The state of the garden

As my spring fever continues to rise, I decided to check out my garden--which I've conveniently been ignoring since the last time I picked a green pepper or some lettuce and spinach for salad, back in maybe September? I can't recall. Suffice it to say that I didn't really clean it up before the cold came. Here's the garden today:


I guess I was hoping the stuff would just die out and compost itself! Anyway, note the washed-out colors, except for the spinach that has somehow survived snowfalls and sub-freezing temps all winter:

I wonder if it's bitter or anything--I mean the new little leaves in the center. Maybe I should've tasted some.

At the risk of breaking my own heart with longing, here's a picture of the garden taken in June 2007:

Oh, my cries of angst! [back of hand on forehead, head tilted back dramatically] Springtime, come soon!

*sigh*

Back to the washed-out colors, I had the camera on automatic mode, but the photos were very washed out in the brightness of early evening. I'm a little disappointed that the pics weren't better, but I'm not all that sure it isn't the subject matter that just looks like that, washed out and brown and dull. I took these pics at about 5pm today. I do love that the days are getting longer now!

Speaking of crazy plants that are still green, look at this over-achieving herb garden pair:

Parsley in January! I thought about picking some for Nibble, but I'm worried it too might be bitter.

Lavender staying strong! It never got any bigger than this (it's maybe seven inches across) but it seems pretty hardy.

Meanwhile, in last year's tomato garden (which I actually did clear out, so I wouldn't get a million little volunteer tomatoes), the crazy daffodils are starting to sprout:

I remember they did the same thing last year and they were fine, so I'm not too worried. Must've been that single day (yesterday) when it got into the forties. "We're having a heatwave!"

If it weren't so cold (we're in the 20s and falling, with a lot of wind), I might consider cleaning up the big garden and putting all that stuff in the compost heap:

Yikes--that heap just might need to be turned....