Who is Playing Tricks on Us?

Its January 8th and it's 69 degrees outside today. I went to work wearing my regular work garb and a fleece jacket. I only wore the jacket so I would not look totally insane,running around with no coat on. The weather for the past few days have been a bitter sweet tease of my long desire for it to be spring again. Okay, I know that there is a purpose for winter, hybernation, dormancy and all that good stuff,....but really, I am okay with skipping the cold stuff. I would be happy with, say, 48 to 55 degree days from now till spring.

During the past few days, I got a chance to empty some more of the mulch I had covered in my utility trailer and spread it around the garden beds. Yes, my neighbors think I am nuts. But, I do not care. It felt wonderful walking around and seeing how things were doing. Amazingly, the dandelion flowers are sprouting already and believe it or not, I found a Wada's Promise Clematis flower blooming on my trellis. I wish I had taken a photo. Maybe it was a little reminder and a promise that spring is not far away.

P.S. Don't forget to check your plants that may have heaved in these thawing warm ups such as this one. You will want to go and gently tamp them back down so that the roots do not become exposed to the cold, harsh weather.