it's still winter

Earlier this week I heard a mourning dove for the first time. Robins and catbirds crossed my yard one warm afternoon. Saw a pair of bright cardinals in a park. Felt like spring- I cleaned up some of the garden beds, pulling weeds (not many) and removing the top layer of leaf litter, dumped all that into the two new beds to smother grass. I figured the squirrels would come to dig in the newly uncovered, soft soil so I scattered mix of garlic powder, cayenne and hot pepper flakes. Surprised that none approached at all, over the past few days. It's actually kind of eerie, to glance out and see the beds still completely smooth, untouched. Either the squirrels are repelled by the scent of my rue plant- I did catch whiffs of it when I was out there- faintly unpleasant odor like a sour weed- maybe it makes the squirrels feel nauseated. Or perhaps they are wiser than I to the weather and holed up in their nests- we are supposed to get five inches of snow and ice, coming down steady all day long.

Last night I was out tucking in some plants that have shown new growth- large pot upended over the lemon balm and mints, plastic bottle cloches over the green onions, parsley and two surviving leeks from last year that were all showing fresh green in the herb bed. It's the one bed in the garden I didn't clear of leaf mulch, and I'm glad I held back on that now. My gladiolas, hostas, salvias, daylilies, sedums etc are all still tucked under beds of leaves, too. I'd like them to look clean and tidied up but I didn't yet, because I figured we'd have more spates of bad weather still.

I draped the old sheet over my camellia again, too. And brought all the seedlings in from the coldframe house. They'll have to make do with windowsills and lamps for a day or two.