in the garden - Oh yes! It's Spring!

new beds for 2014

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It has been a very long, very dark, very cold winter. Did I say long? 

Well, the sun has recently decided to begin to show itself again and the earth is finally beginning to warm up! I can actually go outside for a few hours at a time (albeit with gloves and 2 sweatshirts) and get to play in the dirt. First order of business was to clear 2 new beds alongside the front walkway. Next week I will be receiving the most glorious present - enough hostas to fill the space!! 

Divisions from a great Cape Cod stock of plants I am ready to plant, take care of, and watch them grow.

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In the last garden post I talked about my "winter sowing" experiment and I am soooo pleased to be able to say that there are actually little babies sprouting in the there!! I was very nervous because we have had a LOT of rain and the temps have been quite cold since I put them out. It has actually dipped below freezing a number of nights. But those hearty little seeds pulled through and I'm ecstatic. 

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So, I began my next round of seeds today - coleus and more zinnia, chives, 2 different kinds of small "lunchbox" peppers, and black cherry tomatoes. 

I rigged up a little shelf by the windows that get the best morning sun.  The peppers and tomatoes need to come inside every night - the soil for them needs to remain above 65/70 degrees while they are germinating. So I am being really careful with them. 

portable greenhouses!

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I also added two new blue hydrangea to the front of the house - in the very shady corner. These guys have been waiting for a few months in the cellar waiting for the ground to unfreeze. When I pulled them out today it was so miraculous to see fresh shoots already sprouting! They are SO ready for spring time!!

The clump of light brown in between the hydrangea is a Big Blue hosta that I recently received from another Cape Cod friend .........

I am so blessed.

Here's to friends, warm weather, and beautiful gardens!

blue hydrangea 

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