I managed to kill quite a few broccoli transplants. It was super hot in the greenhouse two weeks back when we had that lovely, unseasonably warm spell. I hauled out all the perennials, cole crops, and snapdragons. Then we had two extremely cold and windy days. Oddly enough, the snapdragons were the only ones showing no effect. The foxgloves look completely burned, while it will take a miracle to revive the broccoli. Oh well! Live and rarely learn.

Since one of my character assets is the ability to soldier on, I replanted some broccoli and did not remove my early Jersey Wakefield cabbage from its warm and cozy location under the bench in the hoophouse. It has been my observation in the last decade or so that March always goes out like a lion.

I seem unable to keep a working outdoor thermometer but I know that Palm Sunday morning was pretty darn cold. The animals’ water dishes all had a crust of ice and my recently purchased pansies took a hard hit.

I should have known better. I bought them knowing they had been grown in some huge commercial hothouse and shipped here from who knows where. I couldn’t resist the temptation, they were so cheerful. I’ve thrown twenty dollars away on other losing propositions many times before so there will be no beating up on myself.

I’m crazy about hyacinths. I usually pot five or six in a large hole so they make a definite statement. I’m not fond of a row of them lining a walkway. The problem with them, as well as with tulips, is that the blossoms get smaller and weaker as the years go by. This is the reason I stick to the early species or Darwin tulips. They tend to be perennial. Forget about the double Angeliques or Mount Tacoma. Granted they are spectacular at first but gone by year three. They would make quite a statement at an early spring wedding or other such event. Just don’t count on a repeat performance.

I noticed town is getting ready for Easter and spring openings. Window boxes are finally free of aging Christmas “greens” (are we calling them “browns” by now?) The Easter bunny waved at us from the Morrice the Florist parking lot.

I forced some peach blossoms. They were so plump it only took a few days. In a few weeks I will bring in some branches from my old dogwood. It is a Cornus Florida and will open inside to a lime green color as opposed to its outdoor white. I love the oriental effect of branches inside the house. A cutting of an evergreen loaded with cones is an interesting addition to a large twig arrangement.

It’s so sad to notice the various magnolias in full bloom. The heavy freeze and wind last week just ruined the blossoms.

The white star magnolia was particularly affected. The flowers turned brown and hang like soiled tissues. Even the beautiful Magnolia Soulangeana in the scallop-shell driveway on State Road, just past John’s Fish Market, is not its usual magnificent color. Would that we could control the weather. Oh, yeah, we can make it worse with our greedy, corporate, oil-guzzling practices.

I was a Hilary supporter in the 2008 primaries. I still adore her. I love how she put it aside, stepped up to the plate, and has admirably served her country. She has fought for women’s rights for years. Who knew we would have to put a dog in that fight here at home?

In a speech at Lincoln Center she said, “Why extremists always focus on women remains a mystery to me, but they all seem to. It doesn’t matter what country they’re in or what religion they claim. They want to control women. They want to control how we dress. They want to control how we act. They even want to control the decisions we make about our own health and bodies.”

What is a mystery to me is the endless Republican rhetoric about limited government, “get the government off my back,” Ronald Reagan’s “government is the problem.” Then, they legislate invasive medical procedures to shame women concerning difficult and sad reproductive choices. This war on women may backfire. President Obama is up nine points in the polls in the swing states.