Where Have all the Flowers Gone?

The other day I had to go to Lowe's for some tools and guy stuff.

I love going to home improvement /maintenance stores because there is always something cool to look at that I didn't realize that I needed.

Lowe's Garden Department in Early January

I was looking, on this trip, for some simple fencing to help restrain Riordin, the cat who came back, from jumping off the deck and wandering off into the great unknown, again.

Yes, it seems that his curiosity has gotten the better of him and he has found a spot that is only six or so feet off the soft earthy ground to jump down to freedom.

Not wanting to go through the pain of losing him again, he is currently on lock-down until the restraint can be installed.

The fencing is kept near the garden center and so after heading out the doors, I was greeted by a very stark and empty sight--the garden center was empty. No plants, almost nothing. The area in the image is full to overflowing with plants and trees and flowers during most of the year--but on this dreary January day, it was a drab uninviting place.

I was stunned!

It made sense, but still, I had never experienced such emptiness in a store before. I can only imagine what it will look like by the end of February as the sturdy, cold-tolerant plants begin to arrive for the gardener in me to buy, and plant, and dig in the earth.

Given there is snow on the ground and more in today's forecast, I cannot wait for warmth and Springtime to arrive.

13 weeks until pool opening!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD