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Not whining, I promise!
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Posted by
deanna_in_nh 5a/4b (
My Page) on
Mon, Feb 7, 11 at 16:15
| Last year was my first to WS and I LOVED it! Being a new gardener, WS was like a fantasy land. Who could have thought I could grow from seed and the things would live?!
This year is not going too well. We were blessed with a 6-week trip to see my Mom last fall, and got back on Dec. 1, just in time for the holiday rush. I tried very hard to make it non-rushy, and it worked! But, non-rushy meant no time to WS. Also, three of the four kids are doing their first year of downhill ski race team. They really like it, and it's so worth it because even if they only do it this year, one year of ski team is worth about 20 years of lessons when it comes to ski control and safety. But, as far as WS goes that means every single weekend and every day during Christmas break we were at the slopes. Poor pitiful me--I have to ski every weekend ;-) ! I don't have any time to spare for anything, and my seeds are just sitting there wondering when I'll get started. Today I have total laryngitis, so we are forced to have a bit of school break (we homeschool). Finally got some cartons done. But...guess what's outside? We have three feet of snow on the ground! Where do I put jugs? The back porch is totally covered and gets way too much wind. The front is protected from the wind (ideal), but where to put them so they don't tip over as snow shifts and melts? It's a challenge, and I'm not whining, really. Perhaps this is my year I'll learn more about spring sowing!! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Not whining, I promise!
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| deanna - I've got you beat snow-wise--we've got 6 ft. on the ground with more on the way and I'm WS full steam ahead. The jugs that I did back in Dec-Jan are buried under all this snow so I started a snow-tel. There are jugs encased in snow above the bottom row and now there are jugs sitting in snow above the second row. The step off the back of my breezeway that's usually a step down has snow about a foot higher than the step. Since the snow is frozen, I take a hand tool and break through the ice until I hit soft snow, then the jugs get plunked down in it. It will be interesting to see what happens when all the snow begins to melt. I'm sure I'll have a few casualties but last year even the jugs that got flipped over by the wind sprouted. I just went out and took a few pictures--if I get them downloaded I'll try and post a few later. |
RE: Not whining, I promise!
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| Yes, you win! If you can do it, I can, too. We have people from your area on our ski team, and one family only had school one day last week because there was concern that the elementary school roof would cave in! I'm hoping to avoid a snow-tel, but I may have to take that route. It didn't occur to me till today that one thing that made WS easier last year was that we got very little snow but had plenty of cold temps. I didn't have to worry about early germination, but there was no snow to work around as I finished jugs. This will have to be my year to figure out how to work with the snow. All told, I'm glad to have the snow...but you have for sure gotten more than enough! |
RE: No whining!
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| No whining allowed here either. I just posted a Snowmaggedon thread with photos of what's outside my windows and doors. WS in these conditions is a challenge and I'm certain a few birds have dropped seeds in my jugs now I've set up feeders on my breezeway. In extreme conditions, extreme measures are called for. The birds & critters have to eat; I have to winter sow. It's to be hoped everyone plays nice in the snow piles. The gray squirrels have started coming to my bay window and scratching on the glass--snow is right up to the window edge so they can see right in. The cats go into attack mode but the squirrels don't spend a lot of time peering inside. I actually saw bluebirds on my suet feeders a few days ago which is rare. They don't normally go to the plastic-coated wire mesh feeders and prefer grated suet on a flat surface. There were three of them--two females and a male. They're so pretty! Neighbor next door is a teacher and she's watching her April vacation disappear with each falling snowflake. I'd be delighted if the last flake fell tomorrow but a) it's New England and b) it's February so that wish isn't likely to come true. |
RE: Not whining, I promise!
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| We can finally see part of the ground! Though I stepped on a jug last week. But Winter is not over yet! Doing what's right for the Children is the Best! |
RE: Not whining, I promise!
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| I hope to get a few more jugs sown this week. Picked up potting soil this afternoon. However, I'd wondered where to put the jugs. My others are covered in snow. Gardenweed, breaking the icy surface to sink the new jugs into soft snow is a great idea. Thank you. Let's hope that groundhog is right about not seeing his shadow. |
RE: Not whining, I promise!
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| Deanna, I'm in NH too and crazy me has sown some containers this past Sunday, and had to walk through ice crusted snow as well as push off (I don't know how I did it) snow from the patio table to put them on. Found one container sideways in my path, I just grabbed it and placed it upright on the table. I hope you can find the time to do some sowing.... lol, my husband took the kids out and I had a blast all alone winter sowing |
RE: Not whining, I promise!
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| We always get a large drift of snow up against the east side of the building where I(will eventually)put my containers. I shovel a level shelf into the drift to place them on and just keep an eye on it as the snow melts and shifts. We'll be getting snow well into next month so the containers will still get a few layers for insulation and moisture. |
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