Cant even imagine living up north, you all are tough! It is cold today in east Texas but I have been out planting my bare roots and finishing pruning. I found my first bud today! Its on Grandmother's Hat - a $2 rose I got years ago from Chamblees sales bin. I noticed for the first time that some of the trees are thinking about putting out leaves. Have a white flag iris blooming, but none of the rest of them are. Have seen bluebirds, but no robins. Fish are coming up to eat in my ponds when I throw feed. Daffodils are blooming. We can certainly always expect another freeze. Last year, it came when my huge wisteria was in full bloom. Just wrecked it - no more scent, fried blooms. I was furious! Will be ready for it this year. I am getting one of those pop up tents from Big Lots, will hang tarps around the sides and put heat lamps on extension cords to keep it warm. Will probably be the laughingstock of the neighborhood but I WILL save my wisteria! Hooray for spring! Judith

Pumpkins and squash need to be mature, but you don't usually pick a 'green' or 'tender' squash like you do a cucumber. When those are ripe you should be fine. Tomato seeds need to be fully mature. I know I like to eat my tomatoes while they are still firm, not squishy. The seeds are better to save if I let a few tomatoes remain on the vine as long as possible and I sacrifice them for seed. Peppers can be tricky for the same reason. Many times I pick a pepper early because of the tenderness, the number of peppers I have available at the same time, etc. Those seeds need time to get mature, too. Since I prefer middle-mild to "so hot it burned the buds off my tongue" I pick those peppers early. Those need to wait for sure to get good viable seeds. Lots of people have trouble letting their veggie seeds dry completely, but they'll mold in little baggies if they aren't good and dry. Seeds like chives, carrots, radish have to form on the stalks and be mature, like you said. Plant a few extra carrots you can just leave for seed. You might check to be sure they are heirloom seed or they may be sterile. Lots of commercial seed is sterile (won't produce when planted). So basically....you were right!

Sounds like my yard. Today is day four of not filling my squirrel proof perch feeder I have a screened Nyjer feeder only. I also took down a nest in my soffit but there are still many crooks and crannies in my 1945 clapboard cottage. Don’t know what else to do. They even try to guard the birdbaths. I don’t want to harm them just push them to new area. I was starting to get Bluebirds but saw house finch chase it ☹️

I went by a meeting house I go to and they had a real nice Agave weber blooming and I took my camera to take a picture and they had cut it down while the flowers were in their prime. True it is right by where the cars park and a mobile home type office . We wouldn't want any suets from a dented car body. Cars aren't what they used to be and all. I didn't get a picture but I got a real big 2' pup that they had thrown out with the carcass. They were throwing the baby out with the bath water so to speak.