Effects of the freeze

First, let me make it clear that it is not at all unusual to experience cold temperatures, in April, where we live. What was unusual, this year, was the warmth that preceded the cold and the depth of the cold: we reached a record-setting low (for the date) of 18 degrees Fahrenheit. The table, below, shows the history of temperatures experienced from the time at which the temperature had dropped to freezing on the evening of April 6th through the time at which the high temperature of the day was reached on the 7th.

Date	Time	Wind	Temp
(April)	(cdt)	(mph)	Air
(2018)
7	17:53	Calm	45
7	16:53	Vrbl 5	44
7	15:53	E 9	42
7	14:53	Vrbl 7	39
7	13:53	N 8 G 20	37
7	12:53	N 8	33
7	11:53	N 13 G 17	30
7	10:53	N 14	26
7	9:53	N 9	24
7	8:53	NE 13	19
7	7:53	N 16	19
7	6:53	N 12	19
7	5:53	N 13	18
7	4:53	N 14	18
7	3:53	N 15	19
7	2:53	N 13 G 23	19
7	1:53	N 17	19
7	0:53	N 16	19
6	23:53	N 23 G 28	21
6	22:53	N 17 G 25	25
6	21:53	N 25 G 31	27
6	20:53	N 18 G 30	27
6	19:53	N 20 G 36	32

Effects on Mechanical/Hydraulic parts

Yesterday afternoon, when the temperature had been above freezing for a few hours, I heard our sump pump activate in the basement - and activate - and activate. I checked out the windows and found puddles of water in the yard at the corner of the house where our backflow preventer assembly for the sprinkler system is located. Donning boots and work gloves, I ventured outside to check it out. Oh, yes, water was spewing up the side of the house.

I took off part of the insulating materials (an old rubber-backed drape and bags of cedar bark mulch) to expose the valve which was gushing pretty much as in the photo below - well, probably more. We have pretty good water pressure where we live. As you can understand, I was more interested in stopping the gusher from the pressure vacuum relief assembly [that's what "they" call it!] than in taking photos of it.

Hunky Husband takes care of worrying about anything having to do with the grass - including the sprinkler system. My only part in the process is to assure that, to the extent possible, the whole backflow preventer assembly is protected from freezing after the system is turned "on" in the spring and before it is winterized in the fall. Retreating to the house, I consulted Hunky Husband. Fortunately for me, HH knew that there was a valve to either side of the pressure vacuum relief assembly. (Truthfully, I had never before noticed.) Thus, I retrieved a pipe wrench and turned off the valve on the supply side of the pressure vacuum relief assembly. Whew! I was all wet and chilled, but the water was no longer gushing.

Did I feel like an idiot? You bet! Not only did I not know the valve configurations on the outside, but I have no idea how to turn off the water further up stream - and neither does HH. [Trust me on this: we shall learn! I think it is in a box burried in the front yard.]

I re-wrapped the whole assembly (photo, below) to face further instances of (hopefully, less severe) freezing. Oh, and did I tell you? We did not get to choose when the landscaping people turned on our system, this year. They (smartly, from their perspective) divided the city into sections and turned on all of the sprinkler systems within a given section during the same week. Our system was turned on at least two or three weeks ago. No better than could have we, did they foresee the deep dip in temperatures. They will be busy, now, repairing all of the damaged systems, I predict!

Effects on plants

As Bogie predicted, I see no apparent ill-effects from the cold on our own plants. All of the ornamental pear trees in the area were caused to turn from clouds of snowy white blossoms to clouds of mostly-brown blossoms; but, we have no such trees in our yard. Many of our neighbors have such trees and one shows the effects of the freeze in the background of the photo (below) of our own daffodils and narcissi.

Later addition: The redbud trees were frozen just as they were ready to burst into bloom; thus, I doubt that even one such tree in Derby actually blooms this year. Bummer!

The only plant that I really considered at risk was the new dogwood tree - not that I considered the tree to be in mortal peril, but I really wished to see it blossom this year, if possible. (Hey! How many more springs will I likely see?!!!!) Below are photos showing the tree as a whole and a close-up of some of its blossoms.

Before I quit: Below is a photo of some of the creeping phlox, that grew from the starts (from her own yard) that Bogie sent us several years ago. They've been blooming for about a month, now.

 I agree with Luther (or, whoever said it): "If I knew that tomorrow was the end of the world, I would plant an apple tree today!". I plant trees for tomorrow on the theory that someone will enjoy them.

Comments

[bogie]

What a mess from the sprinkler system! Glad you guys have the wherewithal to deal with it. I imagine there are several folk who wouldn't even have an idea what to do besides call the sprinkler service people.

I hope the redbuds do manage to bloom - I always enjoy seeing your pictures of those beautiful trees. The phlox is loving the moisture you guys are getting this year and as evergreens, they laugh at the cold. The phlox that I planted next to the driveway, under the roof dumpage area, is not looking very happy and I may have to replace it. But, it is hardy stuff, so we'll see.

[Cop Car]

Bogie--Yeah, calling Kevin on Saturday morning probably wouldn't fly. He'd tell his mom on me! As it was, I called them Tuesday morning (didn't get around to it Monday) and reminded them on Friday that they had scheduled to start work on landscaping tomorrow. They are to sod in three areas and add another station to the sprinkler system - none of which works if they don't first get our sprinkler system operational.

Hasn't the temperature been a real see-saw, this year? We were 18 degrees on the 6th & 7th, then 80s on the 11th & 12th (high 80s on the 12th), and now we are back at 28 degrees F. It felt pretty cold, yesterday, with steady-state winds of 45 mph and gusts into the 60s. Of course, I recall that in 1967 when we moved back to Derby from Seattle, we arrived to something in the 20s or low 30s and, two days later, hit 80 degrees - on March 1st!

You guys have really been hit. Talk about having to cope! Hope your phlox reasserts itself. You do well with all of your landscaping/planting work - that you do yourself.