The Winter of 2006-07
Our winters here are normally very unpredictable. Snow for Christmas is always exciting. Rain can fall on Christmas Day just as easily. Snowfall can build up to huge drifts if the weather remains cold after snowstorms. The protective blanket of snow can also vanish overnight when a mild spell comes along with rain.
This is very hard on plants. Most plants hardy to zone five & lower can survive consistent cold temperatures. If covered with a blanket of snow, most sleep quietly until spring arrives with warming temperatures. Even if no snow cover is available, consistent cold is not as harmful to plants as the yoyo temperatures I experience on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Adding to the fluctuating temperatures is our close proximately to the Atlantic Ocean. The ocean does not freeze and provides some warmer air in the winter to areas which receive a direct current. Our property is located on a tidal saltwater river about 10 miles from the ocean. Until the inland winter temperatures drop low enough, the water in the river does not freeze. This provides a microclimate for the yard. But when the river freezes, the temperatures drop severely in the yard.
I lost upwards of 140 daylilies the winter of 06/07. All were Evergreens or Semi-Evergreens. All dormant daylilies were fine come spring. It is my opinion that unless Evergreens or Semi- Evergreens have 'antifreeze' genetics in their background they are not cold hardy in our zone 5. I have found that in our climate, without the 'antifreeze' factor, non-Dormants expend too much energy in the winter and do not acclimatize well to the change of seasons.
This does not mean that
only Dormant daylilies will do well in my growing conditions. I have many
Ev. & Sev. daylilies that are hardy. The trick is to know which ones are
and which are not. And to be willing to take the economical chance.
I have decided to no longer be a 'testing' ground for hardiness. I will be
looking for Northern bred daylilies or dormants to replace the ones that died.