In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, the self-isolation, the shortage of toilet paper and all the TV commercials about how “we’ll all in this together”, this Spring has been strange in several other ways:  it’s the first full Spring I haven’t been working, except from home.  Kinda nice, but I sure miss people!

Weather

The weather has been strange, too…at least for southwestern Indiana.  Winter was just sort of cool, with a few cold spells which lasted only a day or two each.  I didn’t wear my winter coat once.  This Spring has been very slow to get started, with most days reaching the high 50’s to low 60’s and it’s already the end of April!  The expected Spring rains have been more sporadic and not as heavy as we’ve seen the last two years.  Still, it’s rained enough to keep the soil too wet to garden…sort of one nice sunny day followed by two rainy ones and then repeat.

I know, in my heart of hearts, that the weather will suddenly turn hot and dry and humid and the mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks and No-See-Ums will make my life miserable.  I should try not to complain about cool, damp weather, but…I’m ready to start complaining about being hot and sweaty instead.

Gardening

My gardens are enjoying the longer Spring.  The daffodil blooms lasted a long time, the dogwoods and the redbuds bloomed at nearly the same time, making the landscape even more beautiful than usual.  Irises have big buds and the Amethyst Falls wisteria will be blooming in a few days.  The Pink Fizz heucherella is blooming like crazy and has been for close to three weeks.

Wonderful Husband and I donned our homemade masks and made our annual pilgrimage to Hasting’s Plants.  Going to Nancy’s is a rite of Spring. Nancy and all her staff were wearing masks, but with big smiles behind them.  I bought two “Twist of Lime” heucheras; a gorgeous, bright chartreuse cultivar (see photo*), a hellebore and annual herbs (dill, parsley and Kentucky Colonel spearmint – Kentucky Colonel is an incredibly fragrant and flavorful cultivar – worth searching out).

It’s taking a while, but the gardens are coming alive and I think it’s warm enough now for me to go play outside.

*The “grass” in the photo is actually Blue Eyed Mary, it will be blooming in May – I didn’t want you to think I hadn’t been weeding!  🙂

Stay Green (and Healthy), Good Friends!