Hi Donna, much has happened in the last 7-8 months I have been to Iowa 3 times. Lost my Mother and Step Dad within 13 days of each other and just went back for my Nephew's funeral last month. I also started a new job and am helping to build the company so I am working about 80 hours a week, Senior Vice President I might add ;). Thank GOD this is a work at home job so I wont miss my Blues, even better, most of what I do is on the phone so I can be outside keeping an eye on them. Anybody in here good on the phones? I have not seen a Mrs. Blue yet. It will be interesting to see if hussy mama shows up for him or if she shows up with her second mate from last year (Joe Daddy). I think I have my 5 boxes set up far enough so that I could have both pairs. Im torn between hoping that I may get 3 nesting this year and not wanting them to start so early because of the possible bad weather. They will do what they will do. The Juncos are still here so I am sure we have not seen the last snow. I swear I feel like a beginner this time every year. Janie May you puttin up your camera box this year?

Congrats! I have five little ones myself, I'm still amazed! Nice picture, by the way!! Quietman NE Ohio

Deep in my heart, I'm thinking that if I can keep the Better Boy purchased plant happy enough, we might get a ripe tomato earlier than ever before. Only that one tomato plant raised from seed has managed to flower before Super Bowl Sunday and might produce fruit almost as quickly as the purchased plant, but others that are equally large might bloom soon. Some of them are getting that look about them. If only the weather would settle down a little so I could start the whole routine of carrying plants out into the sunlight. I am concerned about the chickens getting the green plants, which has not been a problem in the past. This group of chickens, largely new to us last Spring, are different though---they love green plants and travel far and wide, free-ranging about 4 times farther than any other flock we've ever had, looking for greens and insects daily. I'm probably going to have to carry the flats out to the garden so I can lock out the chickens. In the past, I just put the flats on a table and the birds left them alone. I don't think that will work this year. Our weather is so crazy. I'm looking forward to the warming trend that begins in earnest tomorrow, but not looking forward to the escalating fire danger. Our soil is warmer than usual for this time of the year, and our forecast high for Monday is 77. That seems like it would be a good day to plant onions if I am at home. I hate planting in cold weather, and this year I think I won't even have to do it---at least not with the onions.

Ive had 2 baby blue eyes and 10 or so baby blue in the ground about 4 years(one year the local nursery got waaaaaaaay tooo many baby blue(blue is cool blue is cool blue is cool blue is cool blue is cool, and in case you forget blue is cool!)), pulled out the worst looking/greenest ones and sold them for cheap). Baby blue eyes is noticeably denser, at least in these smaller specimens. Baby blue is seed grown and thus there will be some variation bw specimens (Ive observed this is color with some noticeably more green or blue than others). According to the grower in Ontario, Canada, baby blue is a “slightly narrower” version of a basic P. Pungens. Only have one close pic of baby blue eyes and none of baby blue. If it was me, Id get one or two of each. If I had to pic just one, I would pick the baby blue eyes. It seems like one of the older tried and true varieties that has been largely been overlooked in more recent years. The baby blue eyes specimen I planted in the front yard, which is largely shade, has been doing quite well. In time though, who knows as I also like the idea that baby blue will probably be narrower in the long term.