What a failure.  After all that effort during Plantness some fat groundhog comes out of a hole and declares six more weeks of winter, and here we are staring at snow and a thermometer which doesn’t budge.  What a jerk.  Might as well blame my knee joints as well as that smelly rodent, since in years past I would love this weather for skiing, and just go do that instead, but recently I’ve begun to think about consequences rather than dealing with consequences, and when you start doing that the idea of throwing yourself off the edge of some snowy mountainside doesn’t hold up as well.  Plus it’s become ridiculously expensive.  I feel stupid spending that much money and still being able to see my house.

The garden covered in snow.  It’s evaporating in the sun rather than melting, but at least it’s not  a couple inches of ice which is what our more southern neighbors received.  

So rather than get outside and embrace the season, I’ve been drifting aimlessly through hours in front of the tv and far too many family size candy bags which are hidden and consumed as a family of one.  Even reading has been too much of an effort, but maybe if I just sit down and write a blog entry that can help me turn a corner.  It is bright and sunny out so that’s a win at least, if it were gray and snowing again I’m 98% sure this would be a day of endless scrolling and sofa-sitting.

When I did finally drag myself through the garden it was only to see the rabbit damage.  Here along the house the bottom three feet of the hollies have been nibbled and turned into rabbit poop.  I actually feel bad that they have had to resort to spiny holly leaves to fill their tummies in this snow covered world.

Sorry for such a grumpy post.  I’m bored and don’t even have the motivation to consider online shopping but perhaps that’s a good thing?  There’s a late-winter shopping event on the horizon and to be honest I might be saving up for it.  Have you ever heard of David Culp’s Galanthus Gala?  I’m there and selling again and although the weather means I have next to nothing ready to actually sell, the fact it’s almost Gala time means I can finally do redress for one of my worst mistakes of 2024.

Last year was my first year of trying to sell at the Gala, and amongst professional growers and experienced plantsmen, even my decades of “market research” left me feeling nervous and unprepared.  In the end it went well enough, but amidst the stress and pressure of making money and hopefully not losing it I held back on purchases, and let me tell you that was an epic mistake.  I will not repeat this.  New snowdrops, hellebores, cyclamen, and whatever else will fill my car on the return journey even if it means buying more than I can responsibly fit into my garden.  I remember a bit of panic last year as fantastically colored hellebores went back to the nursery without new owners and I thought, would it be weird if I yelled ‘no!, wait a minute’?  This year I’m yelling.  Even those plants which you might look at and wonder ‘who would pay that much?’ are fair game this year and I will worry about the bills next month.  Gosh it feels good saying that and  I should warn my daughter since she’s helping again and I want to prepare her.  Maybe we should work out a bribe which includes forgetting prices.  Hmmmmm.

Enjoy your week.  If you’re in the midst of winter I hope warmer weather is on the way and if you’re drowning in rain I wish you sunshine.  If you are having that perfect spring day good for you but keep it to yourself.