Wednesday, February 26, 2014

It's Alive

There was no snow. All we got was the cold. Real cold, as in a high of about 34 and a suggested low of 15.






















A little snow cover would have been nice for such a low. More crocus buds are appearing. I'd hate for them to get froze. But they are a very cold hardy lot and tomorrow's high will be well above freezing. I'm sure they will be fine.

The daffodils? Where are the daffodils? I saw a few more poking up today. Not many more. They are being slow as molasses this year. They will be fine with this no snow cover low. They are still mostly deep in the ground.





















My planned snow day chore was to bring the resident gardener's house back to life. There was no snow, but it was too cold for work. The next two days look workable and I needed to make sure the house was fully functioning with out disaster or need of a repairman before Saturday's arrival. Last year I couldn't get the hot water to work when I turned the house back on.

All went well. We have hot water. It is amazing how much dirt and grit there is in the well water. I have to spend a good amount of time just flushing all that dirt through the system. All that dirt can cause troubles and it puts extra wear on the plumbing. The washing machine hookup in particular looks like it is in great need of a stitch in time repair. It's now on the list.

The house is as clean as it ever gets and all it's parts seem to be working - for now. It's alive and ready for Bulbarella's arrival. It just need to make it through two nights of lows in the teens. It's handled that before and I turned the heat up to 60.





















Beneath the leaf litter, a bounty of life awaits the spring. The client's have started calling. I think they are anxious for spring too.


6 comments:

Lola said...

Great to have the resident gardener's place ready. Hope all goes well. It sure looks good.

Christopher C. NC said...

She won't miss a single bulb this year Lola.

Danna said...

I have some tulip bulbs (from a friend's gift plant here in Fla.)
They are rinsed, dried, and aired out. Have them in a dry paper bag. When should I plant them in Waynesville (at 3,100')with western exposure but lots of tulip poplar shade trees. Have not had tulips since my childhood in northern KY. Please advise as to planting time and best location. Thx!

Christopher C. NC said...

Danna keeps the tulip bulbs in cool dry storage. You can plant them as soon as you get to NC. They need the chill of winter to set flower buds. Hopefully you let the foliage age to brown for maximum food production stored in the bulb before putting then in storage.

Several buts. Tulips are like caviar to squirrels, voles, chipmunks, mice etc. If they find them they will eat them. Either plant them in wire cages or surrounded them with daffodil bulbs which are poisonous to deter the varmints. Still no guarantees they won't get eaten. Also tulips are not reliable perennials. They have had the vigor bred out of them for bloom. Sometimes you get lucky.

You have tulip bulbs. It won't hurt to plant them. Just prepare to be disappointed. Tulips for the most part should be treated as annuals.

Lola said...

I was told by a friend that lives in N.C. to place the bulbs in a can [both ends cut out] and the varmints wont eat them. I tried this & it worked for me.

Christopher C. NC said...

Lola that sounds like a great varmint barrier.