country letter February 26

From: Caroline
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 11:06 AM
Subject: country letter

Well, those dreaded shortest days weren't so bad after all. Just before the solstice I walked with Mars on my left, Venus on my right and the moon dead ahead. Since then we have had those extraordinary warm days and I have been able to use the water from my rain barrel for the greenhouse and house plants almost all the time.The greenhouse plants are now enjoying the stronger sun and are putting on a show. My favorite is the large lavender flowered Thunbergia Grandiflora. Logees greenhouse told me to give it direct sun and so I have and it has been blooming all winter. Next favorite is the Tibuchina with its veined, velvety leaves and occasional startlingly purple flowers .

The word must have gone out among the squirrels "stay away from Caroline's place" as there has been only one so far. That one tried to get at a feeder which is hanging high and protected by a half dome. I had the great pleasure of watching him climb down the suspending line and slip off the dome into a snow bank.

A great many of the usual birds - nothing out of the ordinary - but the male goldfinches are gradually showing tints of yellow around the necks of their brown winter coats.

My seeds are all ordered and I have cleared off a section of one of the greenhouse benches on which to put the hearting pad -it maintains a bottom heat of 70* which a lot of our annuals like as many of them come from warmer climates. As soon as I get back from Belize and Mexico I'll get started - it is always a marvel to see those tiny sprouts come from those little hard bits.

But we are not without color outdoors. The pussy willows burst their little tight caps some time ago and there is a blush of yellow by the big urn from the Chinese witch hazel, and around the corner there are two viburnums ready and willing to produce their pink, sweetly scented flowers.

So, happy spring time to you all!! Caroline/Mom/Ooma