winter blues

This weather really slows things down.It is cloudy every day and rains every other day. Sunshine is just a memory,like something from the past. It's enough to drive me crazy. But then this morning,bright,warm sunshine. The forecast for the rest of the week is more of the same but still very cold.
I have not done much at the garden and it is not much to look at. Last weekend I did make my first planting. First I ammended the soil with a little composted cow manure and cotton seed meal. Then I planted a mix of Gladiolus,one of my favorite flowers.Although "glads" are a great addition in your flower beds,I prefer to use them as a cut flower. Their long spikes and wide range of color brighten any room in your house. Gladiolus are easy to grow,requiring good draining soil,medium fertility and ample moisture. I like to plant mine in the vegetable garden as all requirements are met and it's easier to harvest your flowers later.As the flower spikes begin to grow it may be necessary to stake them to have straight stems. Personally I like the occasional bent flower stem. I think it adds visual interest to any arrangement. It just looks "natural" to me. I still watch in amazement when a flower spike falls over and the tip bends up,always pointing up towards the sun.
The greatest joy of growing "glads" of course is in sharing them. I enjoy the smile it brings to my wifes face when I place a vase full of flowers in the house. And I like to share with family and friends.
I continue to use my mini-greenhouse to bump up tomato plants,start a new crop of lettuce and basically just pass the time. I dream of warm weather,beds full of flowers,ripe red tomatoes... maybe winter is not so blue after all.