the garden, signs of spring, hopeful things

They like to shovel snow. There is now purpose to their activity - they just move it around a bit.


The near bed with the pole in the middle has irises planted in it and will also have chicory and Shasta daisies, I think. The nearer large bed had veggies last year. This year it will have squash. The far large bed had tomatoes and this year it will have veggies. I am not satisfied with this arrangement but the bunnies are bad and I hate losing plants.


Hard to see but this is the bed in front of the cherry tree. Last year I planted squash there. This year was going to be veggies such as cauliflower and broccoli but given the abundance of bunnies, I think the tomatoes will go there instead.


There are two 'new' beds in front of these pots that I added last year and planted with divided perennials in the fall. The pots are used for starting perennials during the summer or for herbs.


This is my oldest perennially bed. After eight years I divided. Along the house are irises and day lilies that had been there for five years. A word of advice don't wait five years to divide irises and day lilies.


This year's buds and last year's leaves on the cherry tree.



The pink yarrow is starting to unfurl.


Weeds always come in early.


The dianthus never really seemed to die - pretty remarkable for around here.



Because of the RA thing I toyed with idea of not trying wintersown this winter. I often try too much at the beginning of a new endeavor and push too hard. However, when I saw Connie's plants I decided to do it. This is my start. There are several flats of petunias, as well as chicory, Shasta daisies, and bachelor's buttons.

Planting seeds in the winter while waiting for spring is high on the list of hopeful activities we can participate in.