I've still got at least one juvie up here, just saw him. I had probably 12-16 hummers fighting over my feeders two weeks ago. Now that the buckets of rain have stopped I'd expect to hear them squabbling if they were still here, but it's quiet. The adult male that guarded "his" window feeder hasn't been sighted for a week. I bet those of you south of me will be seeing some travelers soon. They will be looking for "pit stops" on the way so please keep at least one feeder up! I've got six of the mini single-port feeders and plan to keep at least one out until the end of the month.

I just about cleared out the garage of the palms (Washingtonia, Queens, Phoenix, Cycads, and Sabals). Now the citrus collection remains (will hold off a bit longer for them.) Sore all over but the weather has been great. In fact, thinking of being sick tomorrow so I can slather on some coconut oil and lounge under the palms. Even got a bit of a burn today the sun was so strong. Archictropical, we had snow dumped on us about a little over one week ago. There was two feet covering the yard and driveway. We went from record, blizzard conditions to crystal blue skies and temps near 60 F. in a little over a week. So as I was lugging the plants out, still had to cross snow pack in darker areas of the yard. I realize that I still might have to take a few back in again but the extended forecast looks okay and the next two will be tempting a lot of people to call in sick (terminal Spring fever). So hold on, Spring is coming your way!

Brandywine has been late and fruits were sparse when I grew them for a few years. You may have to be patient and enjoy the few you get to pick late in the year. Brandy Boy, an F1 hybrid, has ripened much quicker for me than Brandywine. My family and I find it tastes very much like Brandywine...great for BLTs. It also produces a lot more fruit here in Michigan than Brandywine. So it has become one of the few hybrids I grow each year. I usually start 5 seeds under lights inside with seed available only from Burpee and end up with 3-5 transplants. I'm not thrilled that seed is so tightly controlled, but I'm still starting seeds from a pack I purchased in 2009 so I haven't had to order new every year. Can't complain too much when we get taste, production, and earlier harvests from seed we purchase only every 5 years or so. You might want to give it a try next year if you want Brandywine-like taste in an earlier tomato.

What kind of orange is it? Oranges ripen at different times depending on the variety. If you know the variety, take a look at this chart from Four Winds Growers to see when yours will be ready. https://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/pages/citrus-variety-info-chart