Spring will be Here...Whenever

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The winter of 2013-2014 has been harsh and relentless for millions of people throughout the United States and Canada. Just about everyone is at wit's end for springs arrival. In this region, in addition to being one of the snowiest places in North America, the temperatures have been consistently below zero and at times as low as minus 24 degrees.

March began with much the same, bitter cold and snow, although areas south and east of this region are having a much worse storm today, March 2.
 “In like a lion, out like a lamb”?

Being an optimist, I'm sure spring will get here sooner or later. Back in February, I  decided to plant four tomato seeds, all of which sprouted and are growing nicely in a south facing window.

They are the seeds from a volunteer plant which appeared in last years garden. It was dug up and placed in a pot. It started bearing cherry, roma shaped tomatoes very early and produced heavily until it had a fatal encounter with the late tomato blight.

The tomatoes were really tasty so some seeds were saved. Hopefully, the seeds remain true to the mother plant. These were just tasty tomatoes, great for snacking or in a salad.

Throughout the winter, thoughts have been on getting a couple bee hives; which led to thoughts about a bee food plot next to the backyard vegetable garden. If the bees can be afforded this spring, they'll be happy, if not the wild honey bees, hummingbirds and butterflies will enjoy a feast.

The seeds for the bee plot, Lemon Mint, Bee Balm, White Sage and Borage, all arrived in the mail last week. These bee plants will all reseed themselves so once the plot is done it should bloom for a long time to come.

For many years, Borage (pictured above) has always been planted in the vegetable garden. It attracts literally thousands of feral honeybee and native bees. Borage easily reseeds itself. Discover more about theis useful herb at Borage. It is also known as the bee plant and like the other herbs mentioned has some culinary uses..

Interested in the bees? Here's a few tips on how to help them, 10 Bee Actions

It's been a tough winter on wildlife and the opossums must be hungry. They have been out quite a bit during the daylight searching for food. They are normally nocturnal. They are ancient animals with a bad reputation for just being flat out ugly.

They are the only North American Marsupial (they carry their young in a second pouch) and are actually quite harmless unless aggressively provoked.

The opossum pictured above was released alive and well into a nearby woods.

A sure sign of spring is maple syrup. In this region, sponsored by the Northwestern PA Maple Association will be the 11 annual Open House Taste and Tour will be held March 15 and 16. It's really a fun time visiting the various Sugar Houses and watching the demonstrations and learning about the craft of making syrup.If one is lucky enough, the Sugar House will make some JackWax.

For more information on the Taste and Tour weekend, NW PA Maple.

On the subject/thought of spring weather and gardens...Pictured are some old ACME corn planting tools found in an old house in the Pleasantville, PA area. In the photo, the darker colored planter is a homemade one, while the other is from the Acme Company located in Traverse, Michigan. More on these tools shortly.

For more Northwestern Pennsylvania happenings: GOCRAWFORD