Good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning Garden Blog. First and foremost, let's wish our fearless gardening leader, Frankenoid, a very happy birthday, which is tomorrow!
I don't have a shamrock picture for St. Patty's day, but I do have a picture of my first violet of the season...
Ok, everyone, all together now, ♪ ♫ ♪ ♩ ♫ Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, ♫ ♪ Happy birthday SMGB Leader Frankenoid, happy birthday to you! ♪ ♫ ♪ ♩ ♫ ♩ ♫
March is the beginning of spring in Colorado. In other words, snowing like crazy one day, and 60-70 degrees two days later!
Mr. Light and I went skiing at Sunlight Resort last Saturday, and it was DUMPING snow. I mean it - really snowing. As we rode up the lift, we'd get covered with snow. Then we would ski a run we'd skied an hour before, and we'd find our previous tracks almost obscured with new snow. We had a lot of fun!
This weekend is supposed to be rain mixed with snow, warming up and then another cold front coming through on Wednesday. This week, I was taking advantage of the nice weather and I spent the extra evening daylight hours looking at the gardens and checking out what's coming up. (I LOVE daylight saving time!)
As of yesterday, the snow was melting even in the shade. The temperatures are in the 50's-60's, and the ground is starting to thaw, although I still wear my winter coat in the morning and go to shirtsleeves by noon. Typical Colorado weather!
Last fall, as some of you may recall, we had the two huge cottonwood trees in our backyard removed. I had to dig up a whole garden to protect it from the large boots of the tree service guys, and then try and replant most of it. I got most of it re-planted before the ground froze in December.
I had also planted bulbs I'd received from John Scheepers - some mixed daffodils, some anemone and something I've never had, some fritillaria. I am anxious to see what will come up! I've got lots of green leaves showing, and I'm thinking I'd better fence off the back garden to keep it safe from labradog tromping and deer chomping.
In one of the front gardens, I had to put some chicken wire on top of the crocus to keep the deer out of it because I noticed they were nibbling even the daffodil leaves earlier in the spring. All the critters are waking up. Our little chipmunk has been scavenging the bird seed below the feeders, so it's time to stop feeding the chickadees and house finches. Thursday morning there was a little bear scat in the road below my driveway, so they are up and about already.
I've also noticed the deer are making themselves at home in the yard. They have pulled up a few dianthus, not to mention their favorite little snack, the grape hyacinth leaves from last fall. I point out the deer droppings to labradog and he looks at me like, "Hey, give me a break. A dog's got to get his beauty sleep!"
It's also finally time to start seeds - I've got a flat of hot and mild peppers starting to sprout under the lights in my living room, and I've just planted a flat of mixed herbs and some favorites, zinnias. It is that time of year, finally!
Since Friday was the last day of nice weather for a few days (70's!), I checked out the progress of all my bulbs and transplants - looking good! (Except some were slightly nibbled).
I would love to start getting all the gardens ready for summer, but I'll stick to indoor seed starting and maybe planting some lettuce in some pots on the deck. I think I'd better not get too excited too early, although it is really tough to give it a little time. One thing I wll do is plant sweet peas tomorrow, a tradition in my family on St. Patty's day. Oh, and eat corned beef! (Mr. Light is Irish on both sides of his family, and we love our corned beef!)
That's what's going on in the Light household this weekend. What's going on in yours?