty. Have a wonderful Blue Monday….and p.s. this cookie recipe sounds so good. Thank you for the recipe.

  4. Lisa Avatar

    I am terrible with plants! I think your beautiful fern will be nice and safe through the winter. 🙂

    Thanks for that yummy cookie recipe too!

    Happy Met Monday!
    http://www.mooreminutes.com/2009/10/walls-wrapped-in-charm.html

  5. Mary Avatar

    Ferns have trouble in low humidity environments and our homes, once heating systems are operational, become low humidity environments. You can try misting the area immediately surrounding the fern, but do not spray water onto the fern itself. Sometimes it works :-). I loved your blue planter. I hope you are having a wonderful Blue Monday.

  6. Janie Avatar

    Christi, I wish you luck with your ferns. They’re too beautiful not to try to save over the winter.

  7. Janie Avatar

    Christi, I wish you luck with your ferns. They’re too beautiful to not try to save over the winter.

  8. Nancy Avatar

    We traveled too much this past summer to do any plants. As I look at all the lovely ones on sites, I will start picking them up. In Vermont, this means indoors. I love ferns and did successfully keep them in PA. It was in a corner with just a bit of direct sunlight when there was sun in PA. Best of luck.

  9. cindy dodd Avatar

    Beautiful ferns. Love the planter
    cindy

  10. amy Avatar

    We too this morning had our first frost and I too have a beautiful fern outside on my front porch. I don’t think I’ll bring it in for the winter though. I’m not good wtih cleaning up all of the dried leaves it sheds. To bad for me.

  11. LaVoice Avatar

    Your plants are so big and pretty. I really enjoy mine and yours as well. It is a pain though for the colder days. Glad we have not had that cold weather here yet.

  12. Sally Avatar

    Because I live in Florida, I have no need to bring my plants indoors. I adore your blue planter; it looks as if you have it on top of a blue and white umbrella stand. Happy Blue Monday.

  13. gengen Avatar

    Nice blue finds of the day. Happy blue Monday.

  14. Sandi Avatar

    Lovely plants. I once had a large Boston Fern. Your blue planter and stand are just exquisite! Love them! Happy Blue Monday!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

  15. Mary Avatar

    Fern have always been a challenge to me though I am thinking about trying out one in our bathroom that we use all the time- my thought was that the moisture may help it?

    blessings
    mary

  16. Debbie Avatar

    Wow! What lovely ferns, I’m so envious. It is too cold where we are and they never seem to make it for more than one season…but I just love how they look. I like how you raised it up too. Great idea. Hope you are having a wonderful week!
    Blessings,
    Debbie

  17. Ann Messick Avatar

    Fern’s are beautiful and so is the crystal!

  18. darnold23 Avatar

    I used to try and keep my ferns, but out house now just isn’t good for that. I do miss them. I wanted to thank you for posting to Crock Pot Wednesday and to let you know that Mister Linky is up for this week’s event. There’s a giveaway going on:)

  19. Sandy Avatar

    I have already had to bring mine in, I have a extra bedroom in the lower level so it becomes my makeshift greenhouse for the winter. My ferns do ok down there, but I still have a mess to clean up daily.
    Sandy

  20. Rob and Kathy Gandy Avatar

    Christi, I should have known that you were responsible for the beautiful ferns in your pics. They are gorgeous! You surely have the magic touch for making things beautiful, girl! Love ya!

  21. nannykim/spindle cottage Avatar

    Man, that looks like a jungle on your piano–that thing is BIG!! I bet you can get it to winter over!! I love the blue planter thingy–that is marvelous!!

  22. Kammy Avatar

    Love your pics and another great recipe !
    Kammy

  23. Shelley Avatar

    Beautiful ferns!! We have to bring ours in all winter. Too cold outside until June. Period. We’ve already been down to 0 (as in zero!!) and are extremely lucky if highs are 40-50 Oh, I think I’d love the south ever so much 🙂

  24. Sheila Avatar

    You might want to keep your ferns in the bathroom when you shower. I’ve heard they like the humidity of a shower. Yours are certainly gorgeous and healthy. And I’m wild over your blue planter, too.

    Happy Met Monday…

    XO,

    Sheila 🙂

  25. Robin ~All Things Heart and Home Avatar

    Love plants and I’m gonna need to bring mine in tonight!!!!
    Happy Monday
    Robin
    All Things Heart and Home

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