Galileo Thermometer, Out in the Cold
The temps were mighty chilly last night, the coldest we’ve seen this season. Yesterday’s low was 37 degrees F (2.7 C), though still ten degrees warmer than our city’s record low . Though we have overnight lows hovering around freezing, it generally warms up with the rising sun. Today, we still had frost on the grass at 10 am. Parts of our deck had a thin layer of ice. Good thing I noticed the ice before slipping across the deck and landing on my keister. It made for a better day.
My husband took his Galileo Thermometer outside so he could enjoy the novelty of the visual changes, though it doesn’t measure lower than 62 F (16 C).
Icy paw prints
It’s interesting to note the micro-climates in one’s garden. Though both the front and back gardens receive morning sun, the front garden took much longer to thaw.
Crisp, frosty leaves
I’m still holding out hope that the coleus survive the season, but the more reading I do, the more it seems unlikely. Never one to give up hope, they’re bundled against the chill in a blanket of frost cloth.
There are differing opinions on the benefits of frost cloth. Some of my reading suggests heavy watering to reduce a freeze. Others recommend strings of holiday lights to increase the temps by a degree or two. Since I have the frost cloth, I figured it couldn’t hurt. I’ve been watering as well when the rain stops for a day or two. I’ll have the definitive answer come spring.
Frost cloth protects Coleus
Lindy checks the temps
In the meantime, I’m enjoying the novelty of the colder temps and the pretty pictures it affords. My boys are still hoping it will snow here one day. The last time it snowed in San Jose (and remained on the ground) was 1976. I think we’re long overdue!
Frozen bird bath
Frosty tips
Kissed by Frost
- San Jose, California: A little history and some weather statistics
- Therapist’s Hour of Snow: Christine Schoenwald remembers the snow of 1976
Gardening Nirvana 
I think you might be most positive person I know. While I think, o dear, poor garden…your family hopes it snows, that’s awesome. I see your weights are used like ours…to hold down stuff, ha. I hope the coleus will be ok. You’ll be glad to know you’ve beat us by a couple of degrees, but it’s suppose to be +2 C on Saturday. We’ll bask in it with delight because shortly after that, it’s back in the deepfreeze for us. ps. I can’t believe there’s ice in your birdbath, I hope your hummers are managing the dips in the weather.
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What a lovely thing to say. I can appreciate why you would be fed up with snow, but since we haven’t seen any since 1976, it’s reason to get all excited. The “problem” here is that the temps warm up as soon as rain is forecast. It’s just enough to make cold rain but not snow. So…I’ll just have to settle for WordPress snow or live vicariously through you. 🙂
The hummers are still here! I don’t know how they weather the cold, but we see them several times a day at the various feeders, sometimes two or three taking turns.
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Thanks for the hummer update, makes me smile 🙂
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PS…I love all the color in your new header!
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Thank you noticing and commenting! 🙂
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Beautiful photos! 🙂
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Thank you!
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Those paw prints are the CUTEST things ever!
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🙂 A cat named Mouse made those. They are cute, aren’t they, just like him. Thanks, PJ. How are your adorable twosome doing?
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I love the name Mouse for a cat! My two little kitties have made themselves at home and managing to leave little claw and teeth marks in everything! They are two very different cats but both so lovely in their own ways.
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Mouse belongs to a neighbor, but he spends 90% of his time with us. We adore him.
Yes, those kittens have very sharp claws and teeth. I remember those days well. I had brothers from the same litter that were nearly impossible to tell apart physically, but like yours, they had very different personalities. My sister used to call them “the Jones Twins.” I miss them both.
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