Good morning, and they're off! Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.
As we had a cooler-than-normal February, the first crocuses didn't bloom until the last day of the month. These are roseus, a species crocus, and one of my favorites. They bloom early and multiply (and a hint: squirrels don't like species crocus bulbs). As the week progressed more varieties have bloomed, along with a couple of rock garden iris. Soon there will be sprinkles of little blossoms all through the front beds.
With the turning of the calendar page, the weather also turned — this week the highs have been in the upper 50s, and we may get to the 60s by the end of the week — although a splash of rain may hit us tomorrow
By Monday my back had largely recovered from last week's mishap — and on Tuesday I came down with a cold. It just goes to show you, it's always something. Either you can't stand up without screeching in pain or you're sneezing so hard you throw your back out.
Despite the set back, both me and the bees made it outside for a bit on Wednesday. The bees explored the blooming crocus. I raked up leaves and other detritus, and plucked a few weed sprouts. It always amazes me how fast the weeds can come up with just a spot of warm weather. At least I haven't seen any bindweed emerging (yet) in the front beds, although I'm sure that battle will be joined again in a few weeks.
Although I did manage to get the pea seeds in their sprouting trays, and some morning glories in starter cells, I haven't yet started the tomatoes, eggplants, peppers or cauliflower. I'll get to that today, as well as filling up a few trays worth of Dixie cups for the sprouted peas to go into. I also want to get the rugosa hansa rose bush whacked back — it missed being whacked hard last year, so really needs it. It's always such a challenge getting those pokey, thorny branches bundled and bagged for trash pickup.
But I also have to take a nap this afternoon. I'm taking Elder Son and one of his friends to see my friend in a very well-reviewed production of Long Day's Journey Into Night this evening. As the play doesn't start until 7:30, and runs for over three hours, I'll definitely need that nappy-time (and a large amount of coffee) to make it through.
That's what's happening here. What's going on in your gardens?