porkpal, have ya'll had the wind for days too? Ugh, I don't even want to go outside anymore. It's so dry and with the wind, anytime I try to do anything I end up with something in my eye.

Today wasn't windy, in the mid 60s, but cloudy as all get out. I don't think I've seen the sun in like 2 weeks. Every day has been high clouds. I've almost forgotten what the sun looks like. Humidity is like 9%. Dry as hell, .. what did I do to deserve such weather?

On a bright note, took better stock of my plants out in the front yard. Delphiniums are coming back with a vengence, as well as my agastaches. Daylilies, Tradescantia coming up everywhere I planted it (just the concorde grape for now, Blue & Gold is a later plant), roses are greening up with leaf shoots everywhere (even with my poor Austrian Copper that I horribly planted 3 years ago.. I'm so surprised that it survived!), signs of life in some of my butterfly bushes & columbines are already about an inch tall! Yay! No signs of swelling/greening with my forsythias and my ancient lilac is just sitting there. Some newer lilacs I put in the ground last year (Charles Joly, Dappled Dawn) are swelling nicely. Went to LGS (Tagawas Gardens) and was immersed in growing green there, but I'm not going to shop there much this year if at all.. too expensive. All their roses (already a foot to 18" tall) are $39.99 this year.. too rich for my blood. Even with shipping buying from RU or Palatine is better.

I've seen a lot of the same. Funny since the rose capital of the US (Tyler) is only about 3 hours away. Why would I spend $25 for each potted (1 gallon) rose, when I can drive to Tyler and buy 3 for that price, and it would STILL be cheaper, even with gas??!!!

All sorts of cool stuff happening here, too. Most of the roses are setting leaves. Daffodils are approaching peak. Tulips are about to bud. Salvia May Night is greening up. And there is a volunteer hollyhock growing three inches from the central stalk of Abe Darby - who is about four feet across. I planted hollyhock seeds a few feet away two years ago. And none of them sprouted. Sometimes nature is perverse. Sometimes wonderful. Sometimes a bit of both.

A walk in the garden this morning. Malvern Hills ready to bloom. Tons of buds. Thought I'd post some pictures before blooms open.

Buff Beauty's new home. Took out the Pussy willow tree a few weeks ago. Buff Beauty is to the right of the spirea.

Arlene - wow, so green, so pretty!

Very nice!

It'll be months yet before it begins to look like that here.

Love the undulating top-line of your fence!

Thanks for the note of encouragement, Arlene. My Malvern Hills spent the whole of its first season sulking, but it looks like it might be getting ready to actually grow some this season. I hope so.

It's been snowing all day here. Somehow it seems less appropriate in late March than in early February. Oh well, it will be into the sixties in no-time. And it saves me watering some plants I should have watered a few days ago.

how nice !!!! there saying we will get around 6-9 inches of snow and or mix by Wed. night
Gloria

Sorry Gloria.
I lived in MI for a few years long ago. It is quite beautiful in September, if I remember correctly.

I remember winters as starting on Halloween and ending in mid May. I remember not seeing the sun for four or five weeks at a time.

I hope things start warming up there, soon.

thank you Steve and Michigan is just like you remember it !!!! we did get our 6-8 inches and some places got over a foot ;0( but we all ways get one good storm be for spring can get here so I think in the next week or so we will be warming up ;0)
Gloria

Wooo Hooo!!!

Today the high was 81F. And it was perfectly clear and sunny all day. I planted my Palatine Rose order, spread some mulch, and wasted an incredibly huge amount of time in the hammock enjoying the delicious fragrance of hyacinth, jonquils, and dianthus wafting through the air. Starting to remember why I love to hang out in the garden.

So I'm sending lovely weather wishes to locations north and east of here.

Steve,

Sounds wonderful! I've been able to get some sun and warmth inside the plant house, but could use some extra for outside. Since we're both North and East of you, could you please send a double dose?

You bet.

Thanks!!



I finally broke down and bought some blooming pansies today. I just can't take it anymore! lol !!