I started most of my seeds Jan. 4. I transplanted this year on 2/24, two weeks earlier than last year. It's been pretty mild with only one light frost and a lot of 80's/60's days the last week or so. My first fruit is on my first container plant, which I thought was a Bloody Butcher, but since Bloody Butcher is a potato leaf variety, this is a mystery plant. The seeds were given to me so I won't complain and the plant is setting fruit nicely too. Most of my in-ground plants are putting out their first blooms. I'm growing 30 plants(many colors and sizes) this year, 6 of which are at a church garden. I live in the DFW area. Happy growing, Pete

In NW Oregon we have had less than 1/3 of our normal rainfall. We have no measurable snow pack-there have even been forest fires in January! I believe we're going to be in a drought this year. We're nearly to the point that if we get significant rain, it will cause short term flooding at lower elevations and wreak havoc. We are dependent on snow pack to recharge the groundwater and storage reservoirs-rain fall just tends to run off and flow directly to the Pacific Ocean. California is a similar situation. So the west is practically guaranteed to be a tinder box this year because the moisture index in the vegetation is at dangerous levels. We did have a deep freeze (nothing like the polar vortex!) just after Thanksgiving, but since then-virtually no rain and temps are typical. But to wear T-shirts in January-well-that's really unusual, as we've been in the 50's during the day.

A big storm blew thru our area, the meteorologists called it a "derecho". Blew down 3 trees, which squashed our camper, kayaks. One big tree broke the tops out of 4 other trees as it fell, smashed up our roof, siding and came to rest on our deck. It broke rafters and the deck railing and supports, warped everything and slightly pulled the deck away from the house. No power or water for 4 days. 100+ temperatures. It has been kind of exciting around here. On the bright side, we were not home when the trees actually fell, so it didn't scare us. And everything is insured, so no troubles there. The only thing not insured was our small sailboat and the trunk of the tree missed it by 4 " ! No damage at all. Power and water restored this morning, not looking forward to dumping contents of refrig, though! My husband and daughter baked me a birthday pineapple upside down cake with a cast iron Dutch oven and charcoal briquettes ; ) Neighbors and community all pulled together, out cutting up trees to open up roads and helping to clear up damage. Sharing ice and gasoline. Checking on each other. The way people are supposed to behave. ; ) Feling very grateful.

Haahahahaa! Karen this is SO funny. I'm bursting into laughter reading these posts again, and remembering writing and reading them at the time. Well done! And my favourite part about Martha Stewart dropping in with her dish towel parachute!!! WAY too funny!