The weather here in Iowa has not been conducive to farmers or gardeners or anyone who wants to be outside.  Typically by now I have some things planted.  Typically I’m chomping at the bit to want to buy plants, pots, potting soil and all things garden…but the weather has not been favorable at all.  It’s been cold…and now rainy.  Look at that forecast on my computer.  Although some of those chances are only 30 or 40% chances of rain, it looks down right depressing.

I’ve been starting to see photos from other places of people gardening and although it makes me happy for them, for me, I’m a little sad.

Rather than mope I had a little talk with myself encouraging myself to think of some things I can do.  I may not be able to full-fledge garden but I can do some prep work.

I ended up out in the garden and started making some plans as to what is going where.  I had seven rhubarb plants.  I don’t need that many!!  When Kramer was living I made about two desserts a week.  He loved rhubarb so I often made rhubard crisp, pies and other desserts.  Now that he’s not here, I just don’t need that much rhubarb taking up my garden space.
I took a picture of my plants and then on Facebook put a message on my wall that said anyone who was interested in plants could come and take them.

A friend immediately said she’d take some.  She talked to her daughter and daughter in law and they all wanted some too so she ended up taking it all.  WHEW.  I didn’t have the problem getting rid of it like I did my lawn mower.

Kramer and I got this rhubarb from someone I knew.  We had been to an estate sale and the family had sold their parent place.  There was a GIANT rhubarb patch and a couple of the siblings were digging up a rhubarb plant.  Kramer spoke up and asked if we could buy some plants from them as he wanted us to have more plants.  They said feel free to take whatever was left as the new owners didn’t want any rhubarb.

So…Kramer dug it all up.  We planted it and it took off like crazy.  The plants were big and HUGE.

I started digging about 20 minutes before my friend came.  Oh my, what a work out.  Those plants were stuck in there tight.  I got several dug out and ready to go.  There were two left to dig out when my friend showed up.

We dug and dug and dug.  It was so hard to get them out.  I didn’t realize that roots could go down that deep.  At one point my friends shoe got stuck in the shovel and she toppled over.  I’m sure the two of us out there trying to wrangle the rhubarb would have been commical to watch.

We finally got them out and loaded up.  Oh my!  At least that job is done.

So…I ended up keeping two plants.  That’s still a lot for me but it’s better than it was.  I think I could be content with one plant.  I’ll try two for now and if that ends up being too much I’ll give away one of the plants next spring.

I have holes to fill in now.  That will give me something to do in the dirt to hopefully keep me content for a little while.

I think I’m going to buy some strawberry plants and put a few in this area.  I don’t plan on having a lot…just a few so the grandkids can see where strawberries come from.  I’ve tried plants several times with no luck so hopefully they work for me this year.

Tonight I think I’m going to start some morning glory seeds.  They take a long time to germinate so hopefully in three weeks the weather will be nice, they will have sprouted and I can plant them.

What a crazy Spring.  I really am itching to garden but am so thankful for the few little things I can do before the weather turns nice.