Is it Really Spring ??

The calendar says Spring, but it's not.

It's been spring for a week now but not really here in Baltimore.  We have had snow, cold, wind, rain and one day of warmth that lasted barely 8 hours.  I know I'll be complaining once it gets hot but this is ridiculous.  The weather forecasters say we will barely be at normal temps (around 55) for the next 7 days.  This is putting a hurting on my yard work.  I'm ready to plant the flowers and cut the grass, but the grass isn't growing and the soil is still cold and muddy.

 I've started my flower seeds and they have germinated and are ready to grow.  I am nurturing along several varieties of Zinnia, Marigolds, and Portulaca.  Soon I will start some Sunflower seeds and hopefully all will be able to go in the gound in mid April.  That is if we ever get some warmer temps.

 Zinnia seeds up and growing after just 3 days in the potting mix.  I keep the lights on for 14 hours a day and will fertilize regularly until planting time.

If all goes well, and the ground warms up, many of my seedlings will go in the front yard rose garden to add lots of color through the summer.  My job will be to plant and Karen's will be to deadhead.  That is removing the spent blooms to allow more to flower.

 Some newly arrived rose bushes look good and will be going in pots around the patio.  One (named Republic of Texas) already has a yellow flower in bloom.

Hopefully this is the last I will see of snow till sometime in December.  After the brutal February we had, it's good to see that it is all gone now.  Only thing left is MUD.

The fish in the pond are active even though it is still cold out.  They have survived their 3rd winter now are have grown quite a bit from their original 1" to 2" size and many now are over 4" to 5".  We also have babies that were born over a year ago.  We have spotted one frog already and are sure there will be several more in the coming weeks.  The pond attracts several every year.


So, hopefully we will eventually see some spring and then go immediately into summer and everyone will complain.  This year I will do no complaining and enjoy every bit of sun and heat we get.

I will continue to post progress reports..........hang in there!











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I CALL IT WINTER BREAK

All the college kids call it Spring Break, but since we left for a Caribbean cruise with snow on the ground, I call it Winter Break! 

Our Winter Break on the Brilliance of the Seas

Their Spring Break

Karen and I, along with her daughter and son in law, enjoyed a week in the Western Caribbean onboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas.

Day Two at sea's entertainment was provided by the rescue of a boat full of Cuban "refugees" afloat on the sea with no power or water.  Our ship came to a complete stop, turned around, and sat with the fishing boat for 2 hours while the Coast Guard directed our captain to retrieve the "survivors" and take them on to Grand Cayman.  After discussions and negotiations, a retrieval was made and the new passengers were taken safely on board.  We have to assume that Cayman authorities sent them back to Cuba.  So much for their freedom.

Cuban Refugees Drifting at Sea

Still trying to Rescue

Rescue Attempt

A Visit to Turtle Breeding Farm, Grand Cayman Island

 We visited a turtle breeding center on Cayman and were allowed to hold the young ones and watch over a hundred large breeders swim in the ponds.

The Blogger and his Turtle

Karen Holds a Stingray on Cayman Island

Rare Sighting of an Orange Iguana on Cozumel

Spouse of the Orange Iguana

Cozumel, Mexico Beach

On the Stingray outing on Cayman we sailed to gorgeous shallow blue waters where dozens of stingrays swam with us and allowed us to hold and feed them.

On the island of Cozumel, Mexico we toured Mayan ruins and met a pair of breeding Iguanas (one orange, one green) amidst the piles of rocks.

A Real Baltimore Oriole

At the conclusion of our cruise we spent a night in Sarasota and attended a Baltimore Oriole spring training game (we lost-of course) and visited the Ringling Circus winter grounds and museum.


What a fantastic week we had.  I can't say enough good about the Brilliance of the Seas, the great travel partner I have with Karen, and good times with Diane and Stephen.

We arrived back in Baltimore to NO SNOW and warm temperatures.  Not quite Caribbean warm but I'll take it for now.  Time to get out in the garden and start my chores.

Another Real Baltimore Oriole

Monarch Butterflies Alive and Well in Sarasota, Florida

Pink Spoonbill on Longboat Key, Florida

Egret on Longboat Key

Appropriate T-shirt

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