Still Winter

I need to remember that. The sun is strong enough to be melting the snow slowly, even though the temps are only just above freezing. We might break 40 this weekend. But we still have quite thick snow in some places where it drifted.

I haven't really ordered anything this year. I need to order my tomatoes, and I wanted to order some liatris. I'll need to look for that in a catalog, or maybe at the nursery.

Waiting for another winter storm --not too big, but probably a bit over 6 inches of snow. Things were just uncovered again. However, it will be back in the lower 30s by next weekend, so I imagine this snow will go away a bit quicker than the last.

Today we talked about creating some raised veggie beds along the west side of the house --Emma wants a raised bed for strawberries there too, which would be a good idea because it would keep the strawberries a bit contained. I think my tomato bed by the garage is rather played out, and could use some soil renewal. I'll probably just let the strawberries take it over for now. It's nice to spend a bit of time thinking of growing things.

First post of 2010

Well, here we are in February, 2010. It's been a fairly snowy winter so far --really cold in December and early January, but milder now. Still winter --below freezing most days, but not so bitter. A lot of our snow has melted off with a couple of just-above-freezing days over the last few weeks, but we're expecting a new batch of snow tomorrow evening into Tuesday.

All the plants are still pretty well buried, which is good because it cuts down on the frost heaving. The only bed that isn't covered, as usual, is the East bed.

I was ready for the garden to die back in the fall, but I'm now ready for spring again. I'm looking forward to April, and looking for the green growing tips poking up.

Is it fall, or winter?

We had our first snow a couple of days ago --just flurries, but still it seemed terribly early. It's been quite cold for over a week now --cold, as in heavy frost. The plants in the planters are goners.

Before it got too cold, I did manage to move a couple of plants I'd been thinking of moving during the summer. I also planted two of my six heather plants, and some bulbs. However, I still have quite a few bulbs to plant, and four more heathers. Tomorrow it's supposed to be in the low 50's, so I'm hoping I can get the rest planted. Although normally I teach a lab Tuesday afternoon, I've taken the day off in order to be here when our new furnace is installed; I'm hoping I can be outside part of that time and get these things in the ground. It's looking like it might be my last chance!

We finally got in (and cleaned) the pool yesterday, although the water temp was only 80 and the air temp was only 82.  But it was sunny, so it felt refreshing.  I keep hoping we'll get some hot weather early in August, but it's not looking very favorable.

The big July bloom is coming to an end --all the lilies are pretty much done, as is the bee balm.  The hummingbirds have been enjoying the buffet.  The shasta daisy and rudbeckia is still blooming, probably because it's been so cool.  

My lupine look awful, and I'm trying to figure out what to do about them.  Apparently they like things a big acidic, so I need to add some stuff to the soil --peat moss will do the trick apparently.  However, in the meantime, I'm thinking I should try some acid fertilizer.

We haven't had any significant rain since we got back from traveling, so I need to get the sprinkler out today.

Boy, it has been so chilly recently!  The last few days it's not even gotten out of the 60s!  I think we made it to 72 today --but for July, that's strange.  It's really a little too chilly, it doesn't really feel like we're in summer.

We took Emma to Rockton's Old Settlers Days fair yesterday, and it was nice that it was cool.  She went on her first real rides --tilt-o-whirl, ferris wheel, etc.  She had a great time.  Tomorrow Erin and I are taking the girls to a water park down near Starved Rock park, luckily an indoor water park, since it's only warming very slowly.  We're going to stay overnight.

Liatris - John & Irene have this plant growing in their yard and didn't know what it was.  It's a great looking perennial, and I'd like to add it to our gardens.