Meditation on Frosts

These last few nights, we have had patchy frosts.  Some things in the garden and yard have taken a hit and others don't seem to.  We won't know for some time the extent of the hit on the fruit crop.  We are hopeful.  Tender Hosta leaves have "melted down".  New grape leaves and stems have melted down too.  Roses are still standing high.  Some of the peas have a few brown leaves.  The potatoes are not happy at all.  Melanie visited with a cousin in town today; they mulched in their potatoes.  Gee, we keep learning.

When weather warms up dramatically as it did earlier and ground temperatures do not cool due to a warmer winter, seasons seem out of sync.  The cold will surely return and it has.  More is coming.  It is comforting to have a bit of what should be April weather.  Yet, things are mixed up and confused.  We are trying to find our place.

Monarch butterflies have been reported on a line from Kansas City to St. Louis.  That is about 90 miles south of here.  I am not sure what Monarchs eat or need early in the season.  I do know that milkweed is a major host plant.  And I do know that these warm season plants are not to be found.  So, should the lovely Monarchs arrive, what would they do after they got here?  I shudder just thinking about it. http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/monarch_spring2012.html

When I was growing up, we were supposed to be grateful for the food that was placed before us.  We were not supposed to complain.  And we were supposed to eat anything and everything that the adults had prepared.  We were supposed to adjust.  I don't think it works that way for Monarchs.