Snow Day

Paphiopedilum victoria-regina

We were spared Snowmageddon. The storm that paralyzed most of the East Coast stopped at our doorstep, hurled a handful of sleet at the greenhouse panes, and left. What a relief.

Not that we will be spared the fallout, though. Dozens of boxes of orchids for our Orchid Daze display are supposed to ship into east coast airports this week, a risky proposition that makes me break out in a sweat just thinking about it.

While I water, I wonder how our colleagues at botanical gardens in New York, Brooklyn, Washington and Virginia are faring. And Kennett Square, too, though I wonder if Longwood might not own more snowplows than the city of Atlanta. The problem facing any greenhouse grower under these circumstances (besides what's going on at home) is that greenhouse plants don't recognize snow days or weekends or holidays. There will always be plants that need water. Someone has to be there every single day. I can only hope that someone at each of these gardens lives close enough to walk in. And that the power stays on. And the back up generators fire up on cue.

Good luck to everyone having the 'Snow Day' experience. Stay safe.