Winter's Final Icy Blast

 

At least we hope it is the final one. It's a little cruel. Last week, while it started cold, warmed up toward the end, and by yesterday (Saturday) it was comfortable to go for a nice 15 mile run. I even contracted a little bit of sunburn on my neck.

But little else could be done on the garden, because the forecast grew more ominous as the week progressed. Thus, I was condemned to only buying gardening supplies, and not putting them to use. Instead, I engaged in the necessary, but totally unpleasant, task of trying to fill asphalt driveway cracks with some horrible latex fluid. It's unpleasant, because it is really too late. After some reaearch, I discovered that we have what is known in the parlance of those who know asphalt as "alligator" cracks. This is something that can only be resolved by digging up the asphalt, fixing the underlayment, and re-paving.

For those who don't have, oh, say $4K laying around for this type of project, there are ways to hedge it. Thus, filling cracks with horrible latex fluid and hoping that it will hold out until such time as we are rolling around in piles of dollar bills.

We did have a visit from the good folks at All Energy Solar on Wednesday to do a mechanical survey of the site. The guy taking measurements, looking at our electric box, inspecting our roof, and assessing our internet router said that he saw no red flags. We're on our way.

Also on the purchase list over the past weekend was another greenhouse and 140 3" pots. It seems that my impatience to plant has resulted in the first greenhouse bursting at the seams. The seedlings are now begging to be potted on. There is no room to do so. So we are expanding, as we've got at least another month in the greenhouse for the peppers and the tomatoes. The new greenhouse will be delivered on Wednesday. I don't forsee potting on until the weekend, when hopefully it will have warmed up.

Because it is going to be really, really cold the next few nights. We're plunging to 31 tonight, 25 tomorrow, 26 Tuesday, and 29 on Wednesday, before it breaks on Thursday with a high of 60 and a low of 39.

Consequently, we covered the tulips (see illustration above), and the peonies, and the blueberry bushes, and the carrots (of which we've only seen a couple of little leaves poking up), the beats (same thing), the peas (same), and we doubled down and put an extra layer over the spinach, kale, and rocket. We even put a cover over the garlic and the daylilies. It's not Plan A, but that's spring in Minnesota for you. 

Onward to glory.