Spring, Sprang... Snow?

So this is what I woke up to this morning. May 9th. I guess it could be worse. Growers all over were struggling with freezing temperatures and damaged crops, but we just hovered around 34 F. But still! We've been alternating between amazing spring weather and a winter reprise for the last two months. Honestly, the plants don't know what to do! I have things that I was going to move forward on a month ago that I didn't get around to.

​Turns out my procrastination was kind of my salvation. I love it when that happens.

Take these pepper and tomato starts. I was initially going to start them in mid March. I didn't get around to it until mid-April. At the rate this spring is going, they'll be just right when it's time to put them out. 

The fruit trees have been trying to bloom for weeks now. Sadly, I don't think I'm going to set any apricots this year - they were way too early - but the peaches have been trying their darndest to hang in there, so I'm holding out hope! I've still got good blossoms on the peaches, the cherry trees, and one of the pears, and the apples are just starting to put out their buds this week. 

 I'll tell you what's really looking amazing. The red raspberries. When I moved in, they filled half the flower beds around the house, but they were so packed in together, they weren't producing very well. Over the last two years, I've been moving them into two rows in my perennial garden, and they are looking great. The first row, now in their second spring in their new location, are already developing flower buds! I can't wait to see how many berries I get this summer! 

And look at my strawberries! The ones I planted last year are leafed out and already blooming. The new batch I planted less than two weeks ago are also leafing out already and looking great. I planted day-neutral strawberries, so I'm hoping to get berries all summer long. Hopefully, I'll get enough berries to make many, many jars of spread to stock my shop with as it's been flying off the shelves lately!

It's been a busy month for me in the kitchen preparing Mother's Day boxes and other goodies for the shop. I've never had such a batch of orders to ship out before! It was a thrill for the Mother's Day gift boxes to sell out, but it sure kept me busy. I'm looking toward offering Teacher Appreciation boxes and Father's Day boxes, but in the meantime, I'm ready to go play in the dirt a bit. 

I always tell people that I love living somewhere that has four distinct seasons. I love how just about the time you get tired of the one type of weather, you start moving into something new. When people ask me what my favorite season is, I usually cop out and say I like them all equally, but I realize now that really isn't true. I love all the seasons, but there is something extra special about spring. I absolutely love watching the plants day by day as they wake up and prepare to bless us with beauty and bounty. Happy Spring!!