Limbo

I feel like a sprinter toeing the line and waiting for the starting gun to sound.

It's coming...just a few more weeks...it's coming...ignore the 20 degree temps and snow still on the ground...it's coming...keep that winter coat hanging by the door...it's coming...don't worry that not one darn thing is blooming...but...

...it IS coming!

I know what's going to happen when that lovely season called spring finally does hit. I'm already feeling all edgy and anxious. The avalanche of 'gotta get it done' is going to swamp me before I know it.

I so hate this 'in limbo' crap! A whole looooong season of whining and bemoaning the rotten winter blues and suddenly every single plant is going to want immediate attention. I swear, spring is like having a dozen kids, all screaming and clawing at once for complete, uninterrupted attention! Ain't gonna happen, but everyone will eventually get their turn. Yes, eventually.

The chamomile I sowed last month went bonks in its pot and has flower buds already, as did the peppermint. I am rethinking where to put the peppermint since I know what it tends to do. Alright, not tends...insists.

Peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, egg plant and brussel sprouts are all up and happy. I'll be starting the tomatos this weekend.

The buddleia are almost a foot tall and bushing out nicely. I haven't decided if I'll try pinching a few that don't seem to want to branch out too well, or not. At least I got to pass 28 of them to my Aunt, who doesn't have any.

I keep checking the forecast to decide when to WS my tender annuals. By the looks and sounds of it, it'll be May before I can get them sowed! Highs of 40's and lows of 20 doesn't bode well for a while. I guess I can hold out some more. Heck, I don't even have one lousy green sprout in anything yet. Thank God those seeds are smarter about timing and the weather than I am or I'd kill everything! The rest of the country is happy in their wonderful swells of heat (I hope you're all pleased as punch with yourselves!!!) while we're still toasting our toes on the fire and grumbling. I want to see just one lousy daffodil, damn it!

Take a deep breath and smile...there, all better :)

The moon flowers had a bit of an accident. Well, ok, they didn't, my youngest and her sister's dog did. Unfortunately, when she moved back, so did the furball. Not that I don't like dogs, I do, (though I am a cat person - dogs drool! :P) I'm just not used to having one back in the house. I pouted, ranted, and then did the best I could for their recovery. Nevermind that I had already asked all humans to pleeease be very careful around those sprouts! You would expect a bit better behavior from older teens for Pete sake. But, I forgave them - dog included. Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that the moon flowers do too.

One sure sign the sun is getting higher - the impatiens I babied all winter long (the ones I got for like 2 cents a piece!) are flowering their fool heads off. I can't wait until I can get them outside for some fresh air. I'm sure they're a little...impatient. :) And besides, I'd like my house back!

The elephant ears seem to have made out pretty well. They're wearing a much healthier shade of green these days and have perked up nicely. The vinca - well, not so much. Poor things.

There won't be one more inch of usable space left on the stand D made me after I sow the tomato seeds, so I'll have to stop starting things.

So, with my toes gripped firmly on the starting line, I wait.

Seed Software

Interesting! Could be unbelievably useful, or not. Can you say .... enabled?

Anyone tried these?: Free Seeds Software

Bees

There's been a lot of, ahem, buzz about them lately.

As a child, I never had a real fear of them, per say, but more of a very healthy respect, which I've tried to pass on to my children. I find leaf cutter and bumble bees particularly fascinating. How can you argue the beauty of a bumble? And nothing makes me more irritated than someone swatting one! Open the friggin door and herd it out for pete sake!

We've had swarms move through our yard almost every single year - last summer's was an awesome thing to watch, though my daughter was less than enthusiastic about the whole situation when they decided to inspect her head close enough to decide if she was a threat. I suppose enjoyable isn't the first feeling that pops to mind when a few thousand bees envelop your head, but I give her kudos for being smart enough not to swat. :)

The migration of a bee colony is an incredible event to see. (Ok, so it doesn't take much to amaze me) Some take days to trek across our small plot, some are gone in an hour or two, but it's almost always a family 'nature watch' event. We're such geeks!

This new honey bee disease doesn't have me worried just yet. But, if we, as a community, don't start showing a bit more of that 'healthy respect', I think we're going to regret it - big time. The ideas of learning to live with the nature that lives in your gardens are finally catching on, which I'm glad of, but it just isn't enough. They've been here for a lotta years, and they aren't the pests - we are. I'm very proud of the fact that I don't own one, not one chemical for my yard. I've never used em, and don't see any reason to.

Anyway, the best article on the situation I've read yet is at Sweet Pea Chronicle. Definitely worth a read.

Bah!

Ok, now the winter blues are really setting in.

It's snowed every friggin day since February 1st...another ice storm hit and took out power and trees...5 inches more snow already this morning...roads closed due to blizzard conditions...30 below wind chill...temps 30 degrees below normal.

Everyone is posting pics of all their spring blooms, and honestly, with almost 4 foot of snow on the ground (well, what isn't blowing around so hard it's total whiteouts), I have been completely ignoring them! Hope all you 'got blooms' people are happy with yourselves! :)

BAH!

Fresh New Powder and Moon Flower

Ok, enough is enough, darn it!

After two fabulous days of real sunshine and some wonderful snowpack melt - we're right back where we started. The snow is at the exact same level as just after the Nor'easter.

I despise lafe effect! I may hate and loathe snow and winter itself, but I really, really despise lake effect.

There's no reason for it. Nothing benefits from this much snow. All right, maybe snowmobilers and the water table . Well, not even the water table this year as we had record flooding (twice) last year.

What gives? This isn't funny anymore...

On an up note, I followed Kim's directions to the letter on starting the Moon Flowers she sent, and I'll be darned, but they're sprouting!

How cool is that?!