We’ve gotten off easy, so far this winter. Even when it did snow, it didn’t pile up. My hydrangea ‘Pinky Winky’ was barely bent over by the last “storm”, even though it was wet and heavy to shovel. The wind blew it off the next day.
It’s only days until spring. That’s my mantra and I’m sticking to it. There’s still a chance we won’t be as lucky, this time around, but it doesn’t look like we’re going to get the record breaking blizzard we anticipated. They’re still predicting a few more inches but I have my doubts.
Even so, I hope everyone who has to drive, does so safely. Me, I’ll be hunkered down counting backwards from my last frost date and juggling seed packs. One bag for the slow pokes to start in February (onions, leeks, hot peppers, artichokes), one for pushing my luck in February (tall verbena, celeriac, lemon basil, sweet peppers). A realistic batch of seeds to start in April (broccoli, tomatoes, tomatillos, Cleome, )and another that can blessedly be direct sown when — well when I can see the soil again. I’m set. All I need is patience. Sigh.
I’m hoping for a sunny Wednesday, so I can go out and capture this storm with my camera. A notebook is needed in the garden, but my photographs taken during the drag-along days of January through March really remind me of how spring unfolds. Last year we had a mild January, we got socked around Valentine’s day and by mid-March, the bulbs were up and starting to bloom. I can dream.
One positive thing about wet snow – it makes my peach tree look like pussy willows. No forcing required. Of course, they won’t last as long. (I hope.) So here’s another reminder that you can find out more about forcing flowering trees and shrubs in Secrets to a 4 Season Garden.
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