JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The warm weather is a big reason why people love Florida, but when it gets too cold it can be uncomfortable and damage plants if you have them.
Keith Mohrman lives in Jacksonville Beach and takes a lot of pride in his garden, which is full of different flowers, plants such as sunflowers, cacti, ferns, geraniums and much more.
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However, a hard freeze warning is in effect for most of the Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida area and won’t bring a lot of warmth for his plants and flowers.
“I continue this garden and work all year on it and with this freeze coming I don’t want to lose what I put into this in the last 3 to 4 years,“ he said.
Low temperatures of 20-30 degrees can be harsh on plants if they’re exposed for too long.
Much like many other neighbors, Mohrman has covered his entire garden with tarps and sheets, except it took him roughly 2 days because of how large the garden is.
“I’ve got to cut them (sunflowers) back down some, so I can fit it all under there, I water them a little bit and then I can cover them,“ Mohrman said. ”I had to take 4 or 5 feet off of them in order to cover them.”
The garden covers just about the entire front part to his house and wraps around the side on 9th and 3rd street in Jacksonville Beach. With all the work that goes into it, Mohrman is hoping the freeze doesn’t last too long.
“If it doesn’t pass it’ll be a problem,“ he said.
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The garden is much more than just plants, Mohrman tells Action News Jax. It’s in honor and remembrance of a woman who went by Mrs. Bernice.
She used to live in the home and passed away in 1995. Mohrman said he is still extremely close with the family, and it means a lot to him to take care of the garden.
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