School is pretty busy. Today I gave the lunchtime research seminar. The advanced stats kiddos (ok, not really kiddos, they're all within a couple years of my age) turned in their first problem set so I have to grade them. Fortunately there are only 22 of them, as opposed to the 50 problem sets I had to grade each week last fall (which majorly contributed to my nervous breakdown). Next week I have two grant applications due. Sometime in the next couple weeks I'll be setting up my first lab experiment.

So: February. Getting a little closer to spring...although there's a wet snow falling outside right now. My indoor broccoli seedlings just sprouted. I've also got last year's onions that I started from seed growing under my plant light. Pretty soon I will probably start some cauliflower, then a second round of broccoli, all of which I won't be around to enjoy since I'll be in Maine. With me gone probably early May-late August solid, Ryan will have to tend to the garden, harvest, and eat or preserve everything. He's not too interested, so I have to sweeten the deal for him by only planting stuff that he likes. So no zucchini this year :P I am planning:

Perennials:
strawberries (should get lots, and maybe early enough for me to get some fresh ones!)
raspberries
assorted herbs

Cool season:
lettuce/spinach
broccoli
cauliflower
snap peas
shelled peas
carrots
onions

Warm season:
green beans
watermelon
honeydew melon
pumpkins
potatoes
soybeans

My apple, peach, and hazelnut trees are still too young to fruit, but they'll be around growing, too.

I am going to miss my garden during the summer. It was such a peaceful, happy feeling last year when I grabbed my morning cup of coffee, let the cattens out in the backyard, and strolled around in the early sun checking up on how much my plants were growing...who was flowering...what I could harvest. All wearing shorts and flip-flops. Summer, I miss you!