But I'm positively sick with allergies. Our pollen levels are so high that if I dust the porch, a new green film forms on everything within a few hours. I'm hibernating inside today, whining. I'm trying to stay inside today because I want to go to the Cincinnati flower and garden show tomorrow and will be out in the pollen much of the day. I'm hoping that if I rest and stay inside today, I'll feel better tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I have jugs of wintersown seedlings screaming to escape from their jugs.

Also, there's a frost warning here tonight. I guess I'd better give those tiny tomato seedlings a little extra protection. Most of my really tender seeds haven't sprouted yet.

Karen

Awwww, Karen--I feel so bad for you. I'm a fellow allergy sufferer, so understand some of what you're going through. The wind here hasn't helped, either--just blowing the pollen all around.

Hope you get feeling better for the Cinci Flower Show tomorrow...have never been, but heard it's wonderful.

Wish this darned weather would stabilize. I'm tired of lugging flats of tender herbs in and out. There are currently 6 flats sitting in my foyer, because there is a freeze warning for tonight.

I spent my day indoors at the annual herb seminar sponsored by the Central Indiana Herb Society. They really do a lovely job with speakers, vendors, lunch, a silent auction and lots of goodies.

Thanks, Linda. I won't go to the flower show unless I feel better tomorrow. I have tickets already.

We were to get rain yesterday to clear the air, but we only got a tiny bit, not enough to do any good. And everything is getting dry. Next chance of rain is next weekend.

Karen

I'm an allergy sufferer too, and what a pain at my favorite time of year! Sometimes I want to just plug both nostrils with tissue so I can dig for a few minutes without dripping, LOL. This year it hasn't been as bad as usual for me, but I am having my yearly symptom of being able to smell anything a mile away! So strange, seems most folks lose their sense of smell, but for me its the opposite.

That is weird, Neal.

Karen

Sorry for your seasonal suffering!! I get allergies, too--have any of you tried "Zatador" for your stinging eyes? It's an OTC antihistamine eye-drop that really helps me.

Our Spring on the Cape is rather slow in coming, so I've still got another week or two before I wake up with my eyes almost fused shut!!

The problem is that with a slow Spring, I can't really plant out yet, and it's frustrating to have to wait!

Thanks, Emily. We've a had a very warm, dry, early spring this year, which is what's causing the tree pollen levels to be off the charts. No rain to clear that pollen away, either, very dry for April.

I use Pataday, a prescription eye drop. Works well, but it's my nasal symptoms that are worst. I stayed in the air conditioning all day yesterday, mostly sown on to the couch. I felt better today, went to the Cincinnati flower show, now not feeling so great again.

Karen

Hope you at least had a lot of fun at the flower show, Karen. Try to get some rest tonight (although, I know that's when allergies seem the worst).

Thanks. I've had allergies so long it's a way of life now.

The flower show was nice. It was a perfect warm, sunny spring day. I had two tickets given to me (cost $25 each), so it was actually free, good for a cheapo like me. But we ate lunch at a restaurant on the way there, dinner on the way home, $10 to park, probably spent nearly $100 buying junk from vendors... my free endeavors are never cheap!

Karen

There is no free lunch! (Trite but true!) But some of my most useful and/or enjoyable garden products have been things I've "splurged on" at garden and flower shows. And the others I somehow forget about!

I still haven't planted a blessed thing. I spent much of yesterday doing grocery shopping and things for my Mom. I have several jugs ready to be planted. I hate to plant anything when the weather is so dry. It's been a couple of weeks since we've had a decent rainfall. Normal for April is 4.1" but we've only had 0.6" so far. Yesterday I did water things in my back yard a little, and spread slug bait (iron phosphate). Today I'll have to water the front and side beds and spread slug bait there. If nothing else, I do hope to accomplish that today. And of course I'll be lugging inside seedlings outside for a while, then back in tonight. Getting pretty tired of that ritual.

Karen

Very dry here too. so far the only things planted out were Poppies, and most died due to lack of water. I feel so bad... but when i was out there yesterday, i did see a tiny bit of green... so hopefully a few seedlings survived. i did water them, but within 30 min, they looked bone dry again.

All the perennials are doing great though, since i tend to plant plants that are perfect for xeriscaping -- they dont mind the lack of water.

My existing perennials are OK. The butterfly weed (A. tuberosa) does have me stumped, though. I have 3 well established ones in different beds, but they usually emerge at the same time, within days of one another. Now, one is about 5" tall, but there's no sign of the other two. I hope I haven't lost them. They're such tough plants, I didn't think you could kill them if you tried.

I worked outside all day, and finally planted out my first two jugs- alyssum. The soil is incredibly dry. I watered 3 planting areas with sprinklers or soaker hose. I'm working the next 3 days, so I probably won't get anything done outside.

Karen

speaking of A. tuberosa... i can not remember where i planted mine.

the year before, i had sown some seeds that were marked Butterfly Weed, when they were actually Swamp Milkweed. so i grew some more... i know i planted some in a flower bed in the Park i live in in Wisconsin.. but can't recall if i planted any at home. I'll be a bit ticked at myself if i didnt... i don't think i had any more seeds.

I also lost some of my newly planted-out winter seedlings. My hose spigots were not functional until today (they depend upon our irrigation system being on), and I did not keep up adequately. Bummmer......

Karen--are you feeling any better?

Better allergy day so far- I've been cooped up in the AC at work. It's a beautiful day but I'm too tired to plant now. I did 10 or 12 cases today and I'm so tired I could go to bed for the night, I swear.

Karen

Yesterday was bad, but today has been much better allergy wise for me too. After work came home and mowed, and so far, so good. Still haven't had any rain to speak of, so I can't imagine what's changed.

I worked in the yard today but still haven't planted wintersown seedlings.

I moved some second year dig candy mountains that just had to move. I wintersowed them last year, haven't seen them bloom yet. They're getting pretty tall, putting up bloom stalks. I hope it didn't kill them. Also dug out and trashed a couple of big columbines (McKana's giants) that I wintersowed several years ago. Boy, those roots were something else to get out! The sawfly larvae are making a mess of them again this year, so they've been evicted. I'll replace with something else. I'm not fighting those stupid bugs all summer again.

I also dug up and moved some snapdragons which are second or third year. They were so big they were swallowing up my few remaining rudbeckia cherry brandy. Might have killed those too. I transplanted them in sun and it was pretty hot. I put porch furniture over them for shade.

I also dug out a few remaining perennialised (not a word, is it?) nicotiana. Didn't get the whole root, but I got some big hunks of roots. Hopefully enough to stunt them anyway.

I'm tired.

Karen

Wow, Karen, it sounds as if you got your exercise for the week! I'm impressed with how you "edit" your garden--C.L. Fournari calls it that, and it's a very good idea. You've inspired me. I've got to edit out some monarda I WS two years ago that has morphed all over one bed or I won't have room to put in those seedlings that are crowding my jugs!
I'm always unsure about planting my WS seedlings out too soon, newbie Cape Cod gardener that I am.

Gee,Karen---want to come over and help me in my garden?

Sounds like you're feeling better. My allergies have been much improved the past few days.