A Most Welcome Visitor

This guy has been hanging out in my garden. I've been trying for wweeks to get a shot of him but he is very fast. Today though I was able to get very close. 5r is still a little hard to see since he is half in shadow and I was using my cell phone to take the shot.

I'm very happy to see him. Not only will he be eating garden pests right and left but he is a good indicator of the health of the environment. Not as good as a frog would be but there is no available water source for a frog so I'll take what I can get.
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Spring is such a busy time

As you can see I've started some seeds. I figured I would try to use up some of the seeds from last year and had a little success. Most don't seem to be doing much. The one in the corner I'll be transplanting today into one of the yogurt containers I saved from last year. It's running out of growing room in the little seedling green house.
I started some romaine lettuce too but it's looking a little scraggly since I forgot to water it. Hopefully it will bounce back.

Need To Know Information

I've been wanting to get an early start and plant some seeds so that after the last frost I can put them in the ground. The problem is knowing when I can expect to be frost free.

SO... I googled it!

What I found was a nifty little site called Dave's Garden. Which has all kinds of gardening information including a look up by Zip Code of the First and last freeze/frost date. Here was my results:

Each winter, on average, your risk of frost is from November 14 through April 1.

Almost certainly, however, you will receive frost from December 2 through March 20.

You are almost guaranteed that you will not get frost from April 13 through October 29.

Your frost-free growing season is around 227 days.

So I think I'm safe to get started and by the time the date for the last possible frost comes and goes I'll be all set with a healthy batch of seedlings.

Second Catalog

This one is from Gardens Alive. It has all sorts of natural garden supplies to help organic gardeners. I have really been enjoying looking through it.

I found the Mason Bee nest and the information about them fascinating. They are suppose to be 95% more efficient at pollinating and don't sting. Sounds like a definite plus for a gardener.

They are so sure you will like them that then sent this coupon with it.

It's $25 dollars off no matter how much you spend. So if I spend $20 then I get it free. Definitely a plus for someone who is trying to save some cash.

Order Your Seed Catalogs

Woo Hoo I got my first seed catalog of the year. It's Burpee's Catalog and I've been enjoying looking through it. They have some really interesting looking choices. You should see those blue potatoes. They also have a collection set for Patios and Small Gardens. It has several of the plants I grew last year including cherry tomatoes, peppers eggplants and a lettuce blend. I'm definitely adding it to the possible order list. I can't wait for the rest of my catalogs to come in.

I'm posting several direct links to the different seed companies that I'm ordering my catalogs from that way you can use them to order yours too.

Burpee Seeds and Plants

Seeds of Change Organic Seeds

Park Seeds

Gurneys Seeds

Harris Seeds

Despite The Snow

I've started planning for my next container garden. I think I will start early and plant seeds once a weed so that I have several plants that arrive at maturity at different times during the spring and summer. I'm going to be ordering some seed catalogs tomorrow. I'll try and remember to post some links so if you need your catalogs you can order too. I'll be looking for compact plants that will do well in a container. I still want to grow tomatos, eggplants and peppers. I didn't have much luck with the broccoli so I think I'll skip them this year since I'm very limited on space. I'm also looking at growing some winter squash so we have some nice fresh veggies in the winter.

For a Little While

For a couple of weeks the weather had been very warm here I even considered setting up a makeshift greenhouse to start some seedlings. Silly me!

Tonight it is going to snow. Don't get me wrong I love snow... absolutely love it... but It was so warm I just couldn't resist thinking about some lovely fresh tomatoes and zucchini.... yummm fresh veggies. It's time for me to order my seed catalogs I think I'm going to try and find some more compact plants. I won't be able to go for heirloom plants I have to go for something newer so my little tiny backyard.