February Blahs

Hi,
the month is almost at it's end. Can you believe it? I can't. February is a tough month to get through and having an extra day this year makes it seem that much longer. I always thought the day extra should be tacked on to March... maybe make it March 1(a) and then March 1(b) moving forward. Extra March days seem a lot less painful. Better yet, tack a day on to May. I'd love an extra day in May. I'd love an extra week in May. How about a whole extra month of May. Wouldn't that be lovely?

I can't complain about this winter in Pennsylvania. There hasn't been one. We got a dusting of snow October 31st, 2011. One major dump of snow in January that disappeared in 48 hours and since then, nada! Cold? Not really, Most people have been walking about in light jackets all winter. Wet? Yes, it's rained and been dreary, but the average rainfall is far below what is 'normal' for this time of year. The only bummer are the short days and long hours of darkness but that's already moved around enough so that it's just dusk at 6:00pm and the sun is almost up at 6:00am. I can live on this. Can we declare winter finally over? I think that would be a bit premature. There is always that last storm that can blow up in March here.

The flowers are totally confused. The snowdrops have already bloomed. The crocuses are up all over the place and my tulips and daffodils are 4" out of the ground.... it's only February guys, it's still too early to start growing. I fear for their lives if it gets snowy. It will all be over before it begins if the weather crashes on them. Of course the weeds are in full bloom too. I can't believe I have to do weeding in February. There should be a law about this. If I am having to start with weed control this early I will never make it through the gardening season. February to November is just too many months of playing in the dirt for me. I need to winter to recuperate from bending over flower beds for hours on end... and then there is the pond.

 The fish are as confused as the plants. Normally they get this hibernation season to just catch up on their sleep, or what ever it is that they do at the bottom of the pond when it's 1°F out side. Not this year. They have had to keep swimming the whole time. The water never really got cold. Even Freckles & Babette (pond frogs for those of you not following along regularly)are up and atom in February. No rest for the weary or the ugly around here.

I'm ready for summer and that will probably happen next week at this point.

xox
m