Daffodils braving the cold!
We’ve had a good winter this year. For our family, that means a several good snows and temperatures low enough to merit wool sweaters and long underwear . The kids received a gift of snow days off from school and we took full advantage, sledding and drinking hot chocolate.
But enough is enough.
We’ve had a few whispers of spring, with few days reaching into the sixties but a cold spell would snap us back into the reality that we were still tilted away from the sun.
And now here we are. Spring Equinox. And us Northern Hemispher-ites cant our faces back toward Ol’ Sol and the promises of warmer weather.
The forsythia branches are ripe with buds, the daffodils brave the cold and the garden waits patiently for an indoctrination of radish, spinach, sugar snap peas and any other seeds I think I can get away with planting early. You can almost hear the magnolia trees humming with the electric desire to send their blossoms bursting forth.
But this winter is particularly tenacious. He is hanging on with tooth and nail and promising us another four to six inches of snow and ice and freezing rain and any other tricks he has up his frosty sleeve. One more (we hope) big bad wintry mess is headed our way before spring’s gentle breezes coax us outside in short sleeves.
We’re become accustomed to a spring with a fickle nature in our patch of the Ohio River Valley. It’s not rare to see flower blossoms here looking shocked and more than a little indignant, peeking out from a blanket of snow. But being accustomed doesn’t ease our spring fever as we stare out the window at the garden patch while the spade and hoe recline slothfully in a dark corner of the shed.
But soon, very soon, we’ll all get to work!
How’s your winter been? Are you ready for spring? And what’s on your shortlist of spring chores?
NestOfSquirrels 
Still, a ways to go for us, springtime will arrive eventually though 🙂
Glad to read your update! Take care
Spring comes in its own sweet time! 🙂 Keep warm and think sunny thoughts! Cheers!
Winter weary here, too, in upstate New York! But the sap is running in the sugar maples so spring must be on the way.
I can only imagine with the winter you’ve had in the Northeast! Sending warm and sunny thoughts your way! 🙂
I’m headed back to NH from SC in six days. From photos, everything is encased in a ‘lot’ of snow, there is more coming today, and it will definitely be a while before I can do any spring chores. When I can get out there, the immediate chore will be picking up and recycling all the branches that came down from this wicked winter. Next up will be leaf removal from the beds and getting my raised beds ready to go, and the list goes on. 🙂
Yikes! Best of luck as you head home and dig out from all that snow! Soak up lots of that Southern sunshine to take back with you! 🙂
We are tired of winter here too, Ben. But looking forward to getting the gardening boots on again really soon! Tidying up the beds of winter leaves and twigs will be the first job 🙂
It always amazes me how a few trees can generate so many leaves and twigs! Best of luck as you head back out into the garden! 🙂
Over here on the other side of the pond, we’re pretty tired of winter too, though we don’t get anything like what the US has had this season. Hubby is busy planting annual flower seeds in trays and pots–not a windowsill left in sight!–hoping to be able to put out a good display for the first time in a decade (recently stopped office job); I must do the same with tomatoes and peppers. Our growing season is long but mild, so things need the extra early boost, and my tomatoes insist on living in the greenhouse all summer, or they sulk and don’t fruit.
Sounds like your place will be bursting with beauty this spring/summer! Best of luck with your tomatoes, that’s the one garden item we never want to be without! 🙂 Cheers, Ben
It was 90 degrees here yesterday! I just turned the lettuce under and am planting Mango and Jaboticaba trees. Winter was a bit cooler than last year and my super tropical plants are still suffering. The Grape Tomatoes and Snow Peas were the best of the vegetable garden this year.
I always love hearing about what’s going on in your warm weather garden, as it’s so different than what we experience. Good luck with the trees and tropicals! Cheers, Ben
Beautiful shots! I’ve been following your blog for sometime, but I don’t seem to be getting notices of new posts anymore. Weird when that happens.
Thanks, Laurie! I’ve been a little lax in the posting department lately, so maybe that’s the reason 🙂 I enjoy your blog as well! Cheers, Ben
Thanks, Been!
Lovely images … we are heading into Autumn. A slow start, but I don’t mind one bit. Time for me to get a plan done for those winter gardens. Enjoy spring! 😃
Thanks, Julie! It’s funny how spring and Autumn have such different rhythms. Enjoy your Fall!
You are right, truly is a roller coaster this year. I have been hardening off my spring seedlings for weeks but unable to put them in the garden. We had snow this weekend and possibly 70-degree weather Thursday but back to cold this weekend. UGH! Your photos inspire me that spring is truly around the corner just it seems to be peaking around the corner this year! Happy Gardening!
We are delayed with the spring planting as well this year, though busy schedules and pure laziness may play as important role as the weather for us 😉 Cheers to spring!
I can hear your magnolias humming!