Good news, all around!
Re: Howard. Our Walker Dogs are less than interested in dead coons, too. It’s not just Howard. :)
I’m expanding my Asparagus patch, too - adding a second bed of the stuff - we love it so much and it’s also part of my plan to make the garden more self-sufficient and less work for me.
Man, I miss my 40’ row of asparagus at the other farm. That was SUCH a treasure - and a good selling point when the time came; we sold that place in less than a week! :)
Glad you’re taking time off for your back. Don’t over-do it at home, though! Slow and steady. ;)
Tell Mrs. Augie I’m not expecting much from my Magnolia this season, either. It was at bud break two days ago, then we had our ‘Blizzard to end All Blizzards’ (5 inches - Whoopie!) and now a few days of teens, so it may have been harmed, too. My fruit trees managed to behave themselves and not be fooled by the False Spring we had in February and some of early March - but that remains to be seen, too.
Bone chilling cold today. Ran some errands & grocery shopped for the Lenten potluck tomorrow night. The ‘menu’ is chili & a baked potato bar. I signed up for the chili I made last year ... I think I had a cup left & the recipe makes about 6 quarts (my crockpot is full to the top). I did all the prep this afternoon so all I have to do tomorrow is take the crockpot liner out if the fridge, let it warm up a bit, & put it in the heating element until time to go. It’s not a traditional recipe, but it’s got lots of flavor:
https://www.bakerita.com/the-best-chili/
Temps mid to upper teens tonight. Mom’s hostas are up about 2 inches. I have some moving “rugs” for wrapping furniture & will put them over the pots tonight. The rugs are thick & quilted & should keep the hostas from freezing.
Well my green salad and spinach seedlings in the greenhouse are dead from the freeze we got.
Baby cabbages in the greenhouse and baby radishes in the raised bed under a cold frame were unscathed.
I haven’t had a chance to look at the orchard trees yet.