Today I collected all the gloves, mittens, wooly caps and scarves into a pile on the floor.
There they lay in a mismatched jumble of color, style, and size. I picked them up as best as I could in one armful and carried them, less a few escapees, to the washing machine.
I stuffed them into the washer, collected the strays, poured in the detergent and slammed the lid on a winter I hope we don’t repeat anytime soon.
When they were laundered, I matched up pairs as best as I could, folded and categorized and put them away in that place they go to wait the next chill, thy name is Rubbermaid.
Only light jackets remain; they’re still needed in fits and spurts of morning and evening coolness. But the big guns are gone, and I feel an airiness because of it.
In a similar leap of faith in the garden, I planted out the tomatoes and pepper plants this weekend.
Technically I shouldn’t be doing this because our frost-free date isn’t for another 2 weeks. It’s my way of thumbing my nose at winter. Let’s hope it doesn’t turn out more like spitting into the wind.
The tulips and the daffodils certainly think it’s spring.
And who am I to question this face?
You can always throw a tarp over heavy blanket over the tomatoes and peppers if you get a frost warning. Daffodils and tulips are a sure sign of spring!
I’m jealous of being able to plant tomatoes and peppers already! I have only just found the garden this week with the snow starting to melt majorly……finally! I hope you don’t get frosted…..but since you have cages around, keep the garbage bags handy…….if it gets to cool at night, just slide a garbage bag down over each cage to protect the plant inside. This worked for us last year……..and if it works in the North East, it should help just about anywhere else too.
Where are you located? I won’t be able to put stuff out for another six weeks.
Just bragging about putting away the winter gear and getting a jump on the garden. Good luck : )
S–Thanks for reminding me how fortunate we are! I’ve been so busy grousing about this winter that I’ve forgotten how many people are still experiencing it. I will keep the garbage bag idea just in case.
Noreen–We’re in zone 8a, in the midsouth US, and it usually doesn’t get nearly as cold here as it did this winter. Got a little taste of what the north deals with all the time.
It’s seem here that all the earler pretty flowers and trees seem to think it spring already. I live in zone 8,but for awhile we use to be zone 7, then a few year ago I was looking at a gardening magaizen and I notes my zone has change. Ever sent then I check my zone each spring before planting. So after hearing and seeing all the mowing going on my street this pass week/end. I didn’t want to be out done and with rain on it way this week. I got out Sunday afternoon and check the mower. Mow the back yard and finish mowing on Monday. Got hit with a heavy rain storm with lighting. Only lasted for 5-10 minute and then I waited another 10-15 minute. A good time to eat lunch! I went out to see check the grass and got back to mowing the front yard. That Texas for you!
I hope your eager attitude about spring pushes any remnants of winter far, far away! I’m ready for sunshine, green, and growth. Your tomato plants look lovely already!
Here in zone 5 we are looking at the foliage for tulips and daffodils but they won’t bloom for another week or so. I have switched from the full on winter coat to a puffy vest on most days. Today I need a raincoat.
We’re in CO, at 6200′ altitude, so can’t plant anything yet. It still gets down in the 20s at night. It snowed twice today and then the sun got it up to 51*. Still windy so it’s still pretty cold. But it’s supposed to get up to 71* in two days! We’ll see…and I’ll wait a little longer and then be able to plant some stuff in my container garden. Can’t wait!