And, of course, they had flowers. So I HAD to look at them. And, naturally, then I needed to save some of them from the neglect that the chain stores always inflict on their bedding plants. (That is a big pet peeve of mine, so I'd better not get started on that rant!)
Really, I just wanted those beautiful, intense red petunias! Winter is so dreary that I had built up quite a hunger for flowers. Yes, lilacs, and trees, and early flowers are blooming around town--but I wanted my own flowers.
We are having an early, unusually warm spring for this part of the country, but it can't be counted as safe to plant tender flowers yet. One night of frost would do them in.
My Grandmother Mackey, with her husband and children, homesteaded in Wyoming in 1917. They came from North Carolina, so it was a completely different climate than what they were used to. Grandma was a good gardener, and she was able to grow big gardens even on the Wyoming prairie. She used to say that you could plant anything after the 15th of May. However, their homestead was 60 miles south of where I live. It doesn't seem like much, but going south 60 miles does make a difference. My experience has been that it is safer to wait until the end of May to put out the tender young bedding plants.
This year may be different, one of those extra mild years that we occasionally get.
It feels like time to be planting! But I will wait a little longer before I actually plant my petunias. I'll put them out on the deck during the day to be hardening off, but I'll bring them inside at night.
But, I really, really want to go out in search of more beautiful flower plants!
I agree, it is still too unstable right now. Today I came home mid-afternoon and turned on the air conditioner as it felt so hot. Two hours later, after a little cold front came through, I am ready for the furnace!
ReplyDelete