Welcome to March
March 2nd, 2010 by Kristin Green
Maybe I was too hard on March. Last week, like a miracle, a light switched on during my morning dog-walk. And today dawned with blue skies and sunshine. Maybe March isn’t going to be as dreary as I thought?
Then again, day-light savings is coming up (March 14) and will throw my morning back into the night and there’s snow in the forecast for later today and through most of the rest of the week. I guess the deal with March is that it forces us to not take any of the good stuff for granted and to appreciate every single sunny moment to the fullest. And at least the sun, when it’s out, is starting to feel warmish.
Gail and I took advantage of today’s sunny moment (which lasted pretty much the whole day after all) to search for signs of spring – it’s evident in the 4” high daffodils, emerging tulips (- got to get the deer-off on!), the red buds on maples and yellow haze of willows, and a rumor spread by a favorite visitor about a crocus blooming somewhere on the grounds. Gail cut some more forsythia – it shouldn’t take long to force, maybe a week. And we spent most of the day organizing the greenhouse and making space for seeds, which we’ll start sowing in earnest this week. (Starting with perennials, biennials like foxglove, some cabbages and kale, calendula, snapdragons… Dick’s onions, leeks, and artichokes are already coming up.)
Meanwhile, Fred and Dan have been diligently pruning trees and shrubs all over the property. The best time for dormant pruning is any above-freezing day before the buds break. They are not ones to wait for sweater weather, like me…
All in all, there’s plenty to work on, lots to look forward to and I appreciate a slow start to spring – and I really shouldn’t knock March (- it might knock back). Have you started sowing seeds? Are you bad-mouthing March or getting busy with the pruning instead?
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:49 pm
I put in snap peas and carrots yesterday here. Beets will go later this week with strawberry transplants. It’s warming here too, but still cold. I’m trying Phacelia campanularia here this year. I’m pretty excited. Warmer! Now!
Susan, You are so on the ball! – and have so much to be excited about. (mmm… Phacelia – that color!) Is it warmer yet? -kris
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:48 pm
I’ve done nothing but gripe. I don’t suppose I’ll let up with that until I see the first crocus of spring in April.
Christine in Alaska
Christine, I’m with you – though I guess we already have some blooming here and I keep missing them. (I’m not sure I’ll stop complaining quite yet though. I’m after sweater weather – sunshine and above 50. Maybe this weekend…) -kris
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:44 pm
A sharp eye while on a walk west along the north side of Union Street will be rewarded with early spring jewels.
Jean, I know where I’m going on my dog-walk today — thank you!! -kris
March 4th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
So far, I am enduring March. Still quite a bit of snow here although there are little green tips showing through in some spots. Bring on the daylight.
Layanee, we only had a dusting of snow but I am so over it! -kris
March 4th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
It snowed four inches here today. Not nearly close to warm! Grrr.
ugh.
March 8th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Kris, March deserved a swift kick in the bottom…especially for zones a bit warmer then yours~It was too cold for us and blooms were Very delayed. It must have worked because it’s 52F heading into the 60s. Thank you! gail
Gail, I won’t take any credit since all I did was whine and complain. But it’s beautiful here too finally and our blooms seem suddenly ahead of schedule! -kris