Well the weather has officially gone crazy. I am sitting here in my office as I write this watching the ice storm and listening to the rolling thunder. And reminding myself that I live in Arkansas.
By now, I should have had my potatoes, onions, fennel and carrots planted. I should be getting the beds ready to put in greens in the next week or so, probably next weekend as that will be the beginning of Daylight Saving Time.
But except for last Saturday, the one seasonally warm day in the past two weeks, when the grandkids helped me rebuild the strawberry frame, prune the rose bushes and plant a few potatoes, it has been too cold and the ground has been too frozen to plant.
My poor hellebores, which we call fairy hats here at the Lendennie homestead, have been trying in vain to bloom. They should have bloomed a month ago, but they are extreme warm weather plants used to having balmy spring temperatures in which to show off their colors, and they are wilting as the buds open. I doubt any of the plants will survive this winter.
On a positive note, we have had some magnificent birds at our bird feeder all winter. Even those owls that were up on the carport after Assassin earlier in the winter were spectacular birds, huge and majestic up close. The male was the one who was hooting, the female was just screeching, I am guessing that is their normal behavior, because to tell you the truth that is the first time I have ever seen an owl at a range of 8-10 feet away.
The red-tailed hawks have, unfortunately, been frequenting my bird feeder area as well. I have not seen them get any of the birds, though. I think Assassin has been beating them to it, because he has made a little nest in the mulch in my herb garden and feathered it with plumage of all colors.
We have had some very brave rabbits in the yard through all of this as well. Of course, they won't be around long if they don't manage to stay out of kitty range, but they have been fun for the grandkids to watch when the snow and ice are on the ground.
And I am sorry to report that my king snake, the one that was in the dishwasher about this time last spring, has met a terrible end. Bubba, my one-eyed cat who is 15 and does not even chase mice anymore, got into the bushes the last warm spell and managed to catch and kill the poor snake, ate his head off. There is something to be said for keeping predators to keep the vermin down, but I think my guys go a little overboard sometimes. Just sayin'.
Anyway, like all of you I am sick and tired of this weather, but no matter how bad it gets, the fact remains spring is just around the corner. The Farmer's Almanac says after the second or third week of March, things will go back to normal. We are supposed to be able to expect a normal spring with normal rainfall, going into a normal hot and dry summer and fall. And I hope they are right, because my green thumbs are itching to get into the dirt!
plenbooks@live.com