As I write this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, it is 29°F this morning. Yesterday was a howling, cold day with a high of 43°. We burned another fire in the fireplace, and I was grateful not to be a settler or one of the native tribes who lived in Oklahoma around the turn of the last century. Every time the wind howled, it reminded me of wolves. The smoke from the fires out west made our prairie sky red at night. My daughter took this photo of the sun from our car when we were out to dinner. The western Oklahoma prairie has been on fire for several days because of a stray spark and that howling wind. Two nights ago, the wind blew the smoke from those prairie fires into the central part of Oklahoma, and we could hardly breathe. I feel for my neighbors in Vici and Woodward, along with everyone else...

For the 2018 freeze tonight, to cover or not to cover is the question. The forecasted low for Guthrie, Oklahoma, tomorrow morning is 24°F according to Oklahoma's Mesonet. The state of the rest of the state isn't much better. We've already had two 32°F lows this week which killed off some foliage, but it wasn't a disaster. I've lamented about tomorrow's low all week on my Instagram feed. I'm surprised anyone still follows me.  I keep showing pretty pictures and telling myself and the rest of the world it's going to be okay, and part of me believes that. Rain began falling about midday. So, again, to cover or not to cover. My garden is about an acre and a half these days. I'm not worrying about anything near the house. If you decide to cover, whatever you use should either reach the ground so that the heat from the...

It's nearly time. Phlox divaricata, woodland phlox, in my back garden in late March. Each day I go outside and clear off more debris to give the Phlox divaricata, woodland phlox, a chance to breathe and absorb the sun's rays. Phlox divaricata with Narcissus 'Geranium'. It's a heady time filled with birdsong and the scent of both daffodils and woodland phlox, a beautiful wildflower that should be grown in every garden. Also called wild blue phlox and wild sweet William, it is a gorgeous and ephemeral plant that spreads by seeds and roots. Some people think it takes over the shade garden, but I guess I don't mind. I spread the seeds and move clumps about here and there for better coverage. As soon as it finishes blooming, P. divaricata blends back into the landscape unnoticed until next spring. Phlox divaricata, woodland phlox with Mexican feather grass planted in a shallow...

It's time to start tomato seeds in Oklahoma. Why start your own tomato seeds? Because you can control what goes into your plants. If you want to grow tomatoes organically, starting seeds gives you control from start to finish. 'Honey Drop' tomato from Hudson Valley Seed Co. is the best and sweetest cherry tomato I've ever eaten. Who can argue with that? Why would anyone want to? Repurposed containers for seed planting. On top of the containers, you can see the grit I used that year. Some of the top plants are tomatoes, and others are peppers. If you're going to start tomatoes, you might as well start peppers too. They both grow at about the same rate and require the same conditions. How to start tomato seeds. Starting tomato seeds may seem hard. I was once intimidated by the process, but it's really  not. You do need certain equipment...