Expectedly, We Re-entered Winter

I hope no one else in Ohio is disappointed, since there is no real end of winter weather here before April, and last blasts of it can happen into May. I look outside onto snow frosted fields, the upturned furrows breaking the surface are like a choppy sea. More winter storms are coming this week, but I am jaded to either their charm or their fury. Que sera, sera.

It is too early to start seeds, still. I will wait until next week, although maybe I just don’t want to start anything new since I am still adjusting after the eye surgery I had last week. I follow a tiresome schedule of eyedrops right now, and I don’t know if planting seeds would be a distraction of a good kind or an irritating one at this point. Sometimes I just like to plant my seeds outside. Less schedules and fretting that way. I sound like a petulant child and I think I have turned into one- can I blame the harsh winter which locked us all inside for so long, broke branches, which still litter the ground with their twigs (all the large pieces gathered and cut up for firewood) ? I wonder how much winter damage was levied by the extreme temperatures of the early winter?

The more I think of it, the more the idea of starting seeds is sounding better. I am sure the garden centers will have oversized and overpriced annuals this coming season. I really like smaller plants and more of them- smaller plants often are more thrifty, with better results during the growing season. What ever happened to the packs of twelve? Besides, it is cheering to have little baby plants sprouting up all over your windowsills and in your plant stand. Now I’m talking myself into it, so I probably will get some plantings going soon.

I haven’t seen much of the Dahlberg daisies offered the last couple years, and they are so cute and easy to grow. That should be on my list of annuals to start. I’ll have to look through my leftover seeds, and then make a list.

Have you started seeds yet? Are you going to concentrate on food gardening or ornamental this year? People don’t feel the pinch of the recession as much, but I bet food prices will rise, so maybe we all should plan on a patch of veggies and some herbs in our backyards (or frontyards for those who are planning to go all-edible). I’d like to know what my gardener friends are planning for this growing season.

Photo credit: missyredboots

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© 2010 written for Ilona’s Garden Journal. Copyrights apply.