How are you dealing with the hard freeze?
 

Here’s a picture of icicles I thought I’d never see in Florida! Hope you’re all keeping warm and having a lovely X-Mas time.

Here are some ugly blankets/sheets I came up with for my bushes. Sorry to all who have to see them for the next couple days!

Not used to the cold anymore having lived in Central Florida since June or so of 1996. Had to get the coat I had when I lived in Minneapolis out and also put a few layers on as well.

All perspective.

Called my brother today in northern MN. Turns out that up thataway this afternoon they were expecting 30-40 mph winds and temps around the -10 range. That on top of the two feet of snow they've already gotten before the official first day of winter.

I told him I had to cover my zucchini and tomato plants last night.

His response: "Don't take this personally but... go bleep yourself!"

Yep group text our oldest in MN, minus anything is worse than a cold snap in FL. Then middle child “snow predicted 2” to 24”, in MI, want to come snow blow? The youngest in Louisville, it’s 1 degree with snowy mix, and my employees wonder why I drive a Jeep. Then each sent a emoji to our 24 degree cold snap.

A friend had to walk a neighbor's dog today, as his neighbor is out of town overnight. He reported that it was -6 with the wind chill factor.

I went out today and walked, wearing the inner "fake-fur-lined" shell of my northern winter coat, and a cheap pair of stretchy knit gloves. It felt AWESOME to have that sun on my face while walking in the cold air. I really miss New England on days like this. I don't miss the snow. I don't miss the weeks of dim, dull, cloud-covered daylight when the wind is blowing endlessly and you can't feel the tissue to wipe your nose anymore. But days like today - just perfect.

If it’s going to be this cold, a little snow with beige snowflakes would be pretty, with the sun making them sparkle. I do miss watching snow fall outside a window, the snow blowing, not so much.

So here’s to A Merry Christmas in TV with 24° temperatures, and not a snowflake in site

Yup!

I agree, I always preferred there be snow when it was cold. One of these Christmas seasons it will happen here I reckon, but I still would prefer there was no freeze at all!

The only snow I want to see is on a Christmas card.
As for my landscaping, I planted hardy shrubs that may freeze and die back. But, in the past I have just cut the dead off and they have always come back in the spring. I don't bother to cover anything.
Couple of years ago, during one particular cold day, I was leaving Publix and passed a guy entering and shivering. He said to me, " I must have made a wrong turn from the freeway because I thought I was in Florida. This ain't the Florida I saw on the post card."

Cold
 

Visiting Upstate NY for the holidays. Only 13 degrees this morning but no snow or ice. So not a bad day.

Oh my!!!

we bought Our third house in December 2014. Flew down In January to ready the house for parents to winter in place. in three days it was 70 then 40 and on the third day, it snowed while we were playing golf. just few flurries, but wow it was really cold driving in the golf cart

Just drive down to Richmond, new builds forgot to shut off sprinklers. All the bushes have icicles, and the lawns are very frosted over. Oops

Here's a good example of what can thrive or die in The Villages. Marigolds and begonias have frozen, but the purple ones are still fine! Wow.