There is a winter storm watch currently in effect for our corner of the province. I can understand why – the sun is shining brightly, the sky is a brilliant blue and the few clouds are white and fluffy. Winter storm weather for sure!
The six inches of snow on the ground that started the week have melted, leaving the lawn looking much as it does after a summer rain.
Believe it or not, we actually have a few flowers still blooming in the gardens! Malva, marigold and alyssum are valiantly hanging on. The cardoons finally succumbed to the cold this week. The rest of the plants are well on their ways to winter dormancy. Sad, but it is the natural progression. Sadder still is there is no longer any reason to put off the housework. No more legitimate excuses such watering, weeding, planting, transplanting or deadheading. The rake has been replaced by a mop, the pruners by a dust cloth, the shovel has been traded for a vacuum cleaner. Somehow, indoors tools don’t fit the hands quite so well as gardening tools, nor are they as much fun as garden tools.
The first of the seeds catalogues has arrived. You know what that means? The2008 gardening season has begun!! It will be several weeks before an acceptable seed order has been completed and several more before seeds go into the planting mix, but the planning and dreaming part of gardening is underway. Every year, the same performance is played out – vows of not ordering too many seeds, not starting too many plants, not planning elaborate gardens and containers, will be thrown out the window with every seed catalogue appears in the mailbox. Next spring as the planting out gets under way, I’ll curse my obsession and swear it will not happen ever again! Then, next summer when the gardens are in full bloom, this gardening obsession will not seem such a bad thing after all.
The six inches of snow on the ground that started the week have melted, leaving the lawn looking much as it does after a summer rain.
Believe it or not, we actually have a few flowers still blooming in the gardens! Malva, marigold and alyssum are valiantly hanging on. The cardoons finally succumbed to the cold this week. The rest of the plants are well on their ways to winter dormancy. Sad, but it is the natural progression. Sadder still is there is no longer any reason to put off the housework. No more legitimate excuses such watering, weeding, planting, transplanting or deadheading. The rake has been replaced by a mop, the pruners by a dust cloth, the shovel has been traded for a vacuum cleaner. Somehow, indoors tools don’t fit the hands quite so well as gardening tools, nor are they as much fun as garden tools.
The first of the seeds catalogues has arrived. You know what that means? The2008 gardening season has begun!! It will be several weeks before an acceptable seed order has been completed and several more before seeds go into the planting mix, but the planning and dreaming part of gardening is underway. Every year, the same performance is played out – vows of not ordering too many seeds, not starting too many plants, not planning elaborate gardens and containers, will be thrown out the window with every seed catalogue appears in the mailbox. Next spring as the planting out gets under way, I’ll curse my obsession and swear it will not happen ever again! Then, next summer when the gardens are in full bloom, this gardening obsession will not seem such a bad thing after all.
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