Planting Fever

It's too early to plant.  I keep telling myself that.  It's only the 24th of March.  The last freeze date here is in May!  We could still get a snowstorm!  I should keep the seeds safely in their packets until mid-April, at least.

Except for spinach.  It's okay to plant spinach, right?  After all, spinach only needs a soil temperature of 50 degrees to germinate.  I have no idea what my soil temperature is, but I once read that you can plant spinach before the soil is even completely defrosted.  I have no idea if that's true, or if I'm even remembering it correctly, but I'm trying it.

I'm also dying to plant some radishes, and some lettuce.  Oh, and some scallions.

I ate a salad for lunch today.  A salad made with a head of lettuce for which I paid more than $1.50.  With old, end of the season carrots and bland hydroponic tomatoes.  I couldn't even bring myself to purchase the other flavorless, shipped-from-heaven-knows-where produce I was faced with in my grocery store.

I just wish I had a cold frame. If I did I could start planting things. It may be time to do some research and build myself one!

Spring Cleaning in the Garden

My mom always insisted on the value of spring-cleaning.  Every year, we emptied cabinets and closets, scrubbed them, sorted the contents, washed what needed it, and put everything back, ready for a new season.  The work wasn't any fun, but it did and still does appeal to my basic, pack-rat nature, to know that everything is in its place.

Of, course, spring-cleaning the garden is even more fun.  I've spent the last two days cleaning out flower beds.  It's probably a little early.  It's only March after all and we could get some more cold weather, although the minus zero temps are hopefully gone for good, but more snow isn't out of the question until June.  I, however, cannot wait any longer.  I've just got to know what's going on out there.

So, for the last two days I've been gently raking the leaves out of my flower beds, removing the dead top growth from last year, and doing a survey of what is growing underneath.  Some of my evergreen shrubs are showing fresh, green growth, and some of the perennials are as well.  The irises and various mosses are no surprise, but the sedum groundcover is.  If only I had planted some bulbs last fall, I'm sure some of them would be up as well.

Of course, there is another type of plant that is growing and needs tending to already: Weeds.  I've added 'weeding' to my daily schedule already.  I'm determined to keep on top of them this year, because getting rid of what you don't need is part of spring-cleaning, too.

The Snow is Gone and All is Right With the World

It was the rain that did it.  Four days of rain and high temperatures in the 40's have melted nearly all the snow here in my small town.  There are still piles here and there where the drifts were higher and at the end of driveways where the snowplows deposits were thrown by shovels and snowblowers, but for the most part, it's gone.

We like snow, we really do, if we didn't we sure as heck wouldn't live in Minnesota.  We're even okay with cold, as long as it's not too cold, and doesn't last too long.  We just drag out the long underwear and complain about it a lot.

But, for those of you who think that cold and snow are all there is to Minnesota, you really need to try us in the spring.  I can't imagine anyone not liking spring, but I imagine it means more to us here in the North than in more temperate climes.  Finally not having to bundle up and brace yourself every time you leave the house is wonderful.  When for the first time in four months it gets above 50 degrees and you can open the windows and let in the fresh air is beyond compare.  And for those of us who garden, the prospect of a new growing season makes spring sweeter still.  There will soon be green things growing out there!

Let's take a look at the long-term weather forecast: highs in the 40s and 50s for the next ten days, lows in the twenties.  Rain and snow showers predicted, but not until next week Tuesday, so who knows what will become of that.  It's time to start getting the winter mulch off some of those hardier perennials and see if anything is growing underneath!

The Promise of Spring

It was -10 degrees when I went outside this morning. 

Now, it's +34 degrees and the edges of the snowbanks are melting.

From the depths of winter to the promise of spring in 8 hours.

I love Minnesota in February!