Sigh… so it’s been a mild winter. Almost like a cold spring. We had one snow fall and it came on March 5th. Just a few weeks ago.
The balmy weather and sunshine called me to the garden like the sirens called mariners. In February. I’ve happily planted my stored seeds and nurtured the seedlings in their plant cups until they were strong and hardy. And ready to go into their own special place in the garden. Heirloom purple Cherokee tomatoes and purple Derby beans and heirloom Brandywines. Yum.
And that nagging little voice that hangs around your conscience when you do silly things kept reminding me that a freeze and snow are still just around that unexpected corner. But, who cares when there’s good dirt and warm sunshine waiting out the door for you. Living dangerously. That’s me. Oh yeah. Not exactly Harley chick excitement, but whatchagonnado.
Pulled the salmon geraniums and angel wing begonias out of their basement storage and nestled them into their spots in the garden and containers. Green sprouts are already shooting out.
The grape hyacinths and daffodils briefly bloomed and were spent one month ago. The blue jacket hyacinths wafted their delicious fragrance across the front yard at the beginning of March and are winding down. Nothing left but their leaves to gather up the energy for next year’s hyacinth parade.
The march of the tulips was spectacular. The red passion bunch really put on a show this year. And they’re already finished the first of April. My floral show yard is not proceeding according to plan.
And now it’s the second week of April and freezing weather is coming tonight. Sigh… so I run around like a clucking mother and have to prepare cloche bottle covers and plastic wraps to protect that sugar plum flower garden dancing in my head.
The Carriere rose will be fine. She’s two years old now and is a monster. She went from 6 inches tall to 12 feet spread in all directions in just two years and she’s loaded with roses just waiting to erupt. One bloom decided to jump the gun on the others… so on April 1st the first rose of the year appeared and I stopped and smelled the roses.
So, crap. Gotta think good thoughts and hope my preventive wrappings on all those plants provide enough cover to protect them through the night freeze.
All because Spring (and I) jumped the calendar month by almost a month this year.
So, kossacks, kossacks, quite contrary, how do your gardens grow (anyone besides me remember that little Mary Mary quite contrary poem)? And have you gone out to put some protective coverings on your tender plants? Because a light freeze is gonna come tonight.
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