Gotta take advantage of every moment you can.
By mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
United States
March 23, 2013 2:13pm CST
We're facing yet another "winter" storm. This one is called "Virgil". Virgil seems to be confused since it is officially SPRING, not winter. Anyway, this thing is traveling across the country, wreaking havoc, and headed this way. We are supposed to get 3 to 6 inches of snow, not too bad but, geez, it's SPRING! My daffodils have just begun to blossom!
Anyway, today is a miraculous 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Very pleasant, especially in the sun. I say miraculous because, well, winter just does not want to quit. It's so nice outside, I had to get out there and at least start on getting my veggie garden area and new strawberry patch ready for this year's bounty.
My body did doth protest, most loudly, but I got a lot of the old vegetation cleared from one area. The way I figured it, this is an excellent opportunity to get a little gardening in and be that much closer to actual planting time. The next few days are going to be either snowing or snow covered so I'll use that time to recoup from my outing today. I have no doubt my back will be screaming at me for the next couple of days, my legs, too, most likely. But, that's okay because I won't be able to get out there to do any garden work, anyway.
If you have been experiencing this really weird weather, have you tried to squeeze in anything outside that should be "normal" whenever you can or are you probably smarter than me and have decided to wait until you can really get out there to play in the dirt?
I'll have plenty of time to respond once the snow is flying and my body is letting me know that it is not happy so I will just sit, for the most part, for the next few days.
4 people like this
16 responses
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
23 Mar 13
Hi Mentalward! It's still relatively cold here in GA. I took the trash and recycling out and hurried to get back inside because my bare arms were really cold. The winter before was like summer all winter and this winter has been really cold. That groundhog LIED! Spring was not coming early. It's still like winter here.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
23 Mar 13
I have been tied up with work and taking people to doctor appointments. I am at work right now, and just use a usb stick to connect. We have had one or two days that were decent enough I should have been out doing stuff. Maybe next time around. I sure wish I could get outside more.
2 people like this
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
23 Mar 13
Well done for getting out in your garden to do what you could due to it being 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It is superb that it is pleasant when out in the sunshine. You have to take every little opportunity when it arises.
It is such a shame you will be experiencing a winter storm soon. It is meant to be spring and winter is meant to have gone past. I feel sorry for your garden at that time plus the other plantings in your local area. When it snows I was stuck in and didn't like to go out much. Here it is bitterly cold and windy. Good luck.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Mar 13
Doesn't sound like much fun. It will be planting time around here in about seven weeks. What do you plant? I think I am going to try several types of ornamental lettuce and some cherry and pear tomatoes. We can't plant in the earth around here but planters and such.
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
24 Mar 13
im so sorry dear. i know how much you have looked for good weather. lets hope it clears up soon. cold bad weather doesnt seem to do our arthritis much good either.
heres hopeing it get better in your area.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
24 Mar 13
oh and to answer your question yes, on my tairly good days i try to get in as much work around here as i can. trouble is, by the time i get some done inside im to bad off to do outside.
@yume11 (183)
• Romania
23 Mar 13
From past few years, we face a changing wheather like yours, too,in my country. My parents can't wait to go outside and begin to plant veggies and other things. Last year, they where about to plat the seedlings they bought, when winter came again. We've put the seedlings in yogurt cups and we've took care of our seedlings in house. Also, mom used another few cups of yogurts to make her own seedlings for other types of veegies[ we've bought from market only tomatoes].
So, I think you can make in house your own seedlings, take care of them, and then when the Spring will be in her full time, you'll can plant them in garden. All you have to do is to take off the yogurt cup [carefully to not rip the roots]. ^^
Good luck and have a nice Spring!
2 people like this
@MoonGypsy (4606)
• United States
23 Mar 13
you couldn't tell it was spring for how cold it is here, but it's hard for us to mow our lawn, it's so cold. imagine mowing your lawn when frost is blowing out of your mouth like smoke.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
24 Mar 13
i live in new england and the weather is always pretty weird and unpredictable. it's what i love about it. it's not unusual for us to get a snowstorm at this time of year. i remember getting one in may years ago...that actually was unusual. i hear we are supposed to get hit (maybe) on monday. I love the storms.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
24 Mar 13
I find it bizarre that they are naming these storms. What next, naming the summer rain storms?!
We're due to get that stuff today, starting in a few hours. The good think about it is that it'll pile up 5-8" through Monday then the temps will rise into the 40's the rest of the week. It won't be around too long, just enough to look pretty for a couple of days!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
23 Mar 13
hi mentalward "Oh it doesn't snow in California in the winter time" only yes its spring now., Wow I know other parts of the US are still having snow. Its pretty mild here lately and pleasant outside like spring okay it really is spring now.here the suns been out lately and its been really nice in the high sixties and low seventies and when its not windy its really nice to be out gardening no snow or sleet and 
just a few rains.
just a few rains. 
@lampar (7584)
• United States
24 Mar 13
I agree it is officially Spring, but the weather is getting weird. The temperature here is no where near spring time, it is still freaking cold today and tomorrow. The evening news showing most of the north are still getting snow balls and blizzard cold wind chill. May be this time we will have Spring season with winter-like temperature for a change. 
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
24 Mar 13
I saw that storm on the weather map. I don't think it is going to get down here though. We have only had snow flurries this year. I really like to see snow at least once each year but here it only snows good every few years. Maybe I need to move just a little further north.
It has been cold, wet, and windy here. This week has been pretty sunny though so we have been trying to have yard sales all week. We did pretty good with them so far. I know what you mean about those aches and pains. I have been fairly sedentary this year so every time I try to do anything at all my body tells me about in no uncertain terms. I am going to have to get on an activity schedule if I am going to survive.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
25 Mar 13
Weather is exceptionally wet here and I sure hope yours will just be a passing storm, one which does not leave serious damages to crops and properties. Harvest has been bad last year and I could not imagine this continuing into this year.
I believe these are consequences of our doings, nuclear testings, biological weapons, wars, tree chopping, space programs, heavy energy consumption, illegal mining and car population. I feel that we should be more observant and conscious of what we are doing to preserve the environment.
@eurekafemme (5876)
• Philippines
24 Mar 13
Hello there, Mentalward.
Since I am living in a tropical country, we don't experience winter. But there are times when it is already summer and yet the rains pouring heavily, in worse scenario, storm or typhoon.
Just like now, Summer has supposed to start but it is often raining here. My plants which I have prepared for summer are already starting to die since they can't tolerate little sun.And it is also difficult to weed and trim the unwanted plants.
But, in some days where miracle (i've been calling the sun a miracle) do show, I tried to make the most out of it. I go out and weed and plant even if it is too muddy and the soil in not so pleasant to work at. But, just like I said,I'm making the m0ost out of the good day.The weather is just too unpredictable that you can't just wait and say i'll work tomorrow, it'll surely be a good day. No, we can't say that now, eh? Especially when we are facing with the global warming that has changes and affects the Earth's normal activities.
Since I am living in a tropical country, we don't experience winter. But there are times when it is already summer and yet the rains pouring heavily, in worse scenario, storm or typhoon.
Just like now, Summer has supposed to start but it is often raining here. My plants which I have prepared for summer are already starting to die since they can't tolerate little sun.And it is also difficult to weed and trim the unwanted plants.
But, in some days where miracle (i've been calling the sun a miracle) do show, I tried to make the most out of it. I go out and weed and plant even if it is too muddy and the soil in not so pleasant to work at. But, just like I said,I'm making the m0ost out of the good day.The weather is just too unpredictable that you can't just wait and say i'll work tomorrow, it'll surely be a good day. No, we can't say that now, eh? Especially when we are facing with the global warming that has changes and affects the Earth's normal activities.