Photo Of The Week ~ April Snow 2007

April 9, 2024
Larry Hurley
Independent Garden Centers, Local Garden Centers
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Photo of Behnke Nurseries Perennial Department, April 7, 2007 by L. Hurley

Although snow isn’t in the forecast, April snow in the Washington, DC area isn’t unheard of. In order to be ready for spring sales, garden centers begin bringing in plants in late February/early March, starting with fruit tree and continuing other trees and shrubs. Perennials begin to arrive in late March, and by the middle of April, are pretty close to fully stocked. Pansies and cool season vegetables precede the summer annuals, which are in stock in mid-April but not safe to plant out. Stores have to be ready for the first warm day when the crowds descend.

So, with all of these plants in stock, what happens if it gets cold or snows? It depends on the plants. If they were grown outdoors, they may be fine, as were the ones on the tables in the photos. If they were grown in greenhouses and had tender foliage, we may have moved them indoors for the night, or moved them under the tables to reduce frost exposure. Shrubs in flower might be moved inside, while rose bushes would be covered with an insulating fabric. It was always several hours of work at the end of the day, and then several hours to uncover and move plants back to their original spot when the weather cleared.

Right now in Wisconsin I have bought some greenhouse-grown hellebores and a terra-cotta pot of blooming pansies. They are in the unheated garage for the night due to snow and freezing night time temperatures over the last couple of days, and I will move them out for the day.

Just like being back at Behnke’s!

(Photo of Behnke Nurseries Perennial Department, April 7, 2007 by L. Hurley)

Larry Hurley

Larry Hurley worked at Behnke Nurseries from 1984 until the business was composted in 2019, primarily with the perennial department in growing, buying and sales.

Before landing at Behnke’s, he worked as a technician in a tissue culture lab, a houseplant “expert” at a florist shop, and inventory controller at a wholesale nursery in Dallas. With this and that, ten years passed.

When his wife Carolyn accepted a position at Georgetown University, Larry was hired at Behnke’s for the perennial growing department and garden center at Behnke’s Largo location.

In 2021, Larry and Carolyn moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to family and further from traffic. After 37 years in a shaded yard in Maryland, he is happy to have a sunny lot where he can grow all sorts of new perennials, if only he can keep the rabbits at bay. He also enjoys cooking, traveling, and the snowblower.