Spring has Sprung

      Mother's Day, May 8, and the earliest Spring flowers have just started to bloom.  It has been a very cold, late spring.  We had snow on April 30th.

     As you can see,  the grass needs mowing, already :-)
   The iris and peony, in the background, are coming along nicely also.

       The plan is to have a long season of color in the front yard.  The tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are the first to appear.  (The hyacinths froze this year, just as they were starting to bloom.)

     Then, as the early blooms fade, the iris, on the other side of the walk, are in bloom.  As the iris start to fade, the peony is in full bloom.

     When the tulips are completely done, I will overplant with annuals.  This year, I think I will use snapdragon and alyssum.  Last year, we had had roses there.  The year before is was four o'clocks.

     This little guy stopped by for a quick breakfast.  

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( . .)♥
c(”)(”)    Happy gardening!

One Step at a Time

   Finally, it has stopped snowing - the sun is shining - the wind is not blowing 70 miles an hour (like it was last Saturday) - It just might be garden weather.  :D
   What shall I plant first?   Cabbage will probably go in the garden first.  The onions are about 4 inches tall.  The last time I looked they were not even peeking thru.  Yippy!    One rack of plants moved to the garage to begin the hardening off process.  I have had a few bad experiences because I did not take time for this step.  Now I know........

   Seedlings you buy have been coddled and protected from the elements. After all of this babying, plants need time to acclimate to harsh outdoor conditions. This is called hardening off.    Wind, sun and rain can wreak havoc on delicate seedlings so you need to toughen them up and harden them off. The idea is to expose your plants to the elements gradually, over the course of six to fourteen days, depending on your patience, the temperature and the fragility of your seedlings.  The process is more art than science, so modify depending on the temperature, type of plant and your temperament.

   Day One: Pick a mild day and put your seedlings outside in a protected area out of direct sun for a few hours. Less is more here, you just want to give them a taste of what is to come.

   Day two through five: Increase sun exposure gradually, while keeping plants protected from cold and wind. Keep them watered, but don’t over water.  Don't fertilize them until they are completely hardened off.

   Over the next six to ten days: Lengthen the time your plants are outside, until they can stay out all day and night. You may still need to protect your plants even after they are hardened off in the event of high winds, sudden downpours, or freezing temperatures.

   Hardening off can be a bit of a logistical nightmare. I find the easiest way to do all of this  is to put my seedlings on wagons and garden carts. Then I can simply wheel them in and out of the garage.

     So the little critters got to play outside for two hours today.  Happy gardening!