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February

Everyone Talks About The Weather

I ventured out between the pine and the spirea

Wherever I go (the few times I can venture out), everyone is talking about the weather, how cold it is, how tired they are of it, etc, etc. Depending on just how cold it is I either find lots to do on my computer, or I have an excuse to sit and watch a favorite show with a hot cup of something.

Watched plenty of the British detective shows I like so well – I’ve watched most all of them. All of “Vikings”, caught up with “Grimm”, “Walking Dead” …  I won’t bore you with the long list of why my seat is spreading into the legend of song.

and

I try not to think about spring too much.

One reason for that, is the fact that the last time my garden was this frozen I lost plenty of plants.

Sometimes it seems my garden is more of a plant cemetery. I have long lists of what I used to grow. But at this point I have no desire to complain or think about the negative side of weather aberrations.

Life has ebbs and flows and nowhere is that more obvious than in a garden that one cares for for a long period of time.

Having put all my efforts this past fall into the family holiday celebration, I neglected to mulch my garden.

That is another reason I am sure that those cold spells without snow cover will probably result in loss of my variegated lavenders, among other new plants that are marginally hardy here.

Well, I plant geraniums every year, and this might be a similar experience. I hope I find them in the nursery this spring.

Speaking of geraniums… I saved a couple that I actually kept living all winter so far! Not only that, but took cuttings that have rooted and are waiting for me to pot up. I think I should go ahead and do that.

Maybe I’ll start some seeds when I have the starting soil supplies out.

Actually this weather makes me in no hurry to start seeds. The ground is frozen so late this season that I don’t think it will warm up as early as it normally would. We’ll see.

I’m pretty sure I won’t be planting sweet peas on St. Patrick’s Day. I am often late for that anyway.

How are your gardens, seed starting, etc. activities going? On Facebook I see some people in other climate zones who have green and budding, even flowering in their yards, instead of crunchy white stuff.

Oh yes, I spent lots of time on Facebook lately. What do you do when the house is cold and you don’t go out on icy streets… or do you?

My Winter Sunflowers

Not that I’m a slacker… I learned some new software, made some new video, started organizing my life via the new organizer book my daughter bought for me, gone to Dr. appts, upgraded my phone and am learning to use that… did some planning. You know, life.


Here is something weird from the extra cold winter: ants have been invading. Don’t you think that is strange for this time of year? I do.

Asian ladybugs make appearances all winter.

I managed to steer the conversation from the weather, and am prone to do that.

But the deep freeze has impacted my desire to write the newsletter this month, too. That isn’t such a good thing I suppose. There just wasn’t much gardening going on.

Spring is edging closer, however, so I want to concentrate on the timely send-off of good tips, reminders and news next month.

I am sure it has plenty to do with my personal bias against February.

This is my least favorite month. chocolate and Valentine’s Day notwithstanding.

I always love blustery March for some reason… so looking forward to it- only a week more, albeit one of those frozen, cold ones (yes, circled back to the weather:)

Til next time Friends,
Ilona


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« Late Winter Is Time To Prune
It Is Still Freezing, Cold, And Snowing »

Oh, hi there!

I was a garden blog pioneer, and began writing on this blog in 2003. Before that I had begun a garden website that has been at its own domain since 2006, Ilona's Garden.

I still love writing, gardening, and art after all these years, although travel and grandchildren have become a big part of my life, now.

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