Hothouse flower


Many of my fellow bloggers in the lower zones are writing about their early spring gardening efforts. They’re cleaning up, clearing out, mulching, creating new beds, and so on. (It’s a bit early for planting.)

However, you will be reading of no such efforts on this site, at least not for a few weeks. That’s because I do not garden if it’s under 50 degrees out. If I have to wear a winter coat, that indicates to me I probably should find something to do inside. To be honest, the garden would probably come up all on its own and look fine if I did absolutely nothing; most of the planting I do now it the result of extravagance and the need for novelty. That being said, I have 30-40 plants on the way from Select Seeds, Plant Delights, and Brent & Becky’s. But they won’t go in until May.

Sometime in April I’ll get out there, clear away the leaves; admire the erythronium, species tulips, daffodils, hellebores, and other early flowers; plant a few summer bulbs, and add some compost. When it’s 50 or better.

Comments

Unknown said…
Sounds like my kinda gardening - 50 or better. And 75 and under. In the heat I only garden very early in the morning and in the evening. I'm such a wus can't take heat or cold! LOL
No new beds here but we are cleaning out the beds. It feels good to get it done.
Chandramouli S said…
Well, it's cool to let Nature take its course, but I'm one of those impatient chaps.
EAL said…
I'm just not the dedicated gardener that others are, I guess.
Anonymous said…
I hear ya...and it's probably better to let the plants stay under the covers for a little longer, but I just can't wait!
GartenGrl
Anonymous said…
I'm with you. It definitely has to be over 50 degrees for me to garden. Really, I'd prefer over 60!
Cindy, MCOK said…
I'd take a break if I could. But I have to keep up with the accelerated pace of growth here in Zone 8b/9!
Kylee Baumle said…
Same here, Eliz. The thing is, this year, that's what we've had...unseasonably warm weather and it has been consistently that way. It's been an absolutely fabulous spring here - better than any I can remember since I began gardening in earnest. Even now, at nearly 9:00 p.m., it's 54 degrees. I have never had my gardens cleaned up this early!
Carol Michel said…
Normally if it is below 50 F, I stay inside, too, but it has been so nice these last few weekends, the plants are budding out and I've been out, too, trying to catch up.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens
I've been out even under 50 because it will go from that to too hot fairly quickly and things need to be done before that happens. That, and the mental health boost I get from puttering around out there.
Hidden Places said…
My scotch ancestry bones tell me everything is 'too soon' suddenly 4 weeks ahead here in northern Ohio -- I have never "uncovered" my perennials until after April 15, and I already have cone flowers 2 inches high..... it's crazy. I'm afraid of the April snow storms we usually get.....
Unknown said…
I perfectly understand, Elizabeth. I'm a fairweather gardener AND a fairweather rider these days, whereas when I was younger and cold-resistant, I was oblivious to weather tantrums.
It'll be sometime in May before I get to garden outdoors. It snowed again today.
I'm SO going to go get a clivia on the weekend after I finish my week's work-travels!
Anonymous said…
I think you are taking your cue from more than the temps. If you don't like it below 50 F just think how those plants feel when you rip the leaves off them and expose them to 30's and 40's! I would call you a Smart Gardener. Pass the wine please!

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