I have actually been busy inside the house the past couple weeks doing that "Spring Cleaning" thing, but I keep coming up with reasons to go out and work in the beds. Unfortunately, half the time I get out there and think, "Umm... there was something I NEEDED to do... Ooh! Chair! Ooh! Bird!" *zone out* It is worse if I happen to have a glass of iced water with me. Of course, this hasn't helped much with getting my Spring Cleaning tasks done.

Michael, you better hurry up with the spring cleaning because it is starting to feel like summer outside.:)
The bananas are keeping me really busy, they are ripening fast and furious! trying all recipes, banana chocolate bread, muffins, fritters and today I am making banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
The variety that I have now is the best tasting and productive from all the 12 different varieties that I had at one time in the garden.

One of my favorite plants the Brazilian Red Clock survived the cold temperatures, here it is next to my avocado that is covered with blooms.

Waiting for our 3-1/2 feet of snow to melt...itching to get out there in the garden.

Sure did enjoy your photos, everyone!

Hi valal, I am glad that you enjoy the photos. Just remember no matter how much snow you have today, spring always come and you can get busy in your garden again. Use the time that you have now to plan, get your seeds and start seedlings, maybe try micro greens indoors.

Some more photos for you from the vacation and some of the banana breads that I am making.

The mistbed has been up and running for 10 days. Spring is here!

Silvia - You are lucky to get so little damage from the freeze. My Brazilian Cloak got burned to the ground. Plus your banana harvest is awesome in spite of the cold weather.

Your nasturtiums look so colorful. I was meaning to start some last fall but never quite got myself to plant the seeds. Oh well, next year.

Michael - I would like to add "and who needs a gym for exercise" when there's a garden.

Christine

Ricky, your mist bed is gorgeous! those plants make everything so happy, I just love colors. I was just thinking today that I need to decorate my yard, work on the right combinations, I am seriously lack in that department.:)

Michael, I am looking forward to see your mature garden pictures in the future, we as a gardeners are very optimistic, that is the reason that we plant. We believe in a happy tomorrow and if anybody deserves a wonderful garden, it should be you. I give you A+ for your interest in learning, you have come a long way!

Christine, I think the location helps with the cold temperatures around my area, I am close to the lake and have a lot of big trees around the trail, this season I did not cover anything in the garden and nothing is damaged. I think having the fence around also helps.
We had some fun cutting the bananas, almost half of the bunch was ripe.:)
I cannot believe that my tomatoes refuse to die, the community garden that I give the transplants said the same thing, they still have tomatoes and their garden is in the open field.

The nasturtiums were planted a few years back and after that they come back by themselves when the time is right, they are great for pollinators, sometimes I see hummingbirds there.

Silvia - Because of the mild winter my borage plant grew quite well this year. It even handled the last freeze pretty well. Every since I saw your borage plants a few years ago, I just love to have at least one in the winter garden. Next year for sure, I'm going to plant some nasturtiums. You are a great inspiration.

Christine

Thank you Christine - The weather this winter was very good for a lot of plants, I have not seen any damage. I over planted kale this year on purpose, since it is so popular and healthy for us and friends, we have been taking them for a lot of get togethers and all have been so tasty. The family and my canine children are enjoying the peas, they are so productive this season.

Some of my favorite blooms today that is raining....

Does Borage like a northern climate? Mine barely grew last year.

zzackey, I remember growing in my garden in NY after the last frost date, it is an annual and also reseeds where planted. I usually plant them direct in the garden but maybe you can start them indoors to be planted when is warm in your area.
Silvia

It grew well In central New Jersey, but it only got a few inches tall here and croaked about a month after being in the ground. I always start most of my seeds in 4" pots.

Dont worry, WH,I'm not sitting on my fanny :) I've got 100 wintersown containers under all that snow, waiting for spring; Inside, my basil is a few inches tall, my ice plants were big enough to be transplanted to 2x2 peat cells, my chives just started to sprout and I planted several kinds of tomato seeds as backup to my WS'd ones. Just TOO much snow, but today was 40 degrees and sunny and FELT soooo good compared to all our low temps! This week looks like it'll be highs 40 or over (not great for all you southerners, but here in new England, a definite welcome "site"!) and hopefully there will be a good deal of melting!

I have my work cut out for me this spring, but need to be able to SEE the garden beds :) Keep on posting those great garden photos!

Valal, you are keeping busy for sure! that is a lot of containers, you should have a very productive and busy season coming up. When I lived in Mass I grew some beautiful beefsteaks and my favorite hydrangeas. One thing is for sure, I don't miss the snow but at least it kills some bugs. Sending you some warm weather from here, soon it will be too hot! our version of winter is summer.:)
Keeping up with the greens in the garden...

My Queens Wreath is flowering this morning, spring is here!

The flowers all look amazing. Here in south west Florida it has been a very warm winter and spring is turning into summer. It is Mulberry time and my tomatoes from last fall are still fighting.

Hello to all! Silvia I have to tell you that the tomatoe plants you gave me also survived the cold and are still producing! They are not pretty but they are giving me food so they are lovely in my eyes. And Christine! My papayas are under the light inside, thriving. Almost time for their great adventure outside!

Hi Garden_gal, thank you and I agree with you about the spring turning into summer, it is very warm this week. We had probably the best winter for tomatoes, and I am getting some white mulberries that were planted in the fall, they are so sweet!

Hi Elizabeth! Glad to hear that your tomatoes are productive, I gave other varieties to the community garden and theirs are doing well too even after the winter.

Success with the black garbanzo beans, I am getting pods!

Elizabeth - Yes, it's time to plant the papayas. I got mine planted yesterday. So glad to hear that yours are doing well.

Christine

My New Guinea trumpet creeper is flowering! it must be all the rain that we had.

Silvia - Did you get it at the Leu Gardens plant sale? I had my eye out for you but didn't see you.

Christine

Hi Christine - Yes, I got it at the Leu but last year, so it went through freezes and everything because I was not even home to cover it and now it is flowering, is evergreen all year round. It looks so pretty! I saw it in the Conservatory of the Longwood gardens in Pa.

Here is a full view, flowers are inside the vine too.

Fawnridge ? Tell me how you connected your misters I am so interested in that stuff... I need help at my house.