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The Impatient Gardener

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Is Mother Nature drunk?

April 4, 2018

I can say one thing about this crazy “spring” weather that has blanketed my garden in yet more white stuff: I’m not alone. I’m feeling a little whiny about the almost 6 inches of snow we got overnight (and the fact that they say more is on the way this weekend), but I know what we’re seeing here is not nearly as bad as what a lot of gardeners across the United States, Canada and the UK have been dealing with. 

daffodils in snow

These poor daffodils by the house have been absolutely smushed. They are the only green thing in the yard.

Snow in April is not at all unheard of here but it sure makes people cranky. I have no words of wisdom for anyone, but soon summer we’ll be here and we’ll be crabbing about how hot and dry it is. Us gardeners are a fussy lot. It’s probably best to just leave it up to Mother Nature. It’s just that sometimes I think Mother Nature might be drunk.

snow in april

This is where the winter aconites should be. I looked back at photos from last year and they were up March 27.

daffodils snow spring
by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
15 Comments

About Erin @ The Impatient Gardener

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Comments

  1. Kathy M. says: April 5, 2018 at 6:25 am

    This erratic weather can sure make a gardener feel depressed. Here in N. C. it has been mid seventies for a few days and this morning I wake up to t0 32 with more chilly weather for the weekend. Worried about the buds on my Peonies but hope they are right enough to withstand a chill . Also for the first time my lilac is covered with flower buds. Mother nature better sober up!

    Reply
    • Erin @ The Impatient Gardener says: April 6, 2018 at 2:52 pm

      That’s crazy!

      Reply
  2. Lisa at Greenbow says: April 5, 2018 at 7:00 am

    Ms Spring and Mr Winter are having quite the fling. She might as well let him go because one of these days Mrs Summer will come waltzing in and take over. I would like to enjoy Ms Spring’s company for awhile before Mrs Summer arrives.

    Reply
    • Erin @ The Impatient Gardener says: April 6, 2018 at 2:52 pm

      🙂

      Reply
  3. Susan in Chicago says: April 5, 2018 at 7:21 am

    Here in Chicago, we’re accustomed to winter hanging around but this year waiting for spring seems particularly tedious! The only daffodils we have in bloom in our yard are our early bloom tete-a-tete miniatures. They’re shivering in the snow, waiting for their buddies to brave up and bloom! Come on soring!

    Reply
    • Erin @ The Impatient Gardener says: April 6, 2018 at 2:53 pm

      It does seem particularly challenging this year, doesn’t it?

      Reply
  4. Linda from Each Little World says: April 5, 2018 at 9:31 am

    My snowdrops closest to the house bloomed and now are done and flat. I am hoping it is warm and dry enough to divide them before they completely disappear. Really disheartening to wait all year for the snowdrops and have them buried in this much snow. I think it is pretty impossible not to complain, esp. for those of us who read blogs where the spring show has started. I have a feeling spring will arrive overnight and then we will be playing catch up half the summer. My plants ordered online will be arriving before the end of April and neither the garden nor I am ready.

    Reply
    • Erin @ The Impatient Gardener says: April 6, 2018 at 2:54 pm

      Oh that’s so sad because I know you have really special snowdrops. This is when I start wondering how everything that needs to happen is going to happen.

      Reply
  5. Scott Gillespie says: April 5, 2018 at 9:36 am

    Our season here in Alberta is skewed as well. We had a mild December and it even seemed it was going be a green Christmas. And then things changed. One positive is I’ve had more time to finish the winter projects inside the house.

    Reply
    • Erin @ The Impatient Gardener says: April 6, 2018 at 2:54 pm

      There is that! I have a few of my own to manage as well.

      Reply
  6. Jan M says: April 5, 2018 at 9:38 am

    The plants I overwinter in the garage are coming up and the way they are stacked doesn’t give them much room to grow. My car may have to spent the next few weeks in the driveway while we wait for spring.

    Reply
    • Erin @ The Impatient Gardener says: April 6, 2018 at 2:54 pm

      Sigh …

      Reply
  7. Lady Locust says: April 6, 2018 at 10:49 am

    Have you seen the movie “Enchanted April?” I love it ~ one of the reasons being the escape from dreary weather to the Mediterranean.

    Reply
    • Erin @ The Impatient Gardener says: April 6, 2018 at 2:54 pm

      I haven’t but I’m going to seek it out now. Thanks for the recommendation!

      Reply

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The Impatient Gardener

Do you love gardening? Me too! I'm Erin and I garden in Southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5. The Impatient Gardener is all about real-life gardening: the good parts, the bad bits and even the funny stuff. It's part information, part inspiration and a little bit commiseration. Thanks for visiting.

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E R I N 🌿 The Impatient Gardener
I had a rather unpleasant realization last night w I had a rather unpleasant realization last night when I remembered that I’d not yet ordered tomato seeds. And I’m not going to rectify that until I dig into my seed stash, because I don’t go through tomato seeds quickly so there are definitely some lurking down there. 

I never used to grow tomatoes from seed because there are great varieties to be had in garden centers (including many heirloom varieties). But it’s almost non-negotiable for me now that I’m a convert to dwarf tomatoes. If you’re not familiar with the #dwarftomatoproject championed by @nctomatoman and others, these are heirloom varieties that are crossed with dwarf varieties to create plant that produces all the flavor and interest of an heirloom in a short (usually less than 4 feet) plant. 

They are particularly great in my tall raised beds. Of course I leave room to try new non-dwarf varieties every year (I loved Sun Dipper from @panamseed last year and I’ll grow it again).

Last year was a good tomato year and the photo shows some of the varieties I harvested in one day. I hope this summer will be equally good for the tomato harvest. 

One of my favorite questions to ask gardeners is: What is your favorite tomato variety to grow? So have at it in the comments because inquiring minds want to know!
And this is why I leave my winter containers assem And this is why I leave my winter containers assembled until at least March. A dusting of snow gives them a whole new look (even if it’s shades of gray). Also, I think I love my Limelight hydrangea even more in winter. Fabulous winter interest!
I’m going to look for opportunities to add more I’m going to look for opportunities to add more ferns to my garden this year. They are such interesting plants and often real problem solvers, bringing texture and color to places that many plants aren’t interested in. Athyrium niponicum (Japanese painted fern) ‘Crested Surf’ grows well for me in part shade (even pushing a bit into part sun) and looks great next to Persicaria ‘Golden Arrow’.
Birds chirping, glorious fresh (i.e. not nibbled o Birds chirping, glorious fresh (i.e. not nibbled on) foliage, and texture galore. I can’t wait to have moments like this again. The star, by the way is Hakonechloa ‘All Gold’ which looks so good with the bold foliage of Ligularia dentata ‘Desdemona’ next to it. 

With the new path, this area will be getting a small revamp. It’s the next spot I’ll be focusing my planning on.
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