By Sharon Cohoon, Sunset senior garden writer

Picture the hat on the left on the cactus on the right.  The very early cold weather that seems to be happening all across the country reminded me of a tip from Las Vegas gardener extraordinaire Donna Eadie I intended to pass along when the time was right.  I just didn't expect it to be so soon.

Eadie knits caps to protect the tender tips of the columar cactus in her entry garden.  She usually uses red, green, or white yarn so they'll fit in with a Christmas theme.  Besides doing the job, it amuses her neighbors and the mailman, she says.  I wonder if she's busy knitting up orange and brown versions this year for the early frost?

Foam, plastic cups, or cardboard boxes will also protect the tender tips of columnar cactus if you're not a knitter. 

See this post to see what Donna's garden looks like when she's not worrying about frost.