I’m already behind

I looked at the calendar and realized…Spring is only 25 days away!

 That means given the hours alloted  in a day (which  you can’t change trust me.. I have tried both to will them away and alternately, to frantically add them and neither works) X the number of them left before March 20th, I am already behind.

Usually by now I have lots of things pruned outside and the wood ready to be made into stakes, or mulched into chips, but this year the snow cover is keeping me from getting out there to do anything.

Usually by now I have a plan of attack for re-working gardens that need refreshing , or new plantings, but I am so focused on the return of the bunnies that I am in a state of garden inertia , unable to plan,plot or otherwise.

Usually by now I am at the ready, tools cleaned and sharpened , pots  for seeding and container plants scrubbed and sterilized, and new gloves purchased and waiting on my bench, but I had the real honest to goodness flu that had me down for the count for over two weeks already and I haven’t had the energy.(No, I did not get my flu shot and yes I will get it next year)

Usually by now I feel confident that my seed and plant orders are finalized, and well thought out perennial choices and new roses will arrive soon ,their locations pre-determined the beds prepared for their happy arrival. but instead I look at new catalogues as they show up in the mail with a knot in my stomach and  a feeling that I may have ordered about 200 things I did not need and have no place for and the one problem spot I  meant to remedy will remain empty  because nothing  out of the  perfectly photographed yet useless  plant stash those clever catalogue writers made me buy is appropriate for it.

Usually by now, I have at least planned how and when I will start seeds of sweet peas, followed by a myriad of other plants I want yet can’t readily get at the local nurseries, but knowing how they all became instant rabbit food of the most delicious kind last year I haven’t the heart to try again just yet.

So, that settles it , I am behind. Behind on the chores, behind on the plans, behind actually on the laundry and housework as well, just to add that extra special little bonus pile of work on top in case I felt like there was some way I could catch up.

But I am going to put on my bestest “little engine that could” face and at least make a to-do list and start hacking away at it. I cut some forsythia branches today to force inside, that was a good first step. I am going to go through my seed packets tomorrow, that will be a good second step. Then maybe I will pull all the plant invoices I printed from my winter ordering to see what will be arriving soon and start to assign plant to place.

Excuses for procrastination will not be tolerated; I will start to trudge through the huge disorganized pile of  notes I made  for a presentation I am working on, and I will make a list of the photographs I need to illustrate all of my innovative and genius points. I will finish finish (or at least start) the laundry.

ith I really am going to do it all, promise, right after I check out the Rhode Island Flower Show this week in Providence, then a quick stop at Tower Hill this weekend to help at the desk while they are so busy with  all the people coming to check out the new Limonia, then I just have a few days volunteering before and  at the Boston Flower Show  (which is spectacular and gobs of fun to work on and you better make sure you come check it out)and then  I will get right back to it all. Really, I  promise.