Still Waiting for Weather Changes

We were driving back from Hogansburg where we had dropped off a donation to the Indian Nation. I noticed that a couple of folks along the road back to Helena had set out bedding plants in their gardens. I would give them an “A” for enthusiasm, but not as good a mark for their gardening skills. It has been my experience that until the ground warms up, bedding plants, if not outright killed by frost, will set and sulk until the soil warms. Some plants like cool weather (cabbages, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) and carrots, beets and spinach seeds will germinate (slowly) in cold soil. Beans, on the other hand, will simply rot, and you can plant them again, later on. My tomatoes and peppers, among other stuff, are still in the garage, waiting for their turn.

According to various sources, our last frost date was May 20^th, which was also the date of the full moon, and I haven’t seen any sign of a warm up yet. I haven’t even finished tilling my main gardens yet, and I am happy I waited. It seems to be raining every day, and the temperature hovers around 50 in the daytime. According the TV weather forecasts, it does look like it will warm up this weekend so maybe a break is in sight. One year, a combination and cold and wet weather delayed my planting until the first of July, but that garden did nicely once things cleared up.

Our daffs have come and gone, and the tulips will follow them shortly. On the other hand, the Shirley Poppies have flower buds, as do the lupines, which seem to relish the damp, cool weather. The strawberries are in full bloom, although whether they can set fruit or not is anybody’s guess. The variety I planted are Ozark Beauties, which are supposed to be ever-blooming so I don’t get too worried. The summer bearing raspberries are also forming flower buds and they look ok. Our lilacs were gorgeous this year, just like everybody else’s.

This is short, but their isn’t much to brag about when it is too nasty to work outside.