Sunday, April 08, 2018

Winter or Spring?

It has been very confusing, the weather of late. We had March in February, February in March, and now we are back to March in April. This time last year I had my peas and onions in the ground already... currently the gardens are still covered for the winter. If it warms up this week, I have promised myself I would get them uncovered, mix in some pony poop, stir things up and let the weather start to warm the soil up- let the rain start to get the soil ready to receive seeds or plants... I am not sure how I am going to do things, yet. I have been super busy redoing the layouts at the Train Station, for one thing. Not having a working computer for several weeks slowed things down a lot, too.......
It kind of LOOKS like Spring out the window- but it sure doesn't feel like it. Then we have a day of 70 degrees and we think it is summer- strip down to T-shirts out in the sunshine and listen as the weatherman tells us that we might get snow in a day or 2. Really????? Oh, don't worry, just a dusting. I remember one of those dustings brought 14 inches of the white stuff... so we wait.
Meanwhile, the daffodils are blooming their little hearts out- speaking of hearts- the Bleeding Heart is actually in bloom! The winter jasmine is about finished and the late camellias have started, especially Pink Perfection and Red Emperor. The redbud is opening as I type this. There are cherry blossoms across the street. The Bradford pears are finished blooming, but there are little petals blowing in the wind from something...
The weeds have really taken over. They would have been pulled by now- but they weren't here in Feb when it was warm... they sure grew in March when it was cold. Whatever time I did have outside in March was spent cleaning up the branches and twigs that came down during one of our- too-many-to-count Nor'easters!
But, the grass (meaning weeds) have been cut once already. Gumballs scattered out of the way- I hate those things... and a couple wheelbarrow loads of chick grass and other such weeds have been removed. So- progress. Now I need to send off that order for some heirloom seeds. Gonna try to grow some Delicata squash this year. They are sooooooo sweet! We used to be able to get them in the store, but not anymore. I'll let you know how they turn out- or even IF they turn out.
Here is a peek at the blooms so far...
Red Emperor on the ground after another wind storm. sigh
the redbud
Forsythia in the fog. 
I hope Spring has spring at your place. (I am out of time- again.)