Is this what a day in zone 7 feels like? I don’t know about you but middle February makes me think of more wintry activities than this – like knitting. And baking.
But I hauled myself outside and it was beautiful, and here’s what happened:
Getting a shockingly early start on some new garden beds! We lost a large part of a maple last fall, and this pile of branches is full of potential for some border fencing, and maybe some trellis material. It feels strange to actually dig post holes, but as far as today goes, it’s possible.
And what a fabulous day! I might have some good projects in mind but come May there just isn’t the time. And whew, there’s a bunch of steps getting from this pile of logs to any plantable space, but we’ll see what happens. Fun plants are coming soon, and I want some spacious new beds to put them in.
Addressing the honeyberries is always a tangly situation. Maybe they are a touch to close? Anyway – they have such an abundant harvest in May, even before the strawberries. In fact, I think they are done before the strawberries. Relative of the Honeysuckle, honeyberry is twiggy and rambly, but so worth it. Fruiting for only two weeks, they are fun to eat while out working, and on yogurt, and mixed with rhubarb in a kind of sauce. They taste like tart blueberries, and are delicious. A more attentive harvester could get a lot more out of this patch, but the birds like it too.
While this is not a great photo, can you see the buds cracking? Small bits of green peeping through the bud case. I’m not sure what this means for the honeyberry harvest, but I’ll watch. We’re in a cold valley so hopefully the others will stay protected and closed.
Another find in the honeyberries – chickweed. In February. Is it new growth? overwintered? Not sure,- it was tasty, but another out-of-contextly event.
Enjoy your garden dreams!
Colorwork Nursery 
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