~ last year’s Rudbeckia ~
“Just like springtime in Alberta
Warm sunny days and the skies of blue
Then without a warning
Another winter storm comes raging through”
—Ian Tyson
Theoretically, March 21st is the spring equinox. Even at the 51st latitude, you’d think we’d have a semblance of spring. Unfortunately, this is what my backyard looks like.

picnic anyone?
Not a promising start to my gardening for this year. But I am making a “List of things I need to garden” and this is what I have so far:
- garden gloves
- rake
- garbage bags
- spade
- peat moss
- fertilizer
- bedding plants (forget seeds, growing season is too short)
- warm coat
- snow shovel
- heat lamp
- geodesic dome
Springtime in Alberta . . . chills me to the bone.
How’s springtime at your latitude?
Oh my! I thought it was crazy when we got snow the last week of March (also my teenager’s spring break), but now we’ve settled into more spring-like weather in New Jersey. Some days are chilly, some days are warm, some days are rainy- perfectly unpredictable. I managed to clean weeds and leaves out of my beds and I just started some seeds indoors the other day. We’ll see if they sprout. Good luck with your garden! Stay warm.
thanks Sherri. I think I’ll buy some potted plants for now and line them up by the window. We can PRETEND it’s spring.
Wow! And to think I was complaining about it being cold yesterday. Yes, I found 50 degrees to feel a bit chilly after the luxurious 67 degrees from a week ago. I hope spring comes your way soon. 🙂
Hi Tami! I have a “bilingual” thermometer outside my office window which tells me 50 F = 10 C and I would quite enjoy that. We are sitting at 0 degrees Celsius right now. That’s 32 Fahrenheit. But, it’s sunny 🙂
Here, alas, we are halfway through Autumn. The leaves are turning, the rain is coming, the clouds are circling, the wind is chilling…
BUT I get to dig out all my favourite winter clothes again — woo hoo — like my boots.
We don’t have snow here in winter, though. Yay.
I think winter has overstayed it’s welcome, Suzanne. Time for a change!!
Hey Ellen — seems so strange, thinking of you on the other side of the planet. Glad to hear your winters are moderate.
Liv – yes, definitely overstayed. I have a huge pot of yellow pansies by the window now. Not many people at the gardening centre, but they do have the flowers ready for us.
Mine looks the same, Suzanne. Disgusting, isn’t it?!
Yes, Sheila, it is. And you are even more north than I am.
Usually by the May 24th weekend, we can have spring. I am so looking forward to it!