This Week at a Glance

What I thought would be a post about longer evenings, extra light, and all the signs of spring showing up in the garden, turned into something a little different this week.

Instead, we’re talking about snow.

Friday’s snowfall completely caught me off guard. Mostly because we so rarely get snow here, and I honestly can’t remember the last time we had this much (for us) this late in the season.

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We only got about an inch or so, but it was absolutely beautiful to watch falling all day long. It felt like such an unexpected gift, especially since the rain was supposed to take over by midday and never really did.

Of course, as I’m writing this, it’s melting away, which makes me just as happy.

Still, I have to admit I’m a little worried about my sweet daffodils after all that heavy snow sat on them for so long. They looked so cheerful one day and slightly traumatized the next. I’m hoping they bounce back quickly, and I’m curious to see how the rest of the garden handles a snow event this late in the season.

The forecast is showing rain, and lots of it, for the rest of the month, with maybe a cloudy weekend break in between. The good news is that temperatures are supposed to climb back into the mid to upper fifties.

Greenhouse Check-In

The seedlings are still doing their thing, and I know I keep sharing photos of them even though they probably all look exactly the same to everyone else. But I can’t help it. I’m a very proud plant mama this time of year.

The petunia seedlings are growing so quickly that I’ll probably need to pot them up next week to give them a little more room. This is my first time growing petunias from seed, and I’m already so excited about how much money this is saving me. It’s amazing when you think about how a single packet of seeds costs about the same as one or two containers of annuals.

That alone makes it feel worth it.

I was especially worried about the greenhouse one late night into early morning when the power went out for several hours. With the heat off and then the snow covering the skylights most of the day on Friday, I really wasn’t sure how everything would do. Thankfully, the seedlings seem strong, and all appear to be just fine.

And I have to say, I’m really glad I decided to hang the grow lights back up this year. I hadn’t used them for a couple of seasons, mostly out of pure laziness, but they made such a difference with how dark it was in the greenhouse during the storm.

The geraniums are still blooming, too, which continues to make me ridiculously happy.

The First Day of Spring

The countdown is just about over.

March 20th marks the first official day of spring! After what feels like a very long winter, I think we’re all ready to welcome longer days, sunshine, and new beginnings in our gardens.

Whether you’re planting your first seeds, sprucing up your outdoor spaces, or enjoying the fresh spring air, I hope you take a moment to savor spring’s long-awaited arrival.

How are you celebrating the first day of spring? Are you cleaning up after the winter season or maybe bringing home a special find from the nursery? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below.

Life at Home Update

Inside the house, I’ve been trying to chip away at a few organizational projects that have been hanging over my head. Cleaning out the pantry and organizing closets may not be the most exciting spring activity, but it does feel good to make a little progress.

And in perhaps the most surprising update of the week, I’ve decided to stop neglecting my poor sourdough starter.

It had been sitting in the refrigerator for over a month without being fed. If only I could take care of my starter like I do my garden plants.

I think I kept putting it off because I haven’t made sourdough bread since learning all about it at my friend Mary’s house (Life at Bella Terra), and for some reason, that made the whole thing feel more intimidating than it probably needed to be.

But after a couple of days of feeding it, the starter is officially back and ready to go. I’m planning to try baking a loaf today, so fingers crossed. I’ll report back next week and let you know whether I ended up with a beautiful homemade loaf…or a very rustic learning experience.

A Simple Spring Decorating Idea

As I patiently wait for spring (one more week!), I keep thinking about something I did a few years back to bring a little color indoors without spending a lot of money.

One of the easiest (and most budget-friendly) ways to instantly brighten a room this time of year is by picking up a pack of fresh blooms from Costco or your local nursery. I love bringing home small pots of seasonal flowers and tucking them into some of my favorite containers around the house.

You can plant them directly into a pot if you’d like, but an even quicker option is to set the nursery container inside a decorative pot and tuck in a little moss around the edges to fill any gaps.

And if you’re from the Pacific Northwest, there is plenty of moss outside to be found!

Sometimes the smallest pots of flowers make the biggest difference this time of year.

From This Week in Years Past

Before I go, I thought it would be fun to look back at what was happening around this time in years past.

A couple of years ago, around this time, I spent a wonderful afternoon wandering through VanLierop Garden Market in Sumner while celebrating my friend Lori’s birthday. It ended up being one of our favorite stops of the day.

There’s nothing better than visiting a local nursery in early spring.

The first bright blooms of the season are just starting to appear, tables are filled with potted plants, and everywhere you look, little garden treasures are waiting to be discovered.

I remember being amazed by all the tulips that hadn’t bloomed yet or had barely started. They were just waiting for a few warmer days.

And of course, I couldn’t resist the vintage garden decor.

Old watering cans, weathered urns, and charming wrought iron pieces always catch my eye. They add so much character and history to a garden space, which is my favorite thing ever!

One of my favorite finds that day was the sweetest old garden cart. Little treasures like that are personal and full of stories.

On the Blog This Week

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

I am in love with this Moonlight Cottage! Their screened porch and deck inspired us to consider doing something similar on our own deck.

Looking for a delicious St. Patrick’s Day meal? How about this easy crockpot Irish beef stew?

Here’s how to make non-slip rugs.

You’re going to fall in love with this English cottage.

This blueberry sour cream coffee cake recipe looks delicious.

Yum! You’ll love this homemade herb butter recipe.

Try this Meyer lemon cream pie with a twist.

I hope you’ve had a cozy week, wherever you are, and that your own signs of spring are starting to show up too, even if winter decided to sneak in for one more visit.

Until next time,