Winters in SE Alabama are supposed to be mild. But every so often, we get a doozie. Remember the snowstorm in February...
http://rosegardenadventures.blogspot.com/2010/02/snow-day.html
Anyway, this December we've been on a roller coaster weather ride. One mild day followed by an overnight low of 16F. 16F!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (And then we wonder why everyone around us has a persistent hacking cough.)
The day after one such blistery cold night, I went to check on a few newly planted perennials and found a block of ice in one of my birdbaths. Too cool.