My mother used to say, “Well! Spring and Fall are the only reasons to live around here and they only last two days each!”

I wish I could say it feels like Spring, but it feels like the winter rainy season – it’s rained more days than it hasn’t.

The daffodils, bless their optimistic, cheerful little hearts, are blooming. They’ll get knocked down by a fierce rain; or even a heavy snow, but somehow, they always perk back up. The Jane magnolia has big, pink buds. The Bradford pears, drat their invasive habits are blooming. Our native redbud trees are just beginning to show some color. The only trees leafing out besides the willow trees are the also invasive Autumn olives. It’s just been a frustrating, long, slow wait for Spring.

Even on the days when it hasn’t rained, the nasty clay soil won’t dry out enough for us to walk on it – even on the lawn. One foot-slip and the grass will slide right off the soil and leave slickery bare patch.  We’re sort of confined to the sidewalk for fear of falling on our backsides.

Projects Update

For therapy, we started some zinnia seeds indoors a few weeks back. We’ve been fascinated by how quickly they germinated and how fast they grew. This weekend, I transplanted some of them into those bio-degradable pots. Now, they are hanging out in front of our south-facing patio door, trying to get enough sunlight to stay alive. I’d honestly expected to be able to set them outside for an hour or two by now, to harden off, but the weather ain’t cooperatin’.

Wonderful Husband planted impatiens seeds and some seeds for a Roma-style tomato, they are now under the grow light (actually, a LED shop light, but the plants seem to like it). I’d bought red poppy seeds, which are next in line for starting. Since we have only one grow light, planting has to happen in turns – some of my seeds, then some of his seeds, etc.  I’m definitely planning to have more grow lights for next spring!

The concrete block raised bed that should have been constructed, filled with good soil and growing peas by now…isn’t. We simply haven’t had a chance between rains to get it done. Besides, Wonderful Husband has somehow managed to keep himself injured and in too much pain to do any heavy work. At least, that’s what he tells me. Unfortunately, when I lay block, it looks like a drunken monkey did it. When Wonderful Husband lays block, it looks professional. So, I’ll have to wait (not so) patiently until he’s better.

New Projects

I did get a delivery from Breck’s on Good Friday, which made me happy! Three hosta starts: Kingsize, Lipstick Blonde and Raspberry Sundae. They would have died before I could get them planted in the garden, so I used my kitchen countertop as a potting bench and got them tucked securely into pots. The potting soil smelled wonderful and it was like a blessing to get soil on my hands and tend the plants.

I have faith that spring will get here – eventually.  It has to!  It just has to!  I can’t stand it much longer!

May the Blessing of Easter and the Joys of Springtime be upon you and yours!

Stay Green, Good Friends!