Our kids have claimed the garden project for their own this year, especially the 20 year old, who has a summer job in a garden center. They have tight finances and nuclear disasters in mind, and they want to help out. I loved gardening when i was a kid, and it's a good healthy project, so i'm encouraging it but I see disappointment in the forecast.

We have a very small lot, nutrient-hogging trees and a pretty anal HOA. Our current veggie garden is a 6' X 1 1/2', North-facing, full sun bed. We've also got a big round, South-facing flower garden, and another 6' X 1' shaded East-facing bed that we'll try to convert.

We're limited in what we can grow by asthetics and yard invasion, but it's still too early for planting so they're starting with seeds right now.They didn't want potatoes, and don't have room for corn or grains, but I think they got everything else: onions, garlic, leeks, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, peppers, beans, peas, cucumbers, radishes, sunflowers, herbs, watermelon and a pumpkin. They even got some edible flowers.

We've got bunches of containers that we'll employ if they have success with the seeds.

I had to laugh this morningwhen my step-daughter headed out with a shovel to start digging. She came back in shortly thereafter, and with a frown said "the ground's still frozen."

Rather than say "I told you so", I gently reminded her that there's a reason "planting" is on the calendar for the end of May. May 24th is the traditional planting weekend in these parts, and for good reason.