guilty as charged.

The only thing that's really going on at my place is some violas that never actually die back all winter. Every time the snow melts off them enough they start blooming, December, January, they don't care... They just keep going as long as they can eek out a bit of sunshine.

Other than that, the grass is starting to green up in places, everything else is just now peeking out from under the snow. But as long as they stay "uncovered" and these days keep up the sunshine and beautiful weather, I suspect the ones that are still alive will begin waking up. I did notice some teeny tiny little leaves hiding in the one columbine crown I can see.

The bed the bulbs are in still frozen solid and mostly buried under quite a bit of snow yet, no sign of tulips or daffs here yet.

The vegetable beds are starting the melt off, I can see brown dirt around the edges! I hope they thaw out so I can mix in the shredded leaves I covered them with in the fall.

The Penstemon are largely an evergreen group, so they look green all year. Here's the one you gave me at the spring swap Skybird! Growing like a weed and I THINK I saw some new growth it, but its a little hard to tell if it's just left over from last year.

WOW! That's HUGE from what I gave you last year, Zach! Can't wait to see it blooming this spring, and to see if you agree that it's a P. eatonii!

Skybird

You all are making me jealous, we still have several inches of snow and ice over the entire yard....

Yeah, it grew really well last year! I was surprised how fast it was. I can't wait for flowers either!!

Liz, most of my front yard is still white as well. Only under the tree and the far end of the yard has melted down to the grass. The back yard is nearly completely melted off but because of animals I can't garden back there lol.

Assuming you "down south guys" got the same kind of wind we "up north guys" got today, didn't that help "knock down" some of your remaining snow? It sure did finish off what I had left up here, even in the parts of the backyard that get NO direct sun at all yet right now. And it dried out my squishy grass enough that it doesn't even squish anymore!

I stayed in almost all day, hoping to "allow" the birds to "gather" at my feeders to chow down so I could count them, but, alas, my fickle birds decided to dine elsewhere! They do that when it's been snow covered and then it melts off--almost like they're looking for more "variety" in their diet when they can find it! So, with a dearth of birds, I finally went out and cranked up my hose for the first time in a couple months. I did it mostly so "overflow" my birdbath to get the accumulated crud out of it, but then I also "went over" my perennials--no, they didn't need watering!--and washed miscellaneous debris off of the stepping stones in the beds, and off of the perennials themselves, and "rinsed" bird poop off of the plants under the junipers, and just generally wet down the mulch to keep the wind from sucking too much of the moisture out of the soil. The overall effect was to give the perennials and their surroundings a "spiffied up" look--and I'll be out there again tomorrow--LOOKING!

I'll be thinking UnSnow down south!

Skybird

Actually, Skybird I was up in your neck of the woods today at my brothers house in Thornton (the wind is sure howling now though). The snow DID get down quite a bit, but its still hanging on, especially where it was piled up from shoveling.

Skybird, I'm always poking around in the dirt :-)

Had a look around this morning of things that have been buried in snow since mid December.

The fall planted spinach survives without protection except snow.

Winter wheat is looking good as far as I can tell since I've never grown it before.

Feverfew is popping up all around.

Columbines are poking up.

Spring is coming :-))

Greg

I've been doing what I was doing last February - building a fence. This time, it will be in my DD's backyard. She has a new dog, tall yellow lab - a rescue and about 4 years old. That dog will go right over their gate and side fence.

Luckily or unlucky, they liked the fence I built in 2015 and I have their panels finished. Now, just have to figure how to get them to their house and put some posts up. Gate-building will commence after the posts are in place.

Bad winds today so we will see how things play out ...

Steve

Nice, Greg! I have always wanted to put in low tunnels over some of my raised beds, not really for growing over the winter like that, but rather as a spring snow/hail protection. How did you get that conduit shaped so nicely? Did you just use a pipe bender?

Steve, you're going to have to start charging for fences one of these days ;).

I saw some snow drops (I think that's what they are) blooming in the neighbors garden this morning. Still no sign of any bulbs here at my place though. I have found WEEDS starting to pop up, which I admire momentarily as "at least something is growing!"

ZachS, yes I used a bender to get them in that shape. If you want to get some conduit shaped I can stop by sometime with it. Easier to do with two people but one is enough if it's done slowly. I was thinking of bringing the pipe bender to the spring swap if anyone is interested.

I'm seeing signs of life on my irises, roses and agastache. Hope they're not premature but I suppose nature knows best.

The grass under inches of snow for months remains somewhat squidgy especially the area shaded by my large oak tree, which still retains snow bafflingly despite a week of daytime highs above 50F. But parts of the bluegrass are starting to green up. I have no reason to suspect it won't all be green soon enough.

As of yesterday, the last of our snow disappeared from the yard!

We had a record warm morning ! It was 43°f.

On this date several years ago, I have a memory of starting all sorts of seed. It probably didn't bother everyone but it was below zero that morning and I was too early to start "all sorts of seed!" Anyway, live and learn ... and, to mix my metaphors ... that was then, this is now ...

I will visit the garden center today and just might pick up a seed packet of petunias and another of pansies. They could be sown here on 17 February! We'll see. (I can use about 6 plants of each and that ain't much to buy later, in the spring. ;o)

Steve

35 degrees here this morning, unusually warm, but I'll take it!

As difficult as this snow covered winter has been, I'm still grateful for the moisture. It was great to not have to water outside! The snow has almost completely melted in my yard. Now that it has, there are lots of signs of life!

Skybird and I took a field trip to Paulino's yesterday to pick up potting soil and I did buy 3 packs of pansy seeds, onions and shallots. It's time to get them going. I'm so glad to see this time of year returning at last!

Barb

I don't have any conduit handy at the moment Greg, but if any comes up (aka if I end up with extra cash to get some) I'll let you know. I'm planning on growing some broccoli and cabbage this year, and I'm almost certain that they will get smashed by snow and beat by hail this spring, nothing ventured though...

I have finally seen a handful of tulips popping up in spot that gets more sun than the rest of the bed, but not many. All the other bulbs are still sleeping (I hope they are only sleeping, lol). The snow finally melted off the pasque flower so I was able to see that it has some green, swollen shoots coming through the crown. Cut back the ornamental grasses today, too. It was so nice I had to do something outside, even though the wind had picked up a lot by the time I got home.

Oh I was so excited to see all the life that had been hiding under the dead leaves!! I have some garlic shoots onions walking onions popping up. The day lillies have reappeared various roses turning green! I was surprised to see sweet pea volunteers from last year! I have some snapdragon that also self speed I see babies of! My hollyhock has some green coming and the seeds planted last year are up and about. I don5 want to get excited but I think the poppies are popping up! Also my Swiss chard sent up some new shoots. I'm excited to garden this year with chickens. Let the babies get some sunshine today ÷

Got some more clean up done today, pulled out the leaf blower and got all the debris that isn't plastered to the ground. The evergreen perennials look a lot perkier after the nice "fluffing" they got. I also cut back all the dead sticks that were left last fall. We're pretty much down to a clean slate ready to fill in once the plants get going. A lot of things are showing just the tiniest bit of life, I'll take it, but not to much, it is still February after all.

Parts of my planting beds are ice free, finally! Didn't get to see if there is any new growth, really hope the peonies stay dormant for another month or so.....

I'll go have a more substantial look tomorrow. But today I happened to see some green seedlings in a planter where I had tried late season lettuce in the Fall. I'm sure they will be mutilated by any upcoming snow, but they have high hopes!

After I noticed some small life starting in my plants, I could wait no longer.

I left much of the dried plant stems on throughout winter for winter interest and so I could at least recall that I put a plant in a particular spot. I did so much transplanting in the fall, I've forgotten some of what I have in each spot.

Of the plants I transplanted, I noticed life in the David Phlox, Summer Phlox, hens and chicks, dead nettle, yellow columbine, and midnight salvia. Of things I had there growing before the Dazzleberry, dead nettle, Autumn Joy, pink hyacinth and various mums are doing wonderful. I did purchase some crocus and daffodil bulbs in the fall that are popping their leaves out of the group. The grape hyacinths are rearing their beautiful but invasive leaves. As hardy as these bulbs are to get out of the yard, I don't have the heart to have someone else have to deal with these bulbs. I personally believe they need to be on the noxious weed lists.

I can hardly believe all the things I have growing already this year! My yard looks more like April than March! I have batches of crocus all over the place, and they're ALL blooming, and a couple patches are past their prime already. Just noticed today that the scilla are starting to bloom--pretty little things! And I have one daffodil that's been open for several days, and a couple more about to open. My purple pasque flower had one flower open about a week ago, and a whole bunch more are just opening now--the white one will be another week or so, it's always slower.

I have one lily that's already a few inches above the mulch, and if we have a sudden temperature drop it's gonna need to be covered or it's gonna be toast--COLD toast! A couple other dwarf lilies are above the mulch already too. Most of the other things should be able to handle any cold snaps--depending on how COLD it actually gets! I'll be hoping for snow cover first if it's gonna get really cold--just so I don't have to spend a nite worrying about everything!

It's pretty incredible to have so many things growing so much this early! My neighbor across the street has a huge silver maple that's starting to leaf out already, and if we get a heavy, wet spring snow in the next few weeks I think it's gonna be "splintered toast!"

Unless we do wind up getting a "catastrophic" cold snap without snow, it looks like it's gonna be a very good perennial year for me.

Supposed to be 70º again tomorrow!

Skybird

But that won't be a first day over 70°f for Denver ... with continuing clouds and rain, I'm envious. (only just a little ;o)

With so many ups and downs, there must be a fair amount of anxiety there about spring growing weather each year. Even Stephen, here. Although, any oopsy-daisies are likely to be of my own making.

I'm not sure about this new weather site I found: customweather dot com. We were supposed to have our first day above 60° about a week ago. Didn't happen. I just checked their 14 day and there is a 59° for Wednesday. I'm okay with all this but the tiny plants in the South Window want sunshine!

Once again, I'm wondering about how to install a light without damaging my nearly new ceiling! Going without one for the last 6 years is about to end, I expect.

Steve

Romaine Calm and Embrace Choy

Rain? Who got rain? We got a lite mist mixed with a few white flakes a few days ago that dried before it even hit the ground. I have had the hose out several times already trying (probably in vain) to get my overseeded lawn to sprout and make sure the direct sown onions, arugula, and peas will actually germinate.

My bulbs are always the slowest on the street, all the neighbors crocus and daffodils are blooming, mine have barely broken through the soil. But I, too am amazed at the amount of growth on everything, but I keep thinking that they are living in a fools paradise. The other shoe is fixing to drop and I'll be bundled up with snow shovel in hand soon enough, I'm sure.

Steve, go for the light. I just finished setting up a metal halide lamp that someone gave me. It's incredibly bright. Kind of like looking into the sun.

Tree peony growth! This is the earliest I've seen TPs in my area bud out, ever....at least 2-3 weeks ahead of where they normally are. Herbaceous ones have shown a bit of sens and stayed underground!

I did go for the shop light, Greg.

It does not count for much, 4' tubes but I'm unwilling to run an 8' fixture in here. Where would I fit into the South Window?!

Lots of plants here on the table and more coming next week! They got today's 15 minutes of sunlight between rain clouds. We had about 1/2" of rain earlier in the week. Adding to that now with more predicted for Sunday.

Steve

I've found heavy clay pots work very well, Chloe, and don't have to be staked!

Guess what I just noticed was blooming--my Thanksgiving cactus! I'll take a pic when I get in early enough to have good light but one that bloomed profusely during Nov/early Dec is blooming again now and there are buds on a 2nd one. I've never had that happen before in March.

Liz! My "holiday" cacti are blooming again, too! How weird is that!

Anyone else have the same happy surprise that Zach and I did?

Hi everyone!!!

Liz, one of my new peony divisions from you is sending up a bud! Do I need to cover if temps drop or only if there's snow? Zach, I saw you post about Gaillardia - if your seeds don't take I have some volunteer seedlings I'd be happy to pot up for you. Some of them should be 'Goblin' but I have a few varieties planted together and couldn't guarantee which one(s) you'd get. Let me know!

Liz and Zach! Mine don't do that! I'm jealous!!!

They sure do like whatever you're doing with them!

Skybird

This is the first year mine have EVER rebloomed, Skybird! I was so shocked!

Amester, most can take cold weather very well and snow is a good insulator. Especially if you're just seeing swelling and lengthening of the eyes they'll take a normal Denver snow like a champ. If you've got several leaves open or maybe even a bud you might want to protect them--easy as piling some leaves up around them as a temporary mulch, covering with sand or topsoil, then gently removing it as soon as possible afterward. You can also use large clay pots to cover them--that works great and you don't have to tack them down. I have several that stay in my garden year round near the most frost tender ones I have.

I'd say just leave them but some of the ones I traded last year were new to my garden as well so I'm not sure how tolerant they are.

You're lucky, Amester--none of my herbaceous have started growing yet except a tiny, slow growing woodland one, P. Japonica. Did you label them as they were planted? Do you know which one is growing? Miss Curious here!

The Weather Service says that Sunday should be the first day for us to have ..

. a 60°f afternoon high, Yay!

There seems to be a hyacinth showing color across the road and I have a lawn violet or two, blooming in the yard!

Steve

I have a few WS gaillardia sprouting, but overall, my WS has not been very successful this year. Many of the seeds that have germinated have promptly died, not sure exactly "why" but I think one of the reasons it that it's nearly impossible for me to keep them wet enough. Oh well, there's always next year. Anyways, Amy, if you bring some gaillardia to the swap, I will grab them up for sure, there's always room for them. The ones I bought last year ('Gallo peach' and 'sunset snappy') don't appear to be reliably perennial, so I have some replacing to do!

Skybird, mine aren't blooming nearly as much as Liz's, just a small handful of flowers across all three of the plants. I have been fertilizing a little more often to get my very sad looking "salmon" colored one to put on a little more growth (which it finally is after several years) so that might have something to do with it. This is also the first year I've ever noticed a "spring re-bloom" from them.

No sign of peonies yet here, well, not officially. I planted them in an area that is currently serving as a "walkway" around some construction so I moved some mulch and dirt around to see where I planted them so I don't trample them while working. There's a couple little nubs just barely starting to poke through. I covered them back up and marked the spot so that I know where they are.

Lots and lots of growth on other things though, some stuff has me worried with the 15* low we're supposed to get later this week. Guess I'll have to rummage through the "pot ghetto" to cover things like agastache, though I have personally found plastic pots to offer little if any protection, maybe if I supplement them by covering the pot with a towel or something....

Zach, I had all my tomatoes out in the garden a few years ago when a frost was a predicted.

I used all my buckets to cover. There was a lot but not enough. Big buckets, the plant was fine. Little buckets, where foliage touched the buckets, the foliage was burned. Big pots, the entire plant died.

Maybe, one pot on top another with something to cover the holes and empty space between ...

Steve

One time I tried to use milk jugs with the bottom cut out as "frost protection" for something (basil maybe? Can't remember), seemed to me that there was frost INSIDE the makeshift cloches more so than outside. Needless to say, the plan failed. They did however, work amazing for hail protection. The holes in the pots will definitely need to be "plugged," and most all my buckets also have holes in the bottom, because that's what I grow my peppers in!

I found some really cool Styrofoam plant covers that I plant to try for frost protection. They'll need to be staked though so guess I'll only get to use them if the ground isn't frozen too deep when I put them out. I thought they'd be really small but they look like they'll cover most of the things I'll need to cover. I'll post a pic when I put them out and report back, think they were around $130 for 75 of them. If it works the investment will be well worth it.

I have black pots in sizes ranging from one gallon to HUGE nursery-size pots, and that's what I always use. Even with the big ones, I always put a rock (which I have all over my perennial beds!) or a brick on top of each one--just to be SURE they don't blow away (in the last couple days I'm surprised my rocks and bricks aren't blowing away!), so in some cases the hole is covered, but other times there are several holes and some are open, and unless the foliage is touching the plastic, I've never had a problem with anything freezing. Knock on wood--I guess! If we get a SUDDEN drop from "warm" to single-digits, I'm not sure much of anything will protect tender plants that are "growing before their time!" Corrugated cardboard boxes would provide pretty good insulation--but if it's raining or snowing, they'd need to be covered with plastic! I'm not trying to actually keep the plants "warm," and I figure the "heat" from the soil will keep the air inside of the pots from getting too far below freezing.

I got all my ducks--I mean pots--in a row today, in anticipation of covering my bleeding heart and some lilies I already have coming up tomorrow nite. Possibly a couple other things, but not many. Most perennials will be fine, and it sounds like we ARE gonna get some snow before it gets very cold, so that should protect pretty much everything--and if the pots get a covering of snow, so much the better.

But my real problem this time is going to be figuring out how to keep all my blooming (hollow stem!) daffodils from bending, irretrievably, over! They can take incredible cold, but they cannot take the weight of snow! Still contemplating just exactly what I'm gonna try with them this time! I'm pretty sure the one patch is too big to get even my biggest pot over them all! Am considering a couple things, and I have a whole nite to Sleep On It!

Zach, I have Agastache that's starting to grow, and that's not one of the things I'm worried about. Unless yours is more than a few inches high already, I think it should be fine on its own. (But if you're gonna lay awake worrying about it--cover it!)

Skybird

Liz, I'm pretty sure it's the single red I got at either the fall swap or last spring's swap. I have the name somewhere....? It's very close to the concrete porch so I'm sure that's a contributing factor!

Zach, I've never covered agastache and it's always been fine. Better safe than sorry, though! Already earmarking a couple of Gaillardia for you, happy to throw in an agastache if they self sowed this year. Obviously I haven't poked around enough! :)

I THINK the only single red I had at the trade was Rose(something or other) and is new to my garden as well so I haven't a clue how snow/cold hardy it is! I've used large pots, both the black plastic ones that Skybird mentions, and clay ones to cover frost tender peonies in the past with outstanding results. If the growth is still pretty close to the ground and you don't see any sign of buds yet just a bit more mulch to cover it will be enough protection.

I think we're running concurrently, Liz! Two more have poked up leaves. I covered all three just to be safe. I'll try to find my planting plan so I can tell you which ones are rearing their early little heads.

I have a few tree peonies that are growing well now, 2 are new from last fall so I put large pots over them. Anything with unfurled leaves and any hint of a bud was covered as well. Anything that was just starting or even tightly furled leaves just got a thicker mulch covering, Amester!

I do like Skybird. I use cheap plastic nursery pots and a rock for most things. I also have a few of these that I use over some bigger things. I put a tomato tower around the plant, then put the pillow-case-like thing over it.

http://www.amazon.com/Tierra-Garden-50-8020-4-Pack-Haxnicks/dp/B00BMKB4VQ

I only cover things that might get squashed by heavy snow. I covered my bleeding heart with the pillow-case thing because it's pretty big already. I covered some columbines and a few other things with the pots.

I don't think the Agaststache would be permanently damaged by the cold, my main concern is that the new leaves would be burned back, similar to what happened to my ash trees (and even the scrub oak) last Mother's Day. They are looking so nice, I'd hate for them to be set back to phase one. Another concern I have is the weight of 8" of wet spring snow sitting on top of everything. I even covered the penstemons which I know will be fine with the temps, but would be smashed like a pancake under the snow. All the pots are completely buried under a layer of the white stuff so I'm thinking that they will still get the insulation from that, I hope.

I know we need the precipitation, but is it too much to ask that it comes as rain instead? Why does it always have to be freezing and snow?

Thanks for the Gaillardia Amy! I should be set on Ag's though, I have 6 cups of them under lights right now, both rupestris and cana. I wish I would have separated them, but they are probably too big now, so I will have to thin them.

You're welcome in advance - just remind me at swap time, the ol' grey matter, it ain't what it used to be!