'till the snow . . .'

[digitS']

Well Rusty, it was the first one there beside the garden as I was out tilling once again. I may be able to put the tiller away for awhile but the spading fork and shovel will be my companions for another week.

A nice day, the sun was out a couple of times. With no wind, our 28F morning warmed up to a 55 afternoon !

Back here at home, I haven't seen any dandelion flowers but I've got daffodils! . . . and, lawn violets .

digitS'

 

[4grandbabies]

We got 10 inches of snow last night and it's STILL snowing today....where did Spring go? By the time this snow is gone....we'll have Fall...then winter again.....Geeeesh!!!!

It makes me shiver just to think about more snow. We had a few easy winters, then this year, snow like I had not expererienced for years!. It really got depressing! However, it was probably good for the soil, and apparently did not bother the snakes in "hybernation", we have seen 4 in our yard in the last month. Its funny, because the mild winters when you would think everything would survive, we saw none.

 

[digitS']

I'm not real sure about this "hard winter, few bugs" idea either, 4grandbabies. I fully appreciate that some bugs are worse in warmer areas of the world and understand that they have more generations to run thru over the course of a longer season of warmth.

Still, bugs reproduce really quickly! Whether we have 2 bugs per square yard survival rate or 10 bugs per square yard survival rate - it doesn't seem to take them many weeks to really show up as a multitude given good Spring-time conditions. I mean, isn't the mosquito Minnesota's state bird?

Snakes, I don't know . . . I feel really lucky that we seem to be just outside of the rattlesnake range (and I mean just, as in about 50 miles :/). It is probably because of winter cold.

Steve

 

[lesa]

Oh Rusty!!! I was going to complain about snow flurries this morning- but at least I can still see the dirt! Hang in there- you will be admiring your dahlia's in no time!
Steve, that dandelion looks beautiful! You know it has been a long winter, when I am staring at that pic! They claim it will be 74 degrees next Tuesday- we'll see....

 

[digitS']

Lesa, we've got a prophesied 60F for the weekend! WooHoo !!!

I was thinking about what you said about the weather challenges and the joy of gardening, Lesa. I think you may well be right!

I did start gardening (on my own) within sight of the Pacific Ocean in northern California before moving so far north. (Not saying that we didn't have weather challenges on the coast. The wind seemed to blow 24/7!)

Difficult outdoor conditions certainly do add to the desire to be out there with things are pleasant. And, once a person is out there - may as well be poking around in the dirt. You can only chase after butterflies and birdies for so long before tiring, or tripping.
:tools

Steve

 

[lesa]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! As I read through everyone's post, I can't say there seems to be a perfect place to garden. Hoodat is close in SoCal- but he has issues with cabbage butterflies that we don't...
You are so right, Steve. If the sun comes out- I drop everything and run outside! Don't want to waste a minute of it. Do you suppose we would get bored with nice weather if we had it all the time??

 

[digitS']

Maybe we would have a different perspective on nice & not-so-nice.

I spent a winter month in east Texas, once and a month in Florida. Both places, it rained something terrible on a single day! I nearly drowneded!!

In Houston, it heated up after the storm - I was more wet after a couple hours of sunshine than I was before it came out!

Almost kilt me to be down there during those winter months.

Steve

 

[lesa]

There you go, something nice about colder climates. Hardly ever, are we too hot!!! Hoping to at least stop shivering by next week! One winter I will have to do the test and go South...

 

[digitS']

I am thinking . . . Spain.

Steve's digits

 

[lesa]

The minute I read your post, a memory flashed before me. It was me, standing in Spain, freezing and watching the snow!! Yes, we were in the mountains, but....