Spring weather has arrived here in Athens. Locals say Good Friday is the safe planting date to avoid late frosts. Given the way Easter moves around, that’s tricky. I go with April 22–the day between the birthdays of Dad and his mother from whom I inherited a green thumb.

Little is blooming beyond some store-bought winter annuals planted last fall. Practically everything else came from this year’s seed-starting operation. I’ll do another post soon about flowers. Thanks to some rain (finally) and warmer temperatures, the newly-planted seedlings are taking off.

The best spot in the yard–a bed with great soil alongside the east side of the house–is primarily vegetables. I planted yellow squash, corn, green beans, two kinds of tomatoes, two types of peppers (store-bought) and some flowers. There are also a few cabbage and broccoli plants scattered about.

Five big pots scattered across the back contain a mix of flowers and vegetables. There’s a tomato (‘Celebrity’), personal watermelons, cucumbers, and okra. Some also contain a Wave petunia to spill over the side, moon vines to grow on the fence, or castor beans.

Sounds like a lot more produce than it is. For most varieties, there are only a few plants. The biggest plantings are corn and green beans with only a dozen or so of each. I’m hopeful, but planting ain’t gettin’.

The 2025 season is off to a good start. I’m cautiously optimistic. Let’s hope we get enough rain to keep everything going. I’ll keep you posted. As always, thanks for stopping by.