April Fools' Cools Planting Fever

Another "holiday" this week was celebrated by Mother Nature in a big way.  Sunday and Monday were so nice ushering March "out like a lamb" and then -Wham!- she let go with the punchline on Tuesday - April Fools.  So let's discuss cool weather plants.  Pansy and viola are the first flowers that come to mind.  One time we had all the pansies and viola outside and the nighttime temperature was colder than forecast.  It was 22 degrees in the morning and we had left them uncovered.  But as the day warmed, they uncurled their frosty leaves and were all fine!  Several years ago we had a couple of inches of snow on them Mother's Day morning and again they all survived.  So as we progress into the planting season a few pansies in a pot or in a corner near the front door will smile back at you even if you leave them out in the cold!  And they smell good too!  But actually cool weather plants are those that prefer ground temperatures 40-50 degrees and daytime air temperatures 55-70. So in the vegetable garden, the first things would be radish, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage.  But until the ground thaws all we can do is wait and admit that Mother Nature pulled one over on us.