The sun is shining, the red-wing blackbirds are calling and the snow is finally all gone!  We'd like to believe that spring has arrived, but history advises us to be cautious.  Still, it is exciting to see the cheery crocuses and the dainty snowdrops blooming.  The winter was actually a good one for the plants, since they had a nice insulating blanket of snow when the temperatures dropped the lowest.  Every day we see new perennials and bulbs popping up, and the greening of a bit more of the lawns.

         The sunshine is making a big difference in the greenhouses, too.  Finally, the plants are showing some growth as they come out of dormancy in the coldframe.  We've finished trimming out all of the dead leaves, which we leave on to protect the center growth points.  We've moved pots and flats to make room for the pansies and violas, as soon as my instincts tell me it's safe.  Maybe next week, I'll chance it, but I'd rather not be forced to run the heater, so for now, they'll just stay safely in the greenhouse where the temperatures are always above frost.

     We've been transplanting thousands of seedlings and dividing some perennials, taking cuttings and making lists of labels we need to run.  It is a busy, busy time.  Yesterday, it was finally dry enough in the Cook's Garden to attack the chickweed.  If you haven't checked your beds, that notorious weed is already blooming and preparing to drop thousands of seeds here in Zone 5 already!  I know it is a tasty and nutritious food when gathered before it flowers, but I swear it was already blooming under the snow! 

     When my grandchildren, who live in Germany, were here for a visit last week, 5-yr-old Evan was delighted to help Gma pick salad greens from the many pots I seeded in January.  We were even able to add some chives, and a few ripe red peppers from a container garden that I hadn't had the heart to just let freeze last autumn.  It's sitting in a corner of the greenhouse, producing greens, bell peppers, hot peppers, and several herbs!  I've decided to move more in next fall.  Those fresh-picked greens taste much, much better than anything you buy at the grocery this time of year.

     Well, I need to get to the greenhouse.  Today, I'm seeding zinnias, cosmos, tithonia, annual phlox and more cilantro, dill, parsley and basil.  I'm hoping some of the basketball games will be on radio, although the reception in the greenhouse is not the best.  I may have to take a loooooonnnnnnggggg lunch break!  Herbal Blessings, Carolee