Frogs herald spring
As we pass the mid-point of February, there is a new sound coming from the banks of the creek each evening as darkness creeps upon us. The frogs are calling out with their croaking and announcing that the arrival of spring is not too for away. One by one the frogs sound off in agreement and harmony. Their croaking is a sound of joy as they sing of warmer days on the way. They are definitely ready for warmer days after a long winter.
Another sign that spring is on the way
On Friday, Feb. 23, Saint Matthias Day will be celebrated. It is said that on his day, a special event occurs that signals that spring is on its way as the sap in the sod under the maple trees begins its rise up the roots and to the trunks and limbs as it begins its journey of strength and new life to the maples. Soon they will bud and the cycle of a new season begins.
More daylight arrives each evening
We are now receiving an extra minute of daylight each evening and since Dec. 21 we have received 56 extra minutes of daylight. Next month, Daylight Savings Time returns and we gain an extra hour of afternoon daylight and we will continue to add an extra minute each day until the first day of summer, June 21. The birds already know we are getting more daylight and their daily activity has already increased as they search the lawn daily for a food supply.
The first Carolina Jasmines start blooming
A sweet scent is now emitting from the edge of the winter garden as the yellow blooms of the Carolina Jasmine are now beginning to glow and their perfume fills the air of mid-February. The dark green foliage of the Jasmine adds even more glow to the trumpet shaped flowers. Surely if any bees are scouting around, they will be attracted to these sweet-smelling flowers.
Expecting snow in the middle of February
Mid-February can bring some snow to the lawn and garden and they can receive great benefits and snow will be good for both of them. February snow will kill off insects and add nutrients to the garden and lawn soil and will certainly bring plenty of excitement to the kids and provide a few “Snow days” for them.
Making a pot of chicken-in-the-green casserole
A chicken-veggie casserole hot off the fire makes a meal on a cold mid- February evening that warms a body from the outside to the inside. This is truly a meal in a bowl. You will need one four-pack of Tyson chicken breasts, one large package of frozen broccoli florets, one jar of Heinz roasted turkey gravy, one can evaporated milk, one large package of Pepperidge Farm cornbread dressing, salt and pepper (to taste), one stick of light margarine, two beaten eggs. Boil chicken breasts until tender, pull off skin and de-bone the chicken, cut into half-inch chunks, boil the broccoli for two minutes. Mix the chicken chunks and broccoli together and stir, melt the stick of light margarine and stir into the chicken broccoli. Add all other ingredients. Pour into a large casserole dish sprayed with Pam baking spray, place in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes until golden brown. Serve with whole berry cranberry sauce.
The back of old man winter breaks today
Thursday marked the half way point of winter and on this day, it is said that the back of Old Man Winter breaks. The bad news is that the other half can bring plenty of cold temperatures and perhaps a few hefty snowfalls to make things interesting. The first day of spring is six weeks away and even after that time, we can still experience a lot of winter surprises.
Getting the mower tuned up for spring
As February passed its midpoint, it’s an opportune time to think about getting the riding mower tuned up and prepared for the spring mowing season. In the middle of winter, the mower repair businesses are not as busy and most of them will pick up your mower, tune it up, replace or sharpen the blade and ready it for the season ahead and then return it to your home for a small fee. While we are talking about mowers and garden equipment, remember to keep fuel in your mower, trimmers, and blowers and start and let them run for a few minutes each week. Drive the mower around the lawn with the blade disengaged to keep parts moving and make starting easier in cold weather.
Pansies face up to the challenges of winter
The season of winter deserves all the color it can receive in its bitter cold. We have plenty of these flowers with faces and colors on the deck and porch. They continually bloom during winter’s cold days. They put on a special show of color to highlight their dark green foliage as a background. Pansies need to be watered lightly once a week but don’t over water because it will run out the bottom of the containers and possibly freeze the containers and medium in the containers. Pansies respond well to Pansy Booster once a month and a hand full of Flower-Tone organic flower food every ten days. Pansies will thrive and bloom all the winter even until late April or early May when they can be replaced with the annuals for summer. Pansies are extra special because they continually bloom and have dark green color to add to their blooms.
The emerging perfumes of hyacinth and Carolina Jasmine
Not only are the colors of pansies a highlight of winter but also the delicately dainty flowers and fragrance of the Carolina Jasmine with its evergreen foliage and bright fragrant yellow blooms that attract some scouting honey bees. The hyacinths with their pastel colors of white, pink, lavender, purple, blue, and hot pink and their unforgettable fragrance that emits in the cold winter air as an earnest of the coming of spring.
Jonquils bring the Midas touch
The jonquils, narcissus, buttercups and daffodils are glowing in beds and rows as they herald the approach of spring. They are amazing and known also as heirlooms because they thrive in beds in old homesteads, home places, old estates and graveyards. Many were planted generations ago and are thriving today. Some of the area’s most beautiful beds are along Reynolda Road next to the Reynolda House. Almost an acre of golden blooms adorn the woods next to the Reynolda gardens. Some of them probably have been there since Richard Joshua Reynolds lived there. Jonquils send us a message of hope that we’re not far away from spring. No other flower is quite as eternal than the heritage of jonquils.
Message of upcoming spring on the dogwoods
There is still plenty of cold brewing in the month of February and snow could be a possibility. One encouraging sign of spring is showing up on the dogwood trees now that all the red berries have disappeared. The limbs are gray and bare but tiny bud tips are beginning to show up on the limbs. From the number of tiny buds, it appears that we will have an abundance of beautiful white blooms around the first weeks of April. Frogs croaking down by the creek-bank, days getting longer by one minute each evening, bud tips on the dogwoods, glossy leaves of American violets all are paying the road toward the advent of spring of 2024.
Could we get some snow in February’s last half?
As a snow lover, we are very optimistic that we will experience some decent snowfall in the last days of February. Surely the cold nights are in agreement, but whether the north wind agrees with the August fog’s report or Mother Nature and Father God see fit for a hefty snow, we will just have to pray, hope, and wait as well as think snow. Surely, all the children in Surry and Stokes counties would love a snowman-type wet snow fit for sledding, snowmen and snow angels as well as Carolina “snow cream”?
Planning for a productive four o’ clock year
The seed catalogs are featuring the seeds of four o’ clocks and the four o’ clock packets of seed are on the racks at most hardwares, garden centers, Walmart, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and Lowe’s Home Improvement. They come in assorted colors of red, yellow, pink, and white and cost less than two dollars per packet.
Hoe hoe hoedown
“Responsible Job!” Farmer: “For this job we need someone who is responsible.” Bum: “That’s the job for me. Every where else I’ve worked, when something went wrong, I was responsible.”
“Where’s the meat?” Waitress: “How did you find the meat sir?” Customer: “I just lifted up the potato chip and there it was!”
“A Little Late.” Most of us never cared much for advice from our parents until we started raising our own family.
“The truth about lies.” Mom: “I never told lies when I was a child.” Daughter: “When did you begin?”
“Monkey see, monkey do.” A boy with a monkey on his shoulder was walking down the street and passed a policeman, who said, “Young man, I think you should take that monkey to the zoo.” The next day the boy was walking down the street with the monkey on his shoulder again and passed by the same policeman. The policeman said “I thought I told you to take that monkey to the zoo.” “I did the,” the boy answered. “And today I’m taking him to the movies.”
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