I'm with you Jackie. I consider the social distancing an opportunity to get some serious garden work done. This does not of course minimize in any way the seriousness of needing to keep the virus spread contained or limit contact with medically fragile individuals. I also have plenty of sympathy for people whose incomes depend on putting in hours that they are not allowed to spend at the moment, or people who have to wrestle with competing concerns for kids staying home from school and work if available.

It's just that for gardeners the notion of "having" to stay home and play in the dirt is not exactly a bad thing, coming as it does at springtime no less. With my work moving almost entirely online I can choose to spend nice days outside and rainy/snowy days or nights inside doing work. Gardening gives us something positive to focus on in this time of stress. It also gives extra incentive to vegetable and fruit gardens so that we won't have to shop for as much produce in about 48 days (as soon as the early lettuce and radishes start bearing).

Any good news is nice to have at times like this and my garden is always a source of peace for me anyway.

Cynthia

I am soooo in agreement with you both!

Today, I re-potted roses, cleared out and organized items on the patio, pulled weeds and trimmed a couple of low hanging branches on what looks to be some sort of juniper or pine tree... Tomorrow I am going to direct sow annual seeds and pull more weeds.

I have also been keeping gardeners working. A couple of guys will be coming out in a couple of days to mow the lawn, and complete Spring maintenance for the yard and little bed. (booked online :) )

Pulling weeds is very theraputic!

Jackie

I do so ardently agree with this. Our household went into self-quarantine almost a month ago, though with the freedom of our country life we're not feeling claustrophobic...maybe a little tired of being stuck at home, but that's minor. The situation is rather worrying, even for us with our relative good fortune, and the garden and woods, working there, wandering around looking there, make me feel better.

I forget all about the virus when I'm working in my garden. I read something about a lady over 100 years old who lived through the Spanish Flu when she was little. She says you have to keep focused on the good things. I hope we all stay well....I have been wondering about how you are, Melissa, and hoping for the best.

I was feeling deprived of good music while driving in my car. I have a car that has a CD player and I've misplaced a lot of my CD's. So I bought some at Habitat For Humanity for fifty cents each. One has been particularly lovely and I think, perfect for spring. It is Andres Segovia playing guitar. I play this for my grandsons when I pick them up from school, or did, back when school was still in session. But it is so happy, so peaceful, utterly in the moment and exquisite like sunlight in a drop of rain. I want them to hear sweetness and loveliness. You can tell Segovia was delighting himself while playing it. Spring is still unfolding, not to be missed amid all the worry.