As a cold snap moves across the region, Stuart Perry is being vigilant about the large supply of blooming plants at Rudy’s Happy Patch Market. Earlier this week, he spoke with the supplier of his latest inventory of chrysanthemums, particularly in regard to optimum temperature for maintaining the plants at this time.

“The grower of our mums told me that they should be okay with some cold weather, but they could not handle frost,” Stuart related. He then spent several hours moving the colorful plants under the market pavilion area.

“I had rather be safe than sorry with these plants,” Stuart explained. “I have bought so many to provide different colors for our customers.”

In the photo above, closely arranged and brightly colored mums huddle inside the market for protection from colder weather.