We have a layer of ice on everything out there now but thankfully we still have power. A few images from this year.

Tennessee Spinning Gourds

Hello, I am growing on a condo patio in Memphis, need help with selections for plants that will overwinter well in pots. I thought a rock garden style of plants may work well, and I did keep a few of my irises in large containers of potting soil. Mainly I grow orchids indoors from Nov to Mar then out to patio, but a lot of in and out as weather permits.
But days like this in the 40/50 high range I am wanting something to look at from my big glass doors.
Thx for input. Bert

Several herbs and chives grow well throughout the winter, such as Italian and garlic chives, rosemary, and several varieties of oregano. Cilantro also likes cool weather. I am sorry I can't be of more help, but as you know, tropical plants are my thing.

If you have some large planters and want a larger plant, Hibiscus moscheutos will do well for you. Very hardy. Spectacular in bloom but leafless during the winter. Rock garden plants should do well if you can give them some shade and mitigate any harsh conditions during the summer.

Sempervivums are interesting smaller plants that change their coloration as the seasons and conditions change. Usually very hardy. I give mine no special treatment over the winter.

Vinca minor 'Variegata' has good foliage year around and beautiful blue/purple blooms in warm weather. I've added a photo of some of mine in a small pot.

Violas will work. Many of the lilies will work but they will be dormant in the cold weather. Beautiful in bloom though. Crepe myrtles are good although they, too, will be leafless most of the winter.

What size containers do you have?

Tee these two pots now are empty since I put the iris in smaller pots of potting mix, they are about knee high. I am getting rid of the dirt and putting potting soil to make them lighter since I do all my moving around. I have never grown the cactus types you show but think they are really interesting. Thx for the idea.
Ken, good morning, I'm not a cook but I never even considered herbs, what a great idea because they can be grown together in one of my pots and the other the cactus/hensandchicks .

Bert

Bert, IF you cook at all, you will find all kinds of uses for the chives, rosemary, cilantro, and oregano. We don't have a single baked Idaho potato without our fresh Italian chives covering it.

Ken, I am on my way out the door to look for hardy herbs, I'll go to Goodwins in Germantown because they had a rosemary bush. I can't wait, what a great idea!

Bert, IF you cook like I do (if it can Be grilled or microwaved, I can handle it!), adding the chives and herbs to those dishes will really enhance them. You will get so used to using fresh herbs you'll wonder how you ever did without them.

I agree.

Did you find some herb plants and a nice rosemary or two?

I didn't get far, minor fender bender. I'm so sidelined!

I am so sorry, Bert. What a bummer. My wife's brother and his wife live in Germantown and they simply hate the drivers there. He is from CA (as is my wife) and she grew up in Colorado. Her late father was the Athletic Director for the Air Force Academy for many years.

We will be in Memphis from Dec. 29-31, attending the Liberty Bowl. If you need me to bring you some chive plants (both kinds), oregano, and some rosemary, I will be glad to do so. Just let me know. We will be staying in Germantown.

Are you all snowed in over there, Roberta? Such a winter!

Tee, Hi! We missed the ice by a few miles to the north! But last night we had snow. The county north of us is Tipton, and they got power back late last night, just in time for the snow. After a couple of mild winters we are not surprised that we are having a really cold one. But this is even harder than our occasional 'hard' winter.

I'm in Montgomery County. I'll have to say that a lot of times the bad weather seems to stop about at the KY border just north of us. We did have an inch of snow with this last storm but it hit about 40° and has melted. It will be interesting (?) to see how things fared once winter is over.

When I had to move last Apr, I dug up hostas, peonies, Lily and tons of iris and replanted into my 6sisters yards. I am trying to remember who got what and where there are. Usually by ides of March we can get planting, we are 7b here. First frost is Apr 11or15, I forget, but I just cover the beds for a day or so. Feb is my favorite month to travel because I can go out into yards, farms I don't know and not worry about snakes! And you can see the bones of the gardens, I really like cool and dry Feb days. The trees are beautiful and no kudzu. Only a mid south gardener would know, best time to plan, anticipate the work ahead and do some hard scraping projects. So far Feb is not so nice, to cold.

Yes, that's roughly the same time here. I'm hoping the rest of our February won't be such bad weather. I couldn't garden much the last two years so I'm waaay behind with everything. DH is ill and it's hard to get things going without being interrupted. So my current gardening goes in fits and spurts. Right now, I have a lot of my lilies in pots except for some of the Crinums and a couple of others.

Do you have a lot of kudzu on your property? I have none here but other stuff to contend with. Bamboo and Bermuda grass being two of them. One area of bamboo is easy to keep in check because it can be mowed over to keep the area small. The other area has taken off running the fenceline and the neighbor's don't edge the line on their side. I like the looks of it ... just wishing for a little more containment on one side at least.

This was my first winter in Montgomery County. Being from MI, I did not expect the snow and ice. How did the gardens fair with this weather? Was this a freak cold winter?

Yes, it was much colder than usual here. I lost some things. Actually I thought I had lost more but some have just been later emerging. I have a Musa basjoo out in the ground and thought it was a goner. But day before yesterday I noticed that it is sending up new growth.

I lost a couple of ornamental bushes that are easily replaced BUT I lost my 7 year old Brown Turkey Fig tree. No figs this year. I also lost a mature Confederate Jasmine that provided a wonderful fragrance to the backyard area. Tough winter but that's gardening. Things will be replaced and we will move on.