Sure Signs of Spring

The snow is melting in front of the house. The combination of the strong sunlight of a Southern exposure, and reflection off the white house has almost completely cleared the bed of snow. Sure enough the tips of daffodils are poking up through the dirt.



Beautiful little rose campion plants are there just waiting to be moved to a spot where they have room for their beautiful silver foliage and magenta flowers. It's too soon to move them , but is sure nice to see them.



Our seeds are already here. Ed is getting ready to start plants inside under lights. But today my first plant arrived. It's a gorgeous sunny day,but it was pretty chilly when I left the house this morning. This afternoon it was much warmer when I returned. It's a good thing too because on the porch was a Logee's box waiting for me. It was kind of a tall box for such a cute little plant, but the plant was well packed, and it looks great.I'm so glad it's here so I don't have to worry about it getting chilled. Ed is putting it in a larger pot, and it will join the indoor plants. It will be a while before I pick leaves to cook with, but I have high hopes for my new baby.

This morning I got a glimpse of two coyotes walking together along the ridge. The critters are pairing up. Maybe spring isn't here just yet, but it's coming. I can feel it!

Pruned by Experts

Back in January when the deer "pruned" this rose campion, ( Search; rose campion) I never believed the plant would turn out like this. Look at that nice compact shape. In this case my deer friends did some very nice work. If I could get them to work consistently it would be sweet. After all, they work for room and board, and don't complain at all. On the other hand they seem to want to pick and choose the plants to be trimmed. I guess teaching them topiary is out of the question. I just need to sharpen my pruners and get on with it.

Oh Deer !

This was a lovely rosette of rose campion in the flower bed right in front of the house. I placed it there last summer. It's a biennial, so you get to look at a very promising little rosette for the first year, and see the gray-green foliage and velvety magenta flowers the second. Obviously, it looked delicious to one of those lovely brown creatures with the big eyes and the even bigger appetite. I'll place a cage around it, but I may be locking the barn after the horse is gone. Anyway, it deserves the chance. If I haven't learned anything else about gardening out in the middle of an old field, I have learned that we are not alone here.

I'm so glad I took several pictures yesterday. Today the weather is foul with freezing rain falling, and ice under foot. It's a good day to be inside.