Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Anticipation, Breakfast, Chickens, Coffee, Coffee Mug, Frosty Morning, If You Don’t Like The Weather, Morning Coffee, Mud, Spring Gardening, Spring is Coming, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Gardening, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Tennessee Weather
Spring is elusive. It tease’s us a bit. My Saucer Magnolias are in full bloom, my big Weeping Willow is leafing out. The ground is very wet, muddy in fact with more rain forecast all week… Then a cold snap is expected that will nip all these early plants and trees back. This time of year it’s always 2 steps forward & then – 2 to 3 steps back… But that is also part of the magic that Spring brings us 😊 Resurrection, renewal, regrowth… ❤️

It was a cool, muddy morning, but we got the chores done in record time. I fixed coffee ☕️ Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee to be exact (so good!). Had a simple quick breakfast (bagels & eggs 🥚) and then I got a pot of soup going for dinner (homemade potato 🥔)! No football 🏈 to tie me down this afternoon… Who knows what might happen! 😇
“The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.”
~ Gertrude S. Wister
Have a great afternoon!
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Best Local Nursery and Garden Center, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Changing Seasons, Cover Plants, Crazy Weather, Feeding the Soul, Frosty Morning, Gardening, If You Don’t Like The Weather, Life is Good, Love, Love and Meaning, Moment of Zen, Morning Zen, outdoor lifestyles, Outdoor Living, Place of Zen, Predicting Weather, Quality Of Life, Robert Frost, Seasonal changes, Seasonal Interest, Seasonal Water Garden, Spring, Spring Gardening, Tennessee Weather, Weather Signs, Zen, Zen state of mind, Zen Waterfall
If you are like many Gardeners and live by the ”Last Frost Date” given in the Almanac or in your local paper, you may be very disappointed this morning… I’m getting ready to go out and uncover the hundreds of plants that I have under blankets, sheets and in a big cold frame greenhouse.

Why does it ’sneak up’ on us so often?
With me its all about staying in tune with the particular season. Spring here in West TN fluctuates from sweaty 80’s weather to 60 mile an hour winds with frost and snow ❄️ BUT, that relationship you form with the seasons and the changes is where the Zen lies…
But, its tough to wait! As soon as the forsythia and the daffodil 🌼 blooms I’m already setting up my planters and pots 🪴 And, I try to be ready for people coming in to my Nursery early, which means we spend a month or more moving plants in and out of the greenhouse… 😊

Finding balance and Zen within ourselves is found within our own Gardens…
PS: The good news is, I think we are past Frost now for real!
“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.”
~ Henry Van Dyke
Have a great Tuesday!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises | Tags: After the Storm, Be Ready, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, clean up, Cover Plants, Frost Warning, Frosty Morning, I Love My Family, Late Frost, Loss of power, Love and Meaning, Love Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself, Storm Damage, Stormy Weather, The Calm After The Storm
The rising sun revealed varying amounts of damage. Some lost trees, lots of roof damage, hail damage on cars, limbs and debris all over… Thousands still have no power this morning. BUT, in many ways we dodged a bullet! I haven’t heard of any deaths related to last nights storms! 🙏🏻 And it really brought many people together helping each other out, checking on neighbors, picking up debris, etc…
Here are a few images that local people posted of storm damage and a map of power outages that are still being repaired.




All our local workers are cleaning up and repairing damage as I write this. Things like this really bring things into focus. We must all count our blessings 🙏🏻
Now, heres an old cliche’ for ya’… ”If you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute, it will change”! Temps in the 70’s and tornados yesterday – Frost warning Tonight! 🥶

Have a great day! Count your Blessings! Love thy neighbor! And cover your plants 🪴 😊
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, water garden | Tags: Best Local Nursery and Garden Center, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Cover Plants, Crazy Weather, Flowers, Frost Warning, Frosty Morning, gardening 101, Gardening answers, If You Don’t Like The Weather, Nursery, Protect Tender Plants, Protect Your Plants, Roses, Shrubs, spring fever, Spring is Here!, Tomatoes
I’m the worst about planting to early before the “Last Frost Date”… Depending on who’s frost chart you use, our last frost date is somewhere between March 31st. and April 15th.

I normally wait until April 15th before planting my tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, melons, etc… But as a Nurseryman, I have to be ready with plants in stock! So we have moved plants back inside – tender growth shrubs, flowers, hanging baskets, flats of sedum, roses, and so much more! AND, I still have to get the rest of our houseplants back inside… UGH!!!

This isn’t a ”Late Frost” by any means… It has just been so warm that this is a Surprise! So I thought I would share the news, just in case you havent heard 🥶
📢 Spring is Here! Cover your Plants! 😊
“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.”
~ Henry Van Dyke
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Landscaping & Gardening, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: 4/20, Bad Weather, Be Prepared, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Chance of Snow, Cheech and Chong, Cold Weather, Cooler Weather is Coming, Cover Plants, Crazy Weather, Frost Warning, Frosty Morning, Garden Preperation, If You Don’t Like The Weather, Late Frost, plants, Predicting Weather, Snow, Spring Gardening, Tennessee Weather, Weather Signs
Hot, then cold, then windy then SNOW ❄️ Then FROST… WHAT? Yes, you heard me right! Gardeners prepare! Your about to get FROSTED on 4/20!

Things we can do –
- Bring in potted plants
- Cover tender plants with sheets and/or plastic!
- Cover veggies 🍅 🌶 🌽
- IF you have an irrigation system, time it to come on before sunrise and run till after. The thermal properties of water are amazing.
- We can’t change the weather, but we can be prepared!
We have to move all tender plants back in the cold frames and cover all sorts of things… I even cover my Japanese Maples! Lots to do, but it’s worth the effort! This has been an eventful weather year, but fret not! We will get past this & see smooth sailing soon 🌞

It always pays to be ready when you live in West Tennessee! Crazy weather… But hey, it’s Springtime in Tennessee! So we got that goin for us!
Have a great day & be ready! You have been warned…
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Landscaping & Gardening, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles | Tags: Be Ready, Cold Weather, Cooler Weather is Coming, Cover Plants, Crazy Weather, Freezing Temps., Frost Warning, Frosty Morning, Greenhouse Report, If You Don’t Like The Weather, Late Frost, Predicting Weather, Protect Tender Plants, Tennessee Weather, Weather Lore, Weather Signs
This is just a friendly warning to be ready… We have 2 nights of below freezing temperatures coming and 3 mornings of probable frost! Be prepared!

Many peoples ornamental trees have started to emerge (Japanese Maples) as well as perennials and have even set out peppers and tender annual crops…
Things we can do –
- Bring in potted plants
- Cover tender plants with sheets and/or plastic!
- Cover veggies 🍅 🌶 🌽
- IF you have an irrigation system, time it to come on before sunrise and run till after. Waters thermal properties are amazing.
- We can’t change the weather, but we can be prepared!
I even cover my Japanese Maples! Lots to do, but it’s worth the effort! This has been an eventful weather year, but fret not! We will get past this soon. Don’t you just LOVE Tennessee Weather 😊
Have a great day & be ready! You have been warned…
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Family time, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Pondless Waterfalls, Videos, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Cold Weather, Custom Water Features, Don’t Break The Ice, Frosty Morning, I ❤️ Waterfalls, Ice, Ice Safety, Ice Storm, Icy Waterfall, It’s Cold!, Naturalistic Waterfall, Never Break The Ice, Seasonal Water Garden, Snow Day, Snow Falling, Snowy waterfall, Stone, Video, Water Garden Video, waterfall design, Waterfall Video, Waterfalls in YOUR Life, Winter, Winter Beauty, Winter Ponds, Winter Waterfall, Zen Video
I just LOVE my Waterfalls and my Pond! And I get to enjoy the beauty year round! All 4 seasons bring something special to my life. This bitter cold and snow is rough, in one way, but in another it brings extreme beauty to my door! It’s not safe to be out on the roads right now, but here in my Landscape… It’s all good 😊
I hope this morning finds you safe and warm! It’s very cold 🥶 out there… But seeing my ‘Winter Wonderland’ somehow makes it better… More beautiful. More bearable… And I know that this is really the foothills of the coming Spring! And I am ready!
Be careful out there!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunrises, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: #waterfallwednesday, Cats, Frosty Morning, I ❤️ Waterfall Wednesday, Icy Waterfall, Nursery Cat, Pond-Less Waterfall Wednesday, waterfall design, Waterfall Wednesday, Waterfalls, Wednesday
Get up and enjoy the sunshine ☀️ It’s #waterfallwednesday!

I went down to get a frosty 🥶 picture for my Waterfall Wednesday post, and Luna was with me step for step. I think she likes to be the subject in every photo … Cats 🙄

I hope you enjoy your Waterfall Wednesday! A little frost and ice just adds to the seasonal beauty that a Waterfall brings to your life 😊
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Landscaping & Gardening, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden | Tags: Be Prepared, Be Ready, Blackberry Winter, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Chilly Willy, Cover Plants, Frost Warning, Frosty Morning, Late Frost, Plastic, Protect Tender Plants, Protect Your Plants, Record Low, Sheets, Unseasonably Cold
2020 has been a CRAZY year so far!!! Now to top it all off, we have a chance of a VERY Late Frost! 🧊 A RECORD LOW!!!

Break out the sheets and plastic, we got a crazy late frost heading our way Friday night into Saturday morning that’s gonna break records & some hearts! 😢
Things we can do –
- Bring in potted plants
- Cover tender plants with sheets and/or plastic!
- Cover veggies 🍅 🌶 🌽
- IF you have an irrigation system, time it to come on before sunrise and run till after. Waters thermal properties are amazing.
- We can’t change the weather, but we can be prepared!
I even cover my Japanese Maples! Lots to do, but it’s worth the effort! This has been an eventful weather year, but fret not! We will get past this & see smooth sailing soon ⛵️
Have a good day & be ready! You have been warned…
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Autumn Leaves Falling on Water, Autumn Poem, Daylight Savings Time, Fall, Fall Beauty, Fall Color, Fall Day, Fall Foliage, Fall is Here, Fall Morning, fall poem, Frosty Morning, Leaves, Poet, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family
The leaves have been coming down like rain the last couple of days. It’s beautiful to watch. Add to that the 4 strait nights of freezing temps … November has made itself known 😊 Thanksgiving is coming!
Mark C.