March 1, 2016
Despite this having been one of the warmest Winters on record, for weeks
now, it has been too cold to spend any more time than necessary outside. Thus, the time required to walk the dog
is the longest one spends in the open air, in stark contrast to the hours spent
out of doors during the growing season. Understandably, those of us who prefer
the atmosphere of a garden, assuage our longing by creating interior
garden-scapes, or at least having some house-plants or cut flowers close at
hand.
Now, the last remnants of this Winter’s one major snowstorm, that dumped
over thirty inches of snow in one fell swoop, are reluctantly melting away.
Where the snow has melted, the ground is spongy with moisture, making it easier
for the Crocuses,
and Snow Drops, the Winter Aconite and the Daffodils to push
forth for blossoming. Encouraged by the steadily warming temperatures, the
Titmice and other local birds are trilling their most seductive songs in hopes
of finding a partner to build a nest with, staking out territory in the trees
and shrubs before they leaf out. In the basement “Limonaia,” the tender plants,
vines and shrubs that Wintered over indoors have already begun sending out
tender green shoots and leaves to greet the new season. Even our Irish Terrier,
Champion Redbranch Mystic Druid, is getting
in on the act, responding to Nature’s subtle hints, by waking earlier than ever
to go outside, anticipating the change of clocks that occurs at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March
13. Today, he came to the bedside, whimpering to be taken out despite the fact
that it was not yet five AM and still pitch black outside! We humans have
responded to the increasing minutes of daylight by visiting the local Agway
store – no doubt, the first of many visits this season – to get an early jump
on the competition for the most desired seeds. So far, we have acquired seeds
for:
Larkspur Sublime Blend, Consolida ambigua
Larkspur, Shades of
Blue
Baby’s Breath, (Gypsophila) Early Snowball
Canterbury Bells
Penstemon, Rocky
Mountain Blue, (Penstemon strictus)
Delphinium, Fantasia
Mix
Four O’Clocks
Cleome, Color Fountain
Mix
Batchelor’s Button, Blue
Boy, (Centaurea cyanus)
Snapdragon, Tall
Maximum Blend, (Antirrhinum majus)
Coreopsis, Early
Sunrise
By way of flowers, and:
Beans, Blue Lake 274
Lettuce, Rouge d’Hiver
Italian Lacinato KALE, Nero
Toscano (Brassica oleracea)
Beets, (Beta vulgaris)
Swiss Chard, Bright
Lights
Carrots, Red Cored Chantenay
These, just to get us started. Meantime, yet more snow is forecast for this weekend.
