Sad Spring

 We woke up to snow this morning. It was not unexpected. The forecast has been calling for it all week, but to see it actually happen is just sad.

I think there will probably be little if any fruit this year. Maybe the apples will survive the frigid cold predicted for tonight (21F), but I doubt the peaches that have already bloomed and set fruit will make it. The cherry is blooming now, and the plum, and the grapes are budding. All of them will probably be lost.

There is small comfort in the fact that a huge area of the Southeast is in this plight with us. The situation won't improve much in the coming week as the temperatures will continue to hover around freezing many nights. I believe what garden we have out will be all right. Peas, beets, carrots, onions, lettuce, radishes, potatoes, broccoli, and cabbage are all in the ground and doing well up to this point. All are cold weather crops and should be able to withstand the freezing temperatures. I hope.

The flowers, well, I think I'll be going out to pick whatever tulips are in bloom or bud. The lilac and other flowering shrubs are done for. I am not sure about the other plants that have been just coming up like champs everywhere, but I cannot cover them all. There is just too much, and it will get too cold tonight, and stay too cold for too long.

On a brighter note, Larry's new hive of honeybees is doing well. We've been covering them at night and putting a small electric heater down there on these very cold nights. It's been enough so far to keep them going. I expect out electric bill will reflect this craziness but it will be worth the cost and effort if we can pull them through.

Every so often we have a spring like this, but that doesn't make me accept it any better! You know, as you get get older you realize that you have only limited opportunities to see certain flowers in bloom, to enjoy homegrown berries and fruits. I'm selfish enough to want to see them and enjoy them all every single year that I have left. That thought led to a recent poem I posted on Mountain Poet, This Moment.

For now, I suppose we'd better get back into winter mode, get out the boots and gloves and heavy coats, and wait for Spring's second coming.


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