We are doing the happy dance here at North Coast Gardening, because we have just passed our official last frost date here on the coast in Humboldt County. This means I’m planting all the frost-sensitive Fuchsias, lemon trees, sages, etc that I’ve held off on planting all winter.

Most of these plants will make it through a winter just fine if they get established through the first summer and are protected their first winter.

Here’s the full list of what I’m planting now: Frost-Tender Beauties to Plant in Spring, not Fall.

We’re also getting a lot of pruning done on these frost-sensitive guys – whacking the old protective stems off of Mexican bush sages, trimming off dead tips on lemons and angel’s trumpets, etc. Here’s a quick tutorial: What to Prune in Spring, not Winter.

I’m also just starting to harden off my little tomato and squash starts, bringing them outside during the day and bringing them in at night to get them ready for full-time Life in the Great Outdoors. At this point, I’m more worried about the ravages of chickens than I am the weather. I hope you’re having as much fun as I am getting your seedlings and such ready. Don’t forget the Sluggo!

I’ve been spending most of my time outside gardening rather than inside reading, but I did come across this article on The Onion that had me snickering all the way through it:

Onlookers expressed shock and grudging admiration Wednesday after noticing a full load of mulch had been dumped in what all agreed was a pretty ballsy location.

The 50 pounds of compost was reportedly shoveled onto the extremely unorthodox spot either Monday afternoon or early Tuesday morning. Though the identity of the individual who dumped the mulch there is not yet known, sources confirmed that whoever he is, he’s got a real set of stones down there.

I wish someone would comment on MY ballsy use of mulch! Or, um, maybe I don’t.

That’s it for the week’s highlights – don’t forget to enter to win the raised bed kit from Eartheasy – I’ll draw the winner on Wednesday!