4/24/25  Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values the utilities of the world.  Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Calm, sunshine, 43 degrees.  Sun and clouds today with a west breeze, a high of 64.  Possible rain showers this evening, cloudy overnight, a south breeze, a low of 40.  Mostly cloudy tomorrow with a NNW breeze, a high of 67, a low of 45.  Showers tomorrow night.  Rain Saturday and Saturday night with a NNW breeze, a high of 53, a low of 44.  Showers Sunday with a strong north breeze, a high of 46, a low of 42.  Sunshine Monday with a strong NNW breeze, a high of 68,  low of 42.  Partly cloudy Tuesday with a strong SSW breeze, a high of 72, a low of 56.  Partly cloudy Wednesday with a west wind, a high of 69, a low of 40.  Sunshine next Thursday with a WNW breeze, a high of 59, a low of 41.  Showers next Friday with a south breeze, a high of 52, a low of 41.  Partly cloudy next Saturday with a NW breeze, a high of 57, a low of 40.  Partly cloudy next Sunday with a brisk west breeze, a high of 59, a low of 42. Partly cloudy Monday the 5th, the first day of Open Greenhouse Week.  A brisk SW breeze, a high of 62, a low of 46. Mostly cloudy Tuesday the 6th with a brisk west breeze, a high of 65, a low of 46.  Partly cloudy Wednesday the 7th with a brisk WNW breeze, a high of 63, a low of 46.  Partly cloudy Thursday the 8th with a brisk NW breeze, a high of 61. a low of 46.

    Blackbirds are here again this morning.  Watching them yesterday morning I decided I wouldn't refill the feeders.  Eventually the blackbirds left.  A half hour later the kitchen garden was full of gold and purple finches,  There were two doves and a blue jay.  A male and female cardinal were taking turns coming to the feeders.  I will fill the feeders.  I'm going to put a suet cake in the suet feeder the blackbirds aren't supposed to be able to get suet out of.  I'll bring it in at night and put it out after the blackbirds leave.  The blackbirds slam the feeder to get it to turn sideways so they can get a bite.

    The impatient bags are all planted.  Plastic bags with holes in the bag for hanging on a shady wall.  Elfin impatiens plugs are needed to plant them.  Last year the nurseries discontinued elfin plugs.  This year Bekah tried growing her own and was successful, Next year she'll do more.  Nurseries have machines that drop one seed in each opening in a plug tray.

     Both large nursery orders are coming next week. The order with the fruit trees on it was supposed  to come this week but was postponed. We got the tracking numbers for another order arriving by UPS.  Hopefully that gets here today or tomorrow so the plants can get planted before next week.

Still no word on when we can pick up potatoes.

     May your day be blessed, Sally