Many of us are complaining about the absence of Spring. The continuing Winter is playing havoc with succession planting plans, and throwing a wrench into forecasted total production tallies. The potager is beginning its third season. On April 1st in 2016, most of the beds were planted and baby crops were emerging. It was a time of great anticipation and excitement.
On April 4th 2017, you can see some of the raised beds are totally filled with green, growing things and the tulips are in full bloom. Notice how green the grass is. Chives and other perennial herbs were already being harvested.
And this is the potager on April 2, 2018…note the absence of green…..
The only true “crop” that has been planted is the garlic, planted last fall and now completely buried under the snow. Grump, grump, grump. If nothing else, this “spring” (and it doesn’t even deserve a capital “S”) is teaching me patience.
herbalblessingsblog 
Oh my! I can so relate! Your April 2017 potager garden picture is drool-worthy. But yes, aren’t we all becoming such virtuous gardeners practicing all this patience this year. More time for reading and dreaming about beautiful gardens to come.
LikeLike
I suppose I’m spoiled…two years of good conditions. And I tend to forget the years it was just as bad as this one. I recall a big snowstorm on May 9 back in the mid-90’s that collapsed my shade structure at the farm just after we’d opened. It will all be fine, and eventually we’ll be harvesting beautiful veggies…just a bit later than usual.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear! I feel your pain! Crazy winter right across the continent, up to the very edge of the west coast. As I’ve said, I hope things warm up for you soon! Maybe more plantings in pots under those basement lights of yours! Fingers crossed for sunshine and warm temps!
LikeLike
Crossing toes as well as eyes! No room left under the lights for anything else!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If it is any consolation Carolee it is no better here in SW Wales! We had sleet yesterday evening and when I let the dogs out last thing there was a thin layer of slush on the car. This morning there was 33 mm (1 1/4 “) of rain in the guage and it has rained all today. Everywhere is soggy and there are huge puddles so no hope of anything going out yet. The blossom on the peach in the greenhouse got blasted by the frost and will produce nothing this year. Meanwhile seedlings sown on heat are getting leggy and need to go out. It is a good job we are a resilient and optimistic lot!
LikeLike
Normally I am more optimistic, and after fifty years of gardening, I should know that everything will balance out over the season. I’m hoping Mother Nature isn’t emptying out her watering can entirely in Spring, and not saving some water back for summer. After such a cold winter, it usually balances out with a very hot summer.
LikeLike
Gosh I was just talking about this in my gardening video today. Spring is playing tricks, I started my tomato and pepper seeds last weekend in Hope’s that spring would be around the corner.. right now it doesn’t look or feel like it but I hoping we will experience a warming soon!
LikeLike
I was just watering my plants in the basement. The tomatoes are ready to transplant into individual pots, but there’s just no room. Forecast is for 21 degrees next Friday, so I can’t move more plants to the greenhouse either…..Frustrating to say the least.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And you have photo proof of this crazy weather.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My gosh! Those pictures really do tell a story. In Maine, we are behind, too, although we never have as much green at the beginning of April as your pictures indicate that you have. I’m afraid that crazy and unpredictable are the new normal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our house and windowsills are still full of seedlings that we can’t yet take out to the garden. Spring will get here, but it’s taking it’s toll on my “calm”! Good luck with your plantings and I hope your garlic will be safe, ours were buried under snow again yesterday too.
LikeLike
The garlic will be fine, but like you, my calm level is deteriorating as the non-gardening days pass. I can’t believe it’s April and not only is nothing planted, but the forecast for the next 10 days is not helpful at all! Patience, patience. Meantime, I should clean cupboards and closets, but that just doesn’t have any appeal!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m stripping off old gloss paint, trade places?! =D
LikeLike
Hmmm. Think I’ll just sip tea and watch the snow fall…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow – it is amazing when you put the pictures side by side. If its any consolation – over in Australia we have had one year of deep snow the next year at the same time was raging bushfires – so it does seem to go in cycles. Looking forward to seeing the next step once that snow finally melts.
LikeLiked by 1 person