I start my tomatoes on a shelf in the laundry room then transfer to lights on shelf , but my lighted shelf are full of house plants this year so some one needs to give.

I don't normally start seeds this early but afraid I could not find the micro dwarf tomatoes and a couple peppers I wanted I started way early ...that may be a mistake because of room.

Normally I start seeds in the house then transfer them to the small hobby greenhouse (not heated) to finish growing till transplanting to the garden.

the lighted shelving

the tomatoes are actually sitting on top some house plants

My chore today it to get everything rearranged to share better.

Two warm days the snow is all but gone except from the drift banks
63 today
The bees have been out and bringing home white pollen on their legs.
Something is blooming , rather early, still February
Daffodils, surprise lilies, and early iris up about 3-4''

The ups and down of spring
Yesterday snow about an inch,
today 61 and sunny

The new seed tomatoes are showing true leaves
first pepper just up

March :
I consider this the first of spring .I start doing spring chores:
raised bed clean up
fertilize the house plants
Finalize the seed list and dates for planting
Ready greenhouse for seedlings
Fish to water tanks
and some exercises to limber up

Nice day to be out
Plenty fresh catnip

First flower and no crocus were planted here



The bees have found their new watering station
I am very pleased, and may remove the water from my potting compound.
I don't mind them hanging around but when they come by the hundreds it is a bit uncomfortable to work around them.


The bluebird house has a bunch of spider nests ...so I will leave them a bit longer and hope they hatch and go into the garden before it is too late for the birds to nest.

little brown snake

several bunches of bugs on the west side of the house soaking up the sunshine.

Cute little snake.
I have never thought about water for bees but they appear to appreciate the water station.
Do you have kitties that will get a catnip treat?

I have two
This is our newest Gizmo

Thunderstorms last night , I like the sound
Some rain on and off today , not a lot ,less than 1/2 inch.
Yesterday was mid 70's
I played in the garden some
Raking , making notes , filling pots with dirt.
Potted up some blue spruce sedum , hardy geranium cuttings
and some of the micro tomatoes

First Daffodil opened this afternoon

Today is national plant a flower day
so I planted my first flowers of the season.

Love violas , the faces and color and they just welcome Spring so well.

Back to winter
Last week a thunder storm dropped over an inch 1.07 and it was the first of 3 cold fronts
mid 20's over night and maybe 40's in the day
Difficult weather for the unheated greenhouse , cant leave tenders out.

A pause in the garden for a couple weeks (out of town)
Things have turned very green
the first wave of daffodils are in full bloom

perennials popping out of the ground everywhere.

Boxes are ready to plant



Checked the bees yesterday while the sun was shining
saw the Queen in the nuc and transferred them to a 8 frame double stack box that will hold the flow hive .

Thunder storms started last night and today we are up to 1.58 of rain
more expected the next two days.
Wished I could have gotten more done before the rain
starting seeds inside for the greenhouse and making lists till the rain stops.

Last week was a wash out as far as the garden and getting anything done . Rained every day 3.50 total rain/sleet/snow
I did see the sun a few hours on Friday and the dandelions opened up.

Saturday warm and dry enough to do a bee check .Saw both Queens and they had starting drawing out the wire frames on the second hive

some blooms today

L ovely blooms.

slowcala said: L ovely blooms.

Rain all day yesterday and night before 2.55 inches
I feel we have enough spring rains now need some sunshine so I can get some seeds in the ground.
Saw a frog has claimed Nigel's pond

Yesterday it hit 80 the first for this year
the leaves of the tulip trees are coming out ,redbuds in full bloom,and the dogwood just starting to open.

My potting complex is a very busy place this time of year

Filled another dozen pots

planted some , hope to finish the rest this morning.

Some new blooms:


dwarf iris

spanish bluebells

Solomon seal

That looks like a happy place Cinda.