January, the New Spring

Just when Mugsy and I were adapting to the pitfalls of winter, it’s spring (only temporary, I’m sure). Finally, after four years here, I am much improved and more confident at walking and driving on ice-slicked roads. Even Mugsy has learned, albeit begrudgingly, to negotiate the icy deck when he goes out first thing in the morning. He even braves the cold and wet to chase the neighbor’s cat.

I know there is a good chance this “blast of spring” might not last, but while it does, I appreciate not wearing fifteen layers of clothing, including thermal underwear, sweaters, boots, gloves, and neck choking scarves. I summon up my courage and drive to Walla Walla through the icy fog, rain, or snow for tennis games. And, although still a little tentative, I can navigate through the milky fog without having a panic attack.

Considering our weird spring in January and watching my friends and family up and down the California coast deal with the deluge of water and flooding, I remain convinced that Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humor. But, please, Ms. Nature, if you’re giving us a spring break, a little sunshine would be a nice addition. After all, I am still a California girl.

It is obvious that Mother Nature and my phone’s weather app are in cahoots and, therefore, equally unreliable. No rain has been predicted for the past week, yet it has rained every day and night. Yet, I’m still addicted to looking at the app.

The warmer weather has inspired me to work a little (very little) in the garden. Daniel has done most of the heavy work, like pulling out the dead plants I didn’t take out before he returned from Europe. However, I still had to deal with a few leftovers. Yes, that was me, climbing into the raised planters, shovel in hand, to dig out eggplant and lemon verbena plants with roots over a foot long. And surprisingly, there were no emergency room trips as a result.

Next, I did some raking and yanked out some moldy, wet, gross dead leaves from the irises, daylilies, horseradish, and other random plants, while trying to obliterate the borage, amaranth, and chard that took over an entire planter last season.

While working in one of the raised vegetable planters, and probably thanks to the warmer weather, some new bulbs appear to be popping up. But what are they? It’s a mystery. I know I didn’t plant tulips in those planters, and the bulbs are too large for birds to carry and randomly drop. That planter was filled with a variety of very prolific pepper plants, obviously not bulbs. As the sprouts grow taller, the game has become “name that bulb.” At one glance, I thought they might be potatoes or, miraculously, the artichokes I planted two years ago making a comeback. Fingers crossed for the chokes, but now I’m leaning toward leeks. Gardening in Waitsburg continues to remain a mystery.

Daniel has been asked to return to Portugal. as a private chef from April through July. It is for the same family he worked for a few months ago. I have started a list of the chores that need to be done before he leaves, with a second list of friends I will need to help me with some heavy lifting when he’s gone. At least I won’t have weather issues to contend with as long as my garden continues to entertain me.