Balsam I'm at the same stage as you. I planted last Sun and I have Salvia & Marigolds peeking through the soil! I even did a few jugs of winter sowing, but I don't have alot of luck with that. I always say I won't winter sow again but then I get cabin fever & I do it anyway. I really enjoy sowing indoors best. I don't know if anything's up in my milk jugs in the snow since we still have quite a bit on the ground here in Michigan. But I'll be out there peeking in a few days because it's suppose to be in the 40's for several days.

Balsam, so far I'm all northern and no cottage gardening. Nothing is started yet, but I think today will be the day. I have a cold frame outside and a small grow light setup inside, so I am looking through my seed-swap goodies for some fun things to plant. I've never tried starting anything in the cold frame, but I'm going to give it a shot. As Carol said, it is supposed to be in the 40s here for at least a few days, so that is encouraging.

Good luck with your flower and veggie babies.

ThinMan

Hi Balsam, I have to say, that I really enjoy these more northern threads.

This week was home, sick with cold and flu, so got a bit behind with my sowing. Hopefully be able to catch up in the next week. The only thing that got planted this week, was the begonia that I bought a couple of weeks ago. It has two tiny pink growing starts, so it was time. I just popped it into a 4" pot for now.

The seedlings that are up are to numerous to mention, but one worth noting this week was the one sprout in the blue poppy bowl. YES!!!! LOL Hopeing to see a few more..so keeping fingers crossed.

Found two kinds of ball dahlias and two more kinds of mignon dahlias....so added them to my collection this week. Thats it for new dahlias this year....I have no idea where they are going to be planted. LOL!

I'm still thinking about Patti's thread and companion plants for dahlias. Thanks Patti, for getting me thinking on this...If anyone has any thoughts on the poppy dahlia combination, post away. Or what spikey annuals there are that would look nice. I am thinking snaps, glads, larkspur, so far.

Its starting to get colder again, but so far the snow is still melting some. I can see the top of the compost pile...so thats a start anyway.

Notes from the far north,
Sierra :-)

chicago is north ... yes? i come over to this forum once in awhile .. everyone seems so nice ... must admit, i always get the impression that cottage gardeners are mostly from the warmer states, says phyl, with envy in her voice ...

As someone who is also from the north I am really enjoying this! I don't feel so left out! A lot of people have things growing, sprouts coming up, and here I sit with snow on the ground. It's melting, yes, but it's still there!

Jenny P

Greetings from an anxious North Dakota gardener.

It got up in the 30s a few days ago; it felt so warm. I went out to top-off the bird feeders and wore my "light" jacket!

I decided it must be spring so I tromped through the snow bank to the front garden. I just knew I'd find something. Silly girl.

The tiny seeds and sprouts are still hidden and dormant. I'm sure they were laughing at me in their slumber.

Today I had a flock of Cedar Waxwings and American Gold Finches show up. The crows are pairing up and "singing"...or making a joyful (?) noise. The squirrels are squirrelly; the coyotes are singing at noon, and the grouse are calling for mates. They know it's Spring, too!

So what it there's two feet of snow on the ground? So what it it's below freezing. So what if there's not one sign of green live? It is Spring!

Hey there Caroline! I am in MN but on the ND border! North of Grand Forks. I know what you mean! It's spring,the breeze is warm, and the snow is sloooowly going away.

Jenny P

I just knew there were other "northerners" out there waking up to spring:) Good to hear from you all!

It's milder here last few days and rained last night so the snow is melting quickly and muddy ground is peeking out in places. Of course, like Caroline said, there's still about 2 feet of snow on the ground, but WHO CARES!!! It is officially 10 more days until SPRING, but there are signs everywhere. I've had goldfinches last two weeks and the squirrells are out (but they have been for awhile and eating all my birdseed!), and this week I noticed swelling buds on some of the trees. It's also "sugar time" here - the sap is starting to flow!

I went for a long walk yesterday afternoon and actually ENJOYED it. Winter is waning..............

Hi Jenny P, We are still very much under snow...about 4 feet, I would say. And its snowing again today...big heavy snow flakes. My sprouts are all under lights, and will be transplanted into cell packs and pots when large enough. They won't be able to be planted out-doors till probably the first week in June....the last approx frost date here is June 6th. Today, more seeds will be started...so I can pretend its not snowing outside. ;-)

Sierra

Balsam, how's it goin'?
Egad, I had to phone my St Paddy's Day birthday sister who only lives a stone's throw away because I simply couldn't get there from here! I told her some girls get frosting on their cakes but she got icing on her entire town.
Hope you folks enjoying this last foray into winter(LOL) haven't suffered power outages, stay safe, M

Hey mora,

Nice birthday for your sister - icing and all! Gotta love March weather, huh?

We've been on the road all day - hockey and basketball. One more trip to go after supper :( Driving now is OK since it's all rain, but this morning was tricky!

Just watered my "babies". Haven't planted any more yet - no time with all these kids running around all over the country.

Enjoy the last official winter weekend folks. Next week it will be SPRING!!! Yay! It's about time.

Hi...I live in southwestern Wisconsin and yes, spring is a stones throw away! We actually had 72 degrees last Tuesday! I was sitting on the front porch in short sleeves with snow on the lawn yet! (melting quickly I might add) Only 1 1/2 weeks ago I had snow almost to the top of the sundial and today it is almost gone! Hurray!

No seeds planted, as I am usually too impatient to go that route. But have been busy looking through my catalogs. Oh, I did see several of my tulips and daffodils peeking through when I looked this afternoon! :-)
Marylu

Hi,

I'm in Chicagoland - and yes, like mary lu we too had a day or two of 60 - 70 degree weather but now it is back down to the low to mid 30's but at least 99% of the snow is gone. Still, I count my blessings, it's still warmer than 0.

Nothing up in my garden yet except the greening of the native sedges and a the tips of the daffodils, tulips and a few of the alliums starting to poke up. It's pretty much just a sea of soil and mulch right now, half frozen.