A light dusting of frost in Wauconda on Monday morning frames these violets, which should be hearty enough to survive the cold as well as today's temperatures expected to hit the mid to upper 80s.

Courtesy of Judy Lee Webb

Delaying her planting until Monday's early frost gives way to a heat wave, Paula Ichert of Hoffman Estates picks out some flowers at Goebbert's Farm & Garden Center in South Barrington.

photos by Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Today's warm-up is welcome news to gardener Doreen Kwasek of South Barrington, who stocks up on hydrangeas at Goebbert's Farm & Garden Center in South Barrington. While Mother's Day is a traditional planting day, Monday morning's frost forced gardeners to postpone their plantings.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

These sensitive tomato and pepper plants at Goebbert's Farm & Garden Center in South Barrington needed to be protected from Monday morning's frost, says manager Sue Murdock. Goebbert's staff brought plants inside or covered them with burlap bags as protection against the cold, but will open the greenhouse windows today as temperatures are expected to rocket into the 80s.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Antonio Rodriguez holds up the burlap sacks he and his crew used to cover the more delicate plants at Goebbert's Farm & Garden Center in South Barrington.