My friend asked if I had ever seen such dreary weather. Frankly in almost 40 years I have not seen so many cloudy and cool –– no make that cold days. Usually it does get cold but only for a few days then we are back to sunny and warm Florida days.

So what are you going to do for color? Luckily the garden centers are full of in bloom plants that don’’t seem to mind the reduced light and cold. In fact, many like the cool conditions and it extends their life. Ones we all know are the pansies and violas. Why, with the cool weather we have been having, they may last til June –– most decline during a normal winter by mid March.

But there is more to pick from. What’s doing well in my landscape is the snapdragons pictured. Plants purchased over 2 weeks ago have not shed a bloom. The cool weather won’’t let them –– it keeps them from declining. Another favorite is the stock. It has a sweet cinnamon fragrance too. Neither of these have been damaged by the rains.

Now the petunias are trying but the almost daily rains keep damaging the flowers. The plants look great and are filling with buds if only the rains will leave them alone. The dianthus looks good and so do the geraniums that are protected from the rains and real cold weather.

One I have in hanging baskets is the nasturtium. These have grown from seed and are in full bloom. They like all but the freezing temperatures.

Yes, in spite of the cold and dreary days we do have color and you can too.