After a week or so of rather good, albeit cold temperatures it is raining today as is so typical of our west coast winters. Don't mind the frostier days at least the sun is out or trying to. Gives lots of incentive to get outside and do outdoor chores.
Its the time of year to prune, prune, prune ! I have done the grapes, the roses, working on the perennial herb beds now and then will tackle some of the fruit trees. Still time to plant new trees if thats in your plans for this year.
The rhubarb is definetly starting to make it's appearance and is also a good time to divide them, side dress them with finished compost. Last year the rhubarb was resting so hopefull it will produce in full force. Need to weed the beds too now and cultivate the soil with a rake or fork.
The heated tables in the greenhouse are bursting with seedlings. Lots of transplanting to the second stage has already been done. New seeds being put into flats and onto the heated tables all the time. Good time to start oriental greens, cabbages, peas, some lettuces, spinach, beets. We start them all in flats at this time and transplant them once hardened off after about 6 weeks start to in the ground. Lots of them will go into the hoop houses and some can even go out into the field with remay cloth at the ready if temperatures go too low ( -0 or lower ).
Sorting, cleaning, grooming, tidying after all the storms of winter is an ongoing job. Interesting how glaringly obvious everything is when the green lushness of spring and summer isn't there to distract the eye. This is really the best time of year to get at all these kinds of jobs done or at least started. Gets me motivated, eager for the season to get going and gets my body acclimatized and used to being outside and moving again. Love it !!
