Shortly before Thanksgiving, the forsythia bushes alongside a local mall donned a handful of buttery yellow blossoms. And crabapples were doing the same--sporting sporadic white flowers in a parking lot at the local Jewel. They obviously weren't paying attention to the calendar.

Two great blue herons flew overhead in mid-December--typically they'd be long gone to their southerly winter destinations by then. On Christmas Eve when the sun was bright, a few tiny moths fluttered by our bedroom window. The grass looked a healthy green and the magnolia buds appeared alarmingly swollen. Houseflies and several boxelder bugs sunned themselves on the south side of the house. Later that day we discovered a two-inch-long caterpillar making its way across our rural road.

December's weather reminds us of Goldilocks and the Three Bears' porridge--too hot, too cold, and on some days, just right. We experienced unusual freezing and thawing--from a bitter 4 degrees on December 8--to nearly 50 degrees on other days, many of them dry.

December had the longest snow-free spell in Chicago since 1993 according to Tom Skilling, WGN-TV's chief meteorologist. The mild weather was great for holiday shoppers and for lower heating costs but what did it do to the plants in our gardens?

"My gut feeling is that it's not good," said Richard Hawke, plant evaluation manager for the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. It might be tempting to do some winter pruning about now but Hawke warns gardeners not to get carried away and start pruning tender plants such as clematis on a mild winter day. "The problem with pruning clematis in January on a 50-degree day is that it's warm enough for the plant to start growing. You don't want to encourage new growth now. Plants may become stunted, unhealthy or not come back."

Mother Nature's yo-yo of freeze-and-thaw shouldn't be a big deal for most tough, cold-hardy plants, especially native trees and shrubs, which are well adapted to our quirky Midwestern weather fluctuations.

"If the plant is dormant, that's one thing," Hawke says, "otherwise it goes into shock. Some perennials are still green and that's worrisome. Some plants start to grow, swell and fruit and when freezing weather comes again it kills or weakens them."

Doris Taylor, plant information specialist at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, said, "The temperatures have been wacky this fall and early winter. Some things may have bloom damage come next spring if it continues to stay so warm."

Many plants will stay dormant now, however. Cold and warm weather can be more of a problem in spring, she said, when ornamental trees, like some tender magnolias, flower during a mild spell in March and then are socked with freezing temperatures that can ruin the blossoms.

"I've got daffodils starting to poke their leaves up in the containers in my garage," Taylor says. "I guess I need a colder storage area. Let's keep our fingers crossed."

A test of quills

Frustrated by plant label markers fading over time?

A recent trial by volunteers at the University of Illinois' Idea Garden in Urbana found that the longest-lasting results came from painting pens found at your local craft store. The BotanicaLabels pen by Wren Garden Products, the Painters Opaque Marker (fine) by Hunt Corporation and the Crafts, Etc! Paint Marker, number GF-250, were all highly readable after two years of exposure to the elements.

Other pens that didn't fare as well included the Sharpie Permanent Marker, the Zig Painty Marker (fine) by EK Success, Ltd., the Botanic Wax Pencil (thin) and the Dermatograph Liberty #7600-24 wax pencil.

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January Events

Now–January 7, 2007 | Holiday Door Décor & More
Annual gallery exhibit of vintage and artistic doors adorned for the holidays by regional designers and artisans. These exhibits include fireplaces, benches and other design elements that offer dozens of decorating ideas and inspiration. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Admission $4.
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2701 Clifton Avenue, Rockford
815.965.8146 | www.klehm.org

Now - January 7, 2007 | Winter Flower and Train Show
Several model trains including an old-fashioned steam engine, freight train and trolley will wind their way through a tiny village set in a field of vibrant red, delicate pink and soft white poinsettias.
Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2400 N. Stockton Dr., Chicago
312.742.7736 | www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

Now - January 7, 2007 | Wonderland Express
Experience the holidays at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Thousands of white lights will decorate the Esplanade and the new Regenstein Center, where the North Gallery has been transformed into an English country train platform. In the Great Hall, garden-scale trains wind their way over bridges, under trestles, past waterfalls and through more than 70 miniature versions of Chicago's favorite landmarks. Decking the South Gallery will be 20 holiday trees decorated with a family/train theme by designers and retailers and the Greenhouses will be specially lit and decorated with beautiful holiday plants. Cost is $10 for adults and $8 for children ages 2-12. Parking is $12.
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
847.835.8326 | www.ohwow.org

January 9 | New Master Gardening Training--Winnebago County
If you have some knowledge or experience in gardening or landscape management, are willing to learn about horticulture and share this knowledge with others and can volunteer time conducting horticultural educational programming coordinated through your local extension unit, you can become a Master Gardener. This lesson will cover botany.
Meghan Bowe | 815.986.4357 | mbowe@uiuc.edu

January 18 | Fabulous Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs
There is more to spring than daffodils, tulips and other spring-blooming bulbs. Barbara Bates, Horticulture Educator of the U of I Extension, will introduce many trees and shrubs with color in spring. 1-3 p.m.
Randall Oaks Park, 17N350 Randall Road, West Dundee
847.551.4310

January 24 | Seasons of Blooms with Perennials
Spend an evening learning about perennials that will fill your garden with colorful blooms from March through November. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Eola Community Center, 555 South Eola Road, Aurora
630.851.8990

January 26 | New Master Gardener Training--Stephenson County
If you have some knowledge or experience in gardening or landscape management, are willing to learn about horticulture and share this knowledge with others and can volunteer time conducting horticultural educational programming coordinated through your local extension unit, you can become a Master Gardener. This lesson will cover botany.9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Stephenson County Farm Bureau, 210 W. Spring Street, Freeport
Margaret Larson | 815.235.4125 | mklarson@uiuc.edu

January 27 | Organic Houseplant Care
Learn the basics of selecting and taking care of indoor houseplants using organic methods. Topics will include proper plant selection, low maintenance plant choices, basic cultural practices such as lighting and watering needs, organic fertilizers and soil mixes. Instructor is Matt Kostelnick, Cook County Horticulture Educator for the University of Illinois Extension. 10a.m. $15. Pre-registration is required.
Kilbourn Park, 3501 N. Kilbourn, Chicago
312.742.7529 | www.chicagoparkdistrict.com