Wake Up, Spring Forward

This is my little hoop house. It's a simple structure made out of PVC pipe, cattle panels and 1"x1" pieces of wood. It was a gifting from my 2008 class of

Master Gardeners after their training.

It doesn't look like much here, but in the summer I like to grow

Black Eyed Susan Vine and Sweet Potato Vine

and let the plants intertwine themselves up the frame.

Other years, it's just a nice little garden structure to enjoy.

This time of year, we cover it with plastic so it can be put to use as a hot house for early plant propagation and perennial revival.

Which was a muddy proposition yesterday.

It's not perfect and yes, I use clothespins to hold some of the ends of the plastic on the inside.

But you know what, it gets the job done. By the time I'd cut the opening for the door yesterday, the temperature had risen to 80 degrees in there.

I've been hosting some overwintering perennials,

heeled down into my raised beds and covered with mulch.

They are for the Master Gardener Plant Sale on April 28th. Last fall, volunteers dug in various gardens and potted up plant material.

And now it's time to wake them from their long winter's nap and move them in from the cold.

So my little hoop house may not win any design awards,

and it's no Fort Knox when it comes to leaks...

But I know some happy plants that are out there right now.

And aren't those little Peony noses I see?

Stay tuned...