Date: 03/04/2002

Number: 1

Second Record Freeze

Record low temperatures were recorded across south and southeast
Texas yesterday morning (Monday Mar 4). Rockport and Palacios
along bays recorded 22 dF, we had 24, and 20 at Victoria. We
have lost almost everything in our backyard, about three hundred
plants, even those that were supposed to be hardy to below 20 dF.
Possibly the overwintering monarchs make it. We aren't sure when
and where we will see any of the native milkweeds or monarchs
again.

How well will the local milkweeds, that we would expect to be
emerging about now, tolerate another temperature into the low
to mid twenties? What role would such an event play in the lives
of monarchs that have bred and are returning from the sanctuaries
in about two weeks? Which is most tolerant of freezing temperatures,
linearis, viridis, asperula, or oenotheroides? Won't the fact that
they will be sprouting from tubers a few inches below the surface
of the ground allow them to rebound as soon as the sun "returns"?
I remember Lincoln mentioning something the early monarchs arriving
before the native milkweeds could host them. Is this one of those
years?

Victoria, TX

Latitude: 28.8 Longitude: -97

Observed by: Harlen E.
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