It's all my fault. I JINXED SPRING! Yesterday I put away my winter boots and I planted a window box and a front planter with spring pansies. Today - SNOW and FREEZING RAIN! Paul was out today however, putting shelves in my new pot shed. I can't wait until the front half is finished - my greenhouse. It's done enough the 2 planters were able to go in for the day out of the snow and freezing rain. Pic is taken thru a window - I wasn't going out. I thought the scowl on Paul's face was the weather. It wasn't. He thought I mis-measured for the shelves and the cut ones didn't fit! Turns out he and his friend cut them wrong - phew!



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Lin - it sounds like your weather is pretty close to the same as mine... we didn't have snow today, but we had cold rain that I thought would have almost been better as snow . And, it really wouldn't be unusual for us to have snow right now -- it's just that we've had some nice days that have made me think that it's spring (when it's really still just April).

Your paintings are beautiful! Do you sell them online anywhere?

Weedwhacker said:Lin - it sounds like your weather is pretty close to the same as mine... we didn't have snow today, but we had cold rain that I thought would have almost been better as snow . And, it really wouldn't be unusual for us to have snow right now -- it's just that we've had some nice days that have made me think that it's spring (when it's really still just April).

Your paintings are beautiful! Do you sell them online anywhere?

I do have a website that I haven't updated for sometime - I have a lot of medical issues. I wasn't successful at selling on-line. I find even for the sale I'm planning there won't be many takers. People want to pay dollar store or garage sale prices. For this sale I took most of the frames off because they aren't even willing to pay the cost of the frame let alone the painting and the work involved. But I need the room so I gotta try.

Weedwhacker said:Lin - it sounds like your weather is pretty close to the same as mine... we didn't have snow today, but we had cold rain that I thought would have almost been better as snow . And, it really wouldn't be unusual for us to have snow right now -- it's just that we've had some nice days that have made me think that it's spring (when it's really still just April).

Your paintings are beautiful! Do you sell them online anywhere?

I just looked Ford River up on Google Maps. You are actually farther north than we are here in Peterborough. You are more in line with Sault Ste. Marie, On where I used to live - bit colder and more snow. Not as much as when I used to live in Thunder Bay with my first husband.

"People want to pay dollar store or garage sale prices. "

Oh, ugh! Are you able to do craft shows, or maybe join some sort of artist co-op? (maybe not, if you have medical issues... but your work really should command good prices; please don't feel you have to sell yourself short!)

linjarvis said:

I just looked Ford River up on Google Maps. You are actually farther north than we are here in Peterborough. You are more in line with Sault Ste. Marie, On where I used to live - bit colder and more snow. Not as much as when I used to live in Thunder Bay with my first husband.

We cross posted -- yes, I'm pretty much on a line with the Soo, but here in the "banana belt" we generally have much more favorable weather, and, in particular, a LOT less snow!

I feel for you guys. We are having nice days, mostly with some sun or clear blue. Nights have been holding in the 30's, and days anywhere from 55 to 70. Things are popping. My hosta, columbine, daffodils, peonies, primulas are all growing and the lavender prims are about to burst into bloom. They are tough little plants. I bought some new ones last year in different colors and configurations and they are doing great with buds already. Will get more at the botanical garden sale (rock garden people bring their plants to sell there also) the end of May.

I am getting the itch to go plant shopping, maybe next week. I don't want to go too early as I can't plant until around May 24th..

mcash70 said:I am getting the itch to go plant shopping, maybe next week. I don't want to go too early as I can't plant until around May 24th..

that itch can be really hard to ignore but unless you want to bring things in and out you pretty much have to don't you.

Oh don't I know it, have done that before and spent weeks bringing stuff in and out. I figure I may pick up a few early season plants that will be all gone if I wait and they never get them back in again, I can keep them under my grow lights. I am zone 3a where as Kamloops has warmer zones, 5 and 6 so they buy everything up real fast.

I bought 5 small plants yesterday and three large ones on the weekend. My side entrance enclosure is almost all glass and is not heated so every spring I use it like a greenhouse. I put all the new plants in there. They get enough sunlight and I can open the door to the outside and put a fan in there if it gets too hot in the afternoon. Works great for me.

I am collecting plants too.
Some, I am keeping in translucent plastic boxes outside.
I was happy to find Lithodora at the Home Depot.
It is not hardy here, but I grow it as an annual.

Caroline, I had to look that plant up , it sure is a pretty blue.

I bought the most lovely lithidora two years ago but it didn't survive also. They indicated zone 4 but that can be iffy here. I have some zone 4's that do well and others that don't. The lithidora blue is so lovely and electric it is hard to pass up even for an annual.

@CarolineScott, do you grow the Lithodora in the ground or a container?

Mary, I find the same thing here, sometimes the zone 4 plants do quite well and others that don't survive one winter.

Lithodora will be in container for summer.
I am going to try taking indoors in fall? and perhaps do cuttings over the winter???
Or should I do cuttings over summer, and take them in for winter???
I think that it is perennial in warm climates.

Caroline, which cultivar do you have and how big does it get, any scent to it????

I would wonder if you could do wood cuttings and root them over the summer, then keep them indoors over winter. Never did wood cuttings only soft tissue from dahlias.

I saw a couple of butterflies (painted ladies) today -- the first I've seen this spring!