I was just counting, including this morning, I've had 5 freezes(32F or lower) and 7 frosts of varying severity. My first frost was October 15, the second earliest I've had since keeping track. I feel the opposite about winter, I really want a cold one!

Butterf,y, I do like collecting! Big old house equals big heating bill and lots of cleaning. Did get the cool shelving from a yard sale this summer on the super cheap. My husband is a anti-plant lover so I just keep trying to camouflage my Plants into the decor thus thinking he won't notice too much. I keep away the winter blues by starting seeds indoors right after Christmas! Ralph, I think I have everything prestaged for this first frost. I did pot up each variety of salvias yesterday as backups in case the in grounds don't make it this winter. Im in huge shows up in VA until thanksgiving weekend when I will be in Raleigh.... I always have more room!

Steve, thank you Orchids did well - the shadehouse is covered by 4 ml plastic during the winter months, and I have a heater on during the cold spells. Last year, during one cold spell I had some damage without a heater, so having a heater this year really makes a difference... I did leave a few reed stem epidendrums out and they seem just fine..unbelievable

Thanks! There was a fairly heavy frost this morning, though I don't think the temperature got any lower than 32. As I already had three-foot stakes encircling the lilies--to prevent my dog from running over them and breaking them off--I just draped blankets over those stakes. And, as the stakes were still taller than the lilies, that did seem to hold the covers above the leaves. At the moment the lilies look fine, but I'll have to see how they react after the sun shines on them a bit.