FREEZING THEIR PETALS OFF FROST PUTS THE BURN ON NURSERIES.Byline: CONNIE LLANOS llanos (yä`nōs), Spanish American term for prairies, specifically those of the Orinoco River basin of N South America, in Venezuela and E Colombia. Staff Writer CANYON COUNTRY -- Piercing blues, deep purples and crimson reds were replaced with a sea of brown at local nurseries after suffering big losses during the fourth day of frigid temperatures. Walking the 3-acre nursery in Canyon Country on Tuesday morning, Mario Galvez gently picked at drooping droop v. drooped, droop·ing, droops v.intr. 1. To bend or hang downward: "His mouth drooped sadly, pulled down, no doubt, by the plump weight of his jowls" calla lilies calla lily see zantedeschia aethiopica. and crispy crisp·y adj. crisp·i·er, crisp·i·est 1. Firm but easily broken or crumbled; crisp. 2. Having small curls, waves, or ripples. geraniums. Galvez estimated the cost of the damage at about $20,000. ``The combination of very cold weather and high winds has been very bad for my plants.'' The wintry win·try also win·ter·y adj. win·tri·er also win·ter·i·er, win·tri·est also win·ter·i·est 1. Belonging to or characteristic of winter; cold. 2. weather streak that's draped drape v. draped, drap·ing, drapes v.tr. 1. To cover, dress, or hang with or as if with cloth in loose folds: draped the coffin with a flag; a robe that draped her figure. the Southland already has claimed millions of dollars worth of citrus, avocado and strawberry crops. National Weather Service specialist Bonnie bon·ny also bon·nie adj. bon·ni·er, bon·ni·est Scots 1. Physically attractive or appealing; pretty. 2. Excellent. Bartling said the week should warm up gradually and wind advisories had been canceled by 2 p.m. Tuesday. For many local nursery owners the damage was already done. ``We have had a lot of burn damage to plants and flowers,'' said Janelle Lewis, saleswoman at Green Landscape Nursery in Valencia. Lewis said tropical plants, such as bird of paradise bird of paradise, common name for any of 43 species of medium- to crow-sized passerine birds of New Guinea and the adjacent islands, known for the bright plumage, elongated tail feathers called wires, and brilliant ruffs of the males. , were some of the hardest hit. She recommended that home gardeners refrain until April from pruning their frost-burned plants. ``The burned area on the plants works like a scab. If you pull it off it exposes the plant to cold air,'' she said. Lewis said people can fertilize their plants in mid-March to encourage growth. To prevent further frost damage Galvez suggested spreading cloth tarps over plants and fruit trees. Remaining positive, the burly Galvez hopes his business will be back to normal in a few months. A big change from December and January, which Galvez described as total losses. Still, he remained confident. ``What can one do, this is the business,'' he said. His plants will bloom their rainbow of colors in about a month's time, Galvez assured. ``They look dead, but they are still alive, they will come back.'' connie.llanos@dailynews.com (661) 257-5254 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Mario Galvez, owner of Sierra Gardens Nursery, examines lilies that were damaged in the recent freeze. (2) Citrus trees at Sierra Gardens Nursery were also damaged during the recent freeze. Mario Galvez, owner of Sierra Gardens, said he estimates the cost of the damage at $20,000. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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