Moss Garden

It's tough to get a good photo of the moss garden, which is on the east side of my house. The only sun it gets is dappled morning light. When I decided to do something (anything!), the only thing that looked good was the moss that grew naturally. So I laid down a thick layer of newspaper, covered it with dirt. Using chunks of moss from that same area, I laid them on top. I did water pretty regularly that first year. For added interest, we've added medium rocks, stepping stones, and a shredded wood chip path. I weed twice a year--early spring and fall. The maintenance is easy and it looks good, like living velvet..

Should I plant tomatoes now?

While it is true that the nighttime temps are predicted to be in the 50s F in our area, here are a few things to consider before planting tomatoes and other warm weather crops. First, how wet is the soil? With all this rain, some yards are still mushy. If the soil is too wet, roots can rot. Second, how warm is the garden spot? Some places are very warm with a protected southern exposure; others are open and exposed. You could plant if the soil is warm, and you are confident that frost won't be coming around again. Third, do you have a protection system? This could be store-bought or homemade, but a cold frame or some other device to capture and keep heat can push the starting date of the season. At my house, I am not planting my tomatoes yet. I like to think of them as tropical plants, plants that love heat and humidity, and we just haven't had that yet.

Hyancinth

Yes, we really did see snowflakes on May 1 and May 2. My sister who lives farther north had snow on the ground. Our flakes here melted as they hit the grass, though a few stray ones lingered on the back deck. However, the hyacinths and the daffodils are blooming and holding up against the cold and wet and wind.