Faux Spring in NC
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It’s winter again, or may as well be.
Mid March I began checking the 10-day weather report every day, even though I hate those cheesy amazing-awesome-you-won’t-believe-this video teasers that my pop-up blocker won’t block because they don’t pop up anyway, looking for a stretch of ten days with no freeze.
The warming came later than usual, just as I was thinking this long fierce winter would never end. 
And maybe I was right.
Late March, I planted the cold-hardy spinach and chard and snow peas. A fortnight later, the crook-neck squash and banana peppers. I bought a huge but lightweight pot and created a kitchen garden beside the back steps. Here, take a look before the freeze kills it tonight.
And now, the third week of April in Carolina, we are bringing the potted plants back inside, the plants that grudgingly came indoors last October and spent the winter, as I did, longing for warm sunshine. Together we’ll bring in the large too-heavy-for-me Crown of Thorns that spends its summers beside the front door, and the agave plants that Kathy gave me – plural, now, because the one she gave me maybe fifteen years ago has now been divided into three. We’ll bring in the aloe and orchids, the papyrus and the dozen or so avocado trees – well, the ones I don’t mention won’t mind. They won’t like coming back inside, but they would like being left outside even less. (My friend Gracia quickly corrected me on IRC when I carelessly spoke of bringing in the pot plants.)
At least we had several 80-degree days in early March. Maybe that was our summer this year.
Meanwhile, a wren has built a nest in a pot of pansies on the back porch. In spring, a songbird’s
thoughts will turn to nesting. I wish the wrens warmth.
Helen of Marlowe's Blog 
I used to be able to put a frame around the photo, and position it more precisely than just saying left or right. Has that option been removed from WordPress or have I simply forgotten how to do this?
You are so right about the Faux Spring. And forecasts have lost their anchors and have become
more iffy than ever.
How I enjoyed your song of “recycled” spring. Certainly after this last freeze, we can bank on gentler treatment of our potted plants and hardy garden seedlings. I’m enjoying watching the glorious bluebird pirched atop the bird house on guard. He’s brilliant as he occasionally flies off to find a grub to bring home. I must remember to grease the pole holding up their house, to protect it from squirrels.
Hi Martha! Good to see you here!
And oh, if you only knew how hard I’ve been trying to attract a bluebird! Three bluebird houses, all with wrens.
It must be a joy.
We must get together next week if it’s warm enough to get out!
It’s early days still. Summer will come I’m sure. I have the opposite problem: summer just doesn’t want to end! I’m really looking forward to winter too.