[Leica] Unusual Freeze Damage

[jhnichols at bellsouth.net (Jim Nichols)]

LUGGERS,

This situation may occur more often in other areas, but in the Upper 
Mid-South it is highly unusual.  Just before Easter, we had three nights in 
which the temperature dropped into the mid-20s for 6-7 hours.  The preceding 
weather had been warm, and all of the plants and trees were showing tender 
young leaves. Many flowering plants, such as tulips and azaleas were in 
bloom. Now, two weeks later, many plants and many trees look like a disaster 
area.  The agricultural experts say that many of the plants and trees will 
recover, but most of the fruit crops are gone for this year.

I have photographed a few examples from my own yard.

A 40-yr old boxwood was covered with new growth, which is now white 
following the freeze.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/FreezeDamage/Boxwood.jpg.html

The St. John's Wort along my utility barn is brown.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/FreezeDamage/StJohnsWort.jpg.html

The oak trees all over town have shrivelled leaves that are beginning to 
drop off.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/FreezeDamage/Oaks.jpg.html

In my 77 years, I have never seen this situation before.  In Tennessee, the 
governor is trying to see if he can get disaster aid for the farmers and 
fruit growers, and I have heard that the situation is similar in the 
Carolinas.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA