It is only the middle of Febuary down here in the Gulf Coast area but spring is just around the corner, hovering.  The weather gurus do not predict any more freezing temps here, our last average frost date is March 1st, but according the them, there are no jet stream propelled artic blasts headed our way.  So, while I know I am taking a chance here, basing my gardening start on the weather people I am starting anyway.  It has been so mild many things did not die at all, some are still blooming.  My lantanas have a few sporatic flowers, so do the dianthus and one geranium.  The large foundation planting of Turk's Cap is still green and covered with red flowers.  The weeds have completely overwhelmed the flower beds, frankly I don't know what is alive in there yet.  Everything is covered by some little winter weed that, while pretty cannot stay in the flower beds.  Hopefully it insulated everything underneath and all are just waiting patiently for me to uncover them. 

I do have a serious dilemma in that it is very likely Steve and I will move this spring or summer.  This is a rental home, we only planned to stay a year and then buy a place of our own again.  That has not happened but other things have and the bottom line is we need to move.  The house and yard need a great deal of expensive maintence-for example we have ten big dead pine trees from the drought and all but three are going to fall on something-the barn, the house, or the fence.  Most of the grass is dead and will need a huge amount of care and $$ to bring it back the way it was before the drought.  The septic is not happy...  These are all pricey to deal with and our landlord is not going to do it. He could care less what it looks like.  As renters we are not prepared to spend that sort of money to maintain something not ours.  If you remember any of my early posts you know I just love this place and have worked HARD to make it lovely again and it makes me so sad that I cannot this year.  Oh, we will do what we can but it won't be nearly enough. 

Enough whining!  It's almost SPRING down here.  The patio plants all went back out today.  They were really wanting a drink of hose water and they are getting a shower as well.  Supposed to rain all afternoon.  We have, Thank God, been getting a lot of rain this winter.  Five inches here at the house in just the last three weeks ( I emptied the rain guage the other day) but the lakes still need more to get up to normal levels.  Plants look lots better this year than last, when they all froze in the hallway.  Who knew it would get so cold in there? 

The little lean to greenhouse we built in the corner did its job as well and everything under it did great.  In fact, nothing is dead and I have a good start on seasonal color.

Guess I will stop now.  Wish me luck on finding a new garden spot.