The temperature has dropped again. Highs around 63 Fahrenheit, lows in the 30s. I'm once more concerned about tender seedlings on these cold nights. Did I start the peas and lettuces too early? At least I haven't seen signs of frost damage when looking around the garden on mornings this week. There still hasn't been any rain, the last shower was on January 24th. So I gave everything, even long-established trees, a good soaking on Saturday.

As I watered, I appreciated the African Daisies in bloom, as I always do at this time of year (I accidentally saved over a photo from February 2016, having named both “Yellow_Daisy”). The yellow variety is Euryops pectinatus. The white and bright, glowing purple ones, also called Cape daisy, are Osteospermum ecklonis.

While some perennial plants such as dianthus and salvia are fairly dormant in this weather, others are surprising me with new growth. I'd just pruned back the tallest rosebush four weeks ago, and it's already producing fresh little green branches and red leaves! The miniature rose was never cut back, and it has managed to have a bloom or two every week this winter. Geraniums and petunias also continue to do well. I've been making bouquets with them, the daisies, begonias, rosemary, and a camellia or two (these will attain their full glory in March.)

I am, however, impatient to start growing flowers, herbs and crops that shouldn't be planted in the ground until it's truly spring (at least a month from now). These include basil, tomatoes, peppers, and squash. In the meantime, I'll prepare containers of quality potting mix, combined with nicely-aged compost and fertilizer, for these plants to live in.

I do have a few seeds started inside already, and just wish I had more room on the kitchen windowsill and near the grow light in the office (maybe it's time to move the furniture around a little). It was great to see spinach sprouts breaking through the soil last week. I've also sown morning glories, they're last year's seeds, but could still germinate, we'll see.

While getting seeds and other garden stuff out of the closet, I found the mustard seeds I'd harvested in August. I think I'll plant some, and experiment with using the rest to make mustard in the next few days.