Official Spring is upon us March 19 2024. Snow predicted next weekend but this is how it goes in zone three. The temperature yesterday reached 15C again and it was a magnificent bluebird day.

The squirrels are getting frisky hopping along the back fence and keeping Dotty, the dog busy all day. The crows were fighting for their territory in the neighbour’s Spruce trees backed up by all their friends and relations. Including the Chickadees, Flickers and Bluejays. It was a cacophony of sound from dawn to dusk.

I started the day by pricking out Orlaya seedlings and putting them into slightly larger decomposable card pots. This will make the eventual placement into the garden so much easier. The greenhouse is unheated and although it climbs to high temperatures in the afternoon without a fan on, it still cools down at night to approximately 5C at the moment. I keep a close eye on the max. min. thermometer. If the snow takes the temperatures too low this coming weekend I may have to bring some of the more tender seedlings inside for a night or two.

Lightly fluffing the leaf mulch from winter revealed tulips, hellebores, daffodils and hyacinths making their way upwards. I removed some of the leaves to allow the beds to start airing out and letting light in. Any bugs will still have a fighting chance in the compost.

The Ivy needed trimming back so this was the result of that! A bit wonky but an Easter trim will finish it.

My husband took on the job of removing squirrel’s winter cache from what could become his/her nesting box. It is always fun to see what he has stuffed in his box. He never uses it all and will probably protest loudly that the box is now empty but it is only one of many storage locations he has dotted around the neighbourhood. He filled the bird nesting boxes too so that is a job for today. I keep saying, ’he’ but there is a friend now, so not sure of Mr. or Ms. But if we have babies again, that will be fun. It will not be quiet with Crows and Squirrels.

The speed with which the crocus appear and bloom always surprises me. The mini meadow now has quite a showing and I broadcast some wild flower seed in the grass again, followed by some raking in, to see what happens. I have not had much success in the past getting some different wild flowers established in this little area of the garden but we shall see.

We also assembled a new plant cage for my cut flowers. I think I love it – proof will be when I have things growing in it without my terriers digging to Australia in the middle.

So on to today’s tasks and they seem never ending at this time of year but each day is joyous when the weather is like this! Get the spinach in!