Well, spring is springing here too. It's going to be plus 1 today and the snow is melting, where it is hit by the sun. We don't have much cover, just very frozen. It's been to cold to snow. We have been watching the situation in Badger, Newfoundland...dam broke upriver, and the broken ice came downstream from 3 (count'em) rivers and into the town. Then it froze, up to the doorknobs in most places. It is going to be months before it properly thaws, but ice does move, and it is, carrying many homes off as if they were in a big glacier (which I guess that is sort of what it is). This is the strangest thing we have ever heard of. Lucinda -----Original Message----- From: owner-gardeners@globalgarden.com [mailto:owner-gardeners@globalgarden.com]On Behalf Of George Shirley Sent: February 20, 2003 10:04 AM To: Gardeners List Subject: [gardeners] Thursday in the garden Got home from work about 0730 and Sleepy and I went out into the backyard again. Pretty much static at the moment as, according to the weatherman, we are in line for some heavy rains this week. Felt so nice out I put the collar and leash on Sleepy and we went for a walk around the block. Japanese magnolias are in full bloom and, surprisingly, so are the redbud trees, wasn't expecting them to bloom this early. A number of haw trees in the neighborhood are in full bloom and looking good and the camellias are still full of blooms. Lots of camellias in this town, everyone seems to like them. I swear I can smell jasmine somewhere in the area but never did see the plant. Maybe I'm having olfactory hallucinations, it's happened before when I was anticipating spring. Need to take the Mantis in to the tiller repair parlor and get it ready for spring. Miz Anne and I decided last night to get a small TroyBilt for use around the gardens. Will be the 4.4HP Tuffy one as that is all we need. It's getting harder for these arthritic hands to handle the vibration of the Mantis long enough to till the big garden or the whole strip garden. Will end up using it for cultivating and doing small jobs in the flower beds. We are hearing the weather folks on national TV saying those of you who got lots of snow recently may be facing floods when the warm weather hits you. Certainly hope those who are looking at floods are prepared and on high ground. I know lots of states needed the snow to overcome drought conditions but snow and floods both! Good grief, Charlie Brown, enough's enough. Just remember that spring will come eventually and you can dig in the dirt again. Life is good. George