Misti.... ahhhhhhh. That is an idea though, book on piggy swap for kids. Could be a way to teach them to grow and have fun using piggies as illustrations. Hey we still got a few slots open if she wants to join.
Many years ago a friend of mine has this poem one of her Michigan friends had sent her. I wish I stil had a copy. Wel,, more written more like a letter to a friend format. Was a letter about how this family moved from South to North to get away from heat. They had moved in spring after snow was gone and had spen a lovely spring, summer and fall enjoying the cool weather and seeing leaves fall off trees and such.
They was so excited by seeing snow. Than the letter slowly but surely went down hill as they discoveed just what a winter in Mi is like and what slush and freezing winds and rains . By the time she had finsihed, she was a wishing they had never left south.
Just goes to show, grass may seem greener on the other side, but at somepoint it needs mowed and maintained too.
Joseph... You think you got it bad with losing seed. I had taken paper bag and put some agastache stems in it, too see if when it dried I could winnow and get any seed out. I been hunting weeks for what I did with that bag. I finally found it. Went to market, opened paper bag to put person's bread in and surprise there was the seeds in it. Must have grabbed it up when I was grabbing bags for market and since it was flat didn't notice it had anything in it.
I'm from Buffalo NY but now live in SC, the best part is being able to garden so many months. Yesterday I left work early to come home and finish my lasagna beds, used chicken manure that I scored Sunday from friends, and I finished all three veggie beds! This is earliest I've ever finished, I'm usually scrambling in January. Plenty of rain and even snow forecast for weekend so I can be snug and warm listening to rain (or snow?) and just thinking how every drop is bringing garden closer to being ready in sprung, (which around here starts in February.) I'm a happy gardener!
Winter is here. There's enough snow to stick this morning, and temps aren't forecast to rise above freezing for the foreseeable future. I am very glad that we aren't measuring the snow with a yardstick yet though!
Joseph, I think I'm seeing a bit of the adaptability trait here. I've been saving and growing out my Nicotiana sylvestris seeds for a few years now and each year's offspring seems to be more frost-tolerant/cold-tolerant than the last. I haven't been out yet this morning to see how they're handling low 20's, but at least the interest in looking will make me a bit happier about going out.
I was transplanted from southern New England near the coast (cold, damp winters that freeze your bones no matter how many layers of clothes you wear) and now live in the southeast in Savannah, Georgia. When I moved I vowed I would never complain about the heat as it was my choice to move here...the first year I was here we had snow! The locals accused me of bringing it with me from the north.
Still trying to get the hang of winter gardening. So far only been successful with broccoli and a few greens. Each year brings a new learning experience.
Aw, Judy -- spring starts in February here too, in my closet with the grow lights where I start seeds !!
Sharon, sshhhhh ! We don't want everyone to know how nice it really is here
I guess it's a very good thing that not everyone wants to live in exactly the same kind of place -- for example, all the people that love the southwest, but I think that it would be very hard for me to learn to love a place without the green forests and big lakes! Some people wouldn't want to live anywhere not near the ocean. What a big and varied country we live in
Brrrrr....!! My feet are frozen...and so is the can of bug spray I found left outdoors! Better take some time today to do another search for things that need to come in. I know there's extra cans and bottles of beverages out on the porch...at least. Oh, and seed bags.
Name: Cinda Indiana Zone 5a Truth is worth finding
Only 25 here and some snow ...today the goats go to the barn for winter , when there is permanent ice on their water they get to go inside.
...also have to make the hard decision what plants come from the greenhouse for winter rescue. Been waiting on 3 more blue milkweed pods to open and there is a beautiful geranium out there along with a dozen or so houseplants.
Is it too early to start bitching about the winter? I know it's not winter yet, but it feels like it. Took a short walk up to Dollarama for more ziplocs and it's windy and snowing. I dragged the winter boots out of the closet, always a huge buzz kill. We have at least 5 months of this ahead of us. Ugh, what a depressing thought.
Name: Joseph Cache Valley Great Basin Landrace: locally-adapted diversity
Sorellina wrote:Is it too early to start bitching about the winter?
It's currently 18F in my garden. I didn't get as much garlic planted as I would have liked, and now the ground is frozen... Boo Hoo. Perhaps we'll have a mid-winter thaw. The leaves fell yesterday, so I worked in the dark gathering them together, and shredding them, and dumping them into the greenhouse. I had to get it done yesterday, because it is currently snowing.
Name: aka GardenQuilts Facebook, NGA and the beloved Winston the pug
It is noticeably colder, but brisk and pleasant today. It is overcast, but not snowing. I wouldn't want to live anywhere with warmer summers. My viking blood overheats with hazy, hot, humid weather. Besides, I prefer the mountains to the beach.
Sharon, I have relatives in Upper Michigan. My family drove the length of Michigan one summer. We stopped at scenic rest areas with split log benches. One even had a waterfall. We picked wild blueberries in July with our relatives. They were a different variety than the local wild berries - bigger fruits. It is a beautiful part of the country.
Locally, we have a similar phenomenon with weather differences. When I moved, I moved a bit southwest. It is a zone colder "up the mountain" to the northeast. They get much more snow near the top and the other side of the mountain due to temperature, prevailing winds and weather patterns. There are resorts, casinos and outlet malls "up the mountain". My neighbor is quieter and more serene.
I think I live in the least snowy and one of the warmest areas of Michigan. LOL So those of you who live in colder and snowy areas complain as much as you want.
I would like to ask if anyone has any Star Magnolia seeds. I've been looking for these for a while.
Thanks.
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Must have grabbed it up when I was grabbing bags for market and since it was flat didn't notice it had anything in it. 
I am very glad that we aren't measuring the snow with a yardstick yet though!
