The 48-hour day

Shadows play across the front lawn. A white-flowered serviceberry punctuates the morning scene from earlier this week.

This is the time of year when we enjoy more hours of daylight but there still aren't enough hours in the day to get it all done. For example:

• The flats of lobelia, alyssum, osteospermum, parsley, salvia and other annuals in the cold frame need daily watering. And fertilizing every couple of days. All in preparation for what will be an orgy of planting in the ground in a few weeks.

• The seedlings under the lights downstairs need to be transplanted. And watered. And fertilized.

• Some seeds still need to be sown -- I'm way late on the datura. But I finally got to the castor bean and malabar spinach.

• Weeds are growing as fast as the perennials (or faster!). Choice perennials need to be divided and moved. And mulched. 

• The pond needs a cleaning. The garden furniture needs to be oiled. The deck needs a coat of sealer.

Whew! If only I could trade some of those winter hours for more hours in the spring. If not 48 hours in a day, maybe 32?