I’ve been digging kitchen compost into the garden periodically over the winter. Mostly it’s coffee grounds, eggshells, and vegetable trimmings. It’s been fun to go there with a purpose, dig a trench and dump what would otherwise go out in the garbage or down the disposal (yes, cringe). I’ve found that it works well when I systematically cover the whole garden.
Yesterday when I went, there was a crow with nesting material in its mouth perched on a fencepost. I couldn’t get a photo, but the crow made me alert and I noticed what had to be a whole flock of robins pecking around the dormant gardens and periodically coming up with a worm or a grub. I couldn’t get good pictures of them, either, having only the phone with me. Other birds making appearances were song sparrows, blue jays, and a mockingbird that thinks it is king of the garden…
I checked things while I was there. The peas have not come up yet. Jane gave me some water jugs she had cut the bottoms off and they make fabulous cloches for larger plants.
She also gave me the bottoms, figuring I’d find some use for them. Currently, what with days varying from upper forties (F) to the low seventies, I’ve propped the cold frame open with them as I continue to enjoy the lettuce.
Other signs of spring were the garlic planted late last fall, that came up and suffered through three snows,
A rabbit convinced I could not see it,
My favorite spring flower,
And some very cheerful daffodils.
Best wishes for a good week!
arlingwords 
Looks like spring has arrived for you! I like the repurposing of water bottles as cloches, great idea!
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Thanks for coming by, Eliza. I think spring is on its way, but likely winter will throw a few temper tantrums yet. I like the water bottles, too. Many cloches are too small to protect growing plants very long.
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I’ve never seen ‘cloche’ used this way. When I read the word, I wondered why you were using a plastic bottle as a hat. Now, I get it. ‘Lagomorph’ is an unfamiliar word, too. Maybe if there were more rabbits around, I’d have learned it.
I do envy you those robins! I grew up with them as the preeminent sign of spring, and I miss them every year. As for the crocuses, I’ve never seen those growing. I suppose someone must have had them when I was living in Iowa, where tulips abound, but I sure don’t remember them. As for the daffodils, the only place I’ll find those is the grocery store!
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Ah, the hat cloche and the garden cloche. Two different things. When I demonize the rabbits, I always use Lagomorph–it’s the order they belong to, along with hares and oddly, pikas. We’ll have more bulb plants coming up as spring goes on. I imagine your Texas spring is full swing at this point.
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Beautiful purple crocuses! Looks like spring has come your way. Such a wonderful time of year, and it looks as though you are springing right into gardening.
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Well, most of what’s in there was planted in the fall. It will be next month before I start any serious planting. I do have some seeds started…
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Lovely that your Spring is creeping in. Our autumnal days are starting to get less hot – even chilly – and darker! AND I’m happy to say our crocuses are autumn ones – so we are getting the same as you at the same time!
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I love that the crocuses are timed that way!
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We still have spring crocuses, but these autumn ones look the same (to me) and can be used for saffron (which I’m always a bit too scared to collect!)
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Yes, I’ve always wanted to collect saffron from autumn crocuses, but I think I’d have to plant them myself to be sure of it…
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Agreed – mine come from a friend of a friend of a friend – so I’m pretty sure but I still don’t trust it!
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A lovely set of spring images. Never mind, we now know the comparative size of your feet 🙂
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That gave me a chuckle, Derrick. Comparison works both ways!
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🙂
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You’ve been very again, great images, Lisa
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Thanks, Sue. I’m glad you liked them.
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Funny how the rabbits freeze, seeming to think we can’t see them. I like the idea of the water bottle cloches. I hope to remember that when I need! Wishing you a good week, Lisa. We had mild weather yesterday (hoorah!) and the birds were active, but there’s still snow on the ground and we are supposed to have some more this week.
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Oh goodness. When do you get spring? Mid to late April? I know one year I flew up to Rhode Island in the spring and saw forsythia that I’d seen in my neighborhood the month before…I hope you’re enjoying the late winter and it doesn’t last too long.
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The maple sap should be running now but March is still winter here. Early spring flowers appear in mid to late April unless we get an early spring!
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Well, it isn’t long now before it warms up. I guess you can enjoy the last few calm weeks of winter before spring starts springing. Stay well!
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You too! The birds are singing like crazy and there are signs that spring is trying to break through.
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It is so nice to see the spring and its promises through your photos. You seem to have a season full of work too ahead of you.
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Yes, I’m gearing up for a lot of gardening!
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The water bottle cloches are a great idea, and I will see if I can get any bottles that size. Good to see spring progressing in your area, Lisa.
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Hi Lavinia–I hope you can find some of them. I’m pleased with their size. My forsythia are just about to pop now. I hope you’re seeing some spring as well.
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Lisa, it has been a long time since you posted. Is everything alright?
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Hi Lavinia! Thanks so much for thinking of me. Things are fine and I have just not posted in spite of gardening and donating produce and traveling for the first time in nearly 3 years! Retirement has upended my prior routines in ways both good and not so good. I want to post again in the next few weeks and do an update. I hope things are good at Salmon Brook Farms!
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No fires near us this year and we keep waking up on the right side of the ground. 🙂
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I will be enjoying your garden with you this year as I no longer have access to one where I am and little grows anyway. We had on heck of a snow this morning and 75 degrees on Sat and Sunday. That’s spring here. There is something trying to come up in the courtyard under the trees but I have yet to figure out what. Bunnies are so cute until they eat what you were going to use for dinner. 🙂 I love giving the ground the scraps. I miss that too. I still give the trees the coffee grounds.
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Marlene, so glad you came by!!! I have not been reading the blogs as I’d like and hope I haven’t missed a post from you. The weather is crazy everywhere, I think. We had sleet this morning and it’s in the 50s. I’m so glad I haven’t planted much, as we’ve had very cold nights. I’m afraid the rabbits may be feasting on my asparagus, but who knows. It’s hard to identify plants from other climates. I’ll never forget being in California for the first time and wondering what the heck a bunch of different plants and trees were. I imagine the Southwest is about like that for someone who gardened in cooler wetter temps. Take care and if you find out what’s under the trees, let me know.
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As I’m still in the settling in process of my move, I haven’t posted in over a month. I’m not sure if I will ever get back to it. So you haven’t missed anything here. Around here, you can go a couple of miles either way and the plants are entirely different. Growing season was extremely short the last time I was in this area. I may try some container gardening if I can get to it. The other side of the building gets more sun for plants so I’ll have to be very thoughtful about what I grow. We just can’t have any expectations from the weather anymore. At least the rabbits will be well fed in your garden, Lisa. Sorry about that.
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Yes, I saw a great big rabbit today. It was in someone else’s garden, but I’m sure it will visit mine. I will be fencing select crops again, hoping not to have too much depredation. Good luck with container gardening.
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Hi Lisa, I’m visiting a missed post and wondering what you’re up to. I hope you are doing well and enjoying your retired life.
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Alys!! So good to hear from you. Retirement is heavenly. Not, however, conducive to blogging. I may try soon, though. Just had a lovely week in the Adirondacks. How are you?
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It’s nice to hear from you, Lisa. I’m glad you are enjoying your time hiking and traveling. Sometimes blogging has it’s own lifespan, but I”m sure your readers would enjoy hearing from you.
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