Snow Capped Tulip
Snow! I have lived in the North long enough that it doesn’t surprise me when it makes a spring appearance. There is that fresh new snow smell and the little puffs look quite exquisite balanced on my red tulips. At least that is how I felt yesterday, but it is still snowing a day later. Our world went from spring green to winter white. I just can’t bring myself to make a snowman, a couple of snowballs was where that game ended for me. As for the garden, I am not too worried. Peas and spinach are up, but will be fine. My nearly planted delphiniums with their fleshy green stalks and leaves are looking droopy. But my most worrisome thought is of the fruit trees. Our apricots were covered with blossoms for the first time this year and the bees have been humming. If temperatures drop the next couple of nights we may have yet another apricot-less year. And then there are the cherries, pears and apples.
There have been greater garden challenges of late, though. A little mouse ate all of our pepper and eggplant seedlings. He is known around here as the Mexican mouse, due to his love of hot pepper plants. And the tomato seedlings have ceased growth and are now turning yellow with only their seed leaves emerged. I am questioning the soil mixture, although all other plants are growing fine. I have reseeded everything in the same soil as a test. I am having serious doubt of early tomatoes and peppers right now and am wondering if summer’s bounty will in fact materialize. Although, the abstract brilliant green under the pine tree gives me hope.
Tags: fruit blossoms, Peppers, snow, Spring, tomatoes
