Garden Planning on a Warm Gray Day

It's gray outside the office window this morning, but it's also warm. There's hope that this long unusually cold winter will end. Being stuck in the office most of the day I forgot what warm air and sunshine feels like, so I took a break yesterday to gather some spring inspiration. Here's a few pictures I took, hopefully they'll inspire you, too.

This picture doesn't do justice to the magnificent koi pond at this nursery. There was a sleepy white giant at the bottom of the pond and a unique large canary yellow koi with with heavily frayed fins. I could have watched them all day.

The same nursery had a couple of sample raised vegetable beds that made me feel guilty for not having anything started in mine yet. Soon my pretties, soon!

 This is my favorite picture from nursery hopping that day. I like the fun cacti sign "Fun to collect, easy to grow!" I like anything that advertises a plant like it's a toy, so misleading and amusing! I also like the highly faded pinata they felt included to include in the cacti section. Cacti doesn't grow anywhere but in Mexico, land of the pinatas!

This weekend I'm going to finish off my raised bed at the community garden, start more seeds, and plant some organic transplants. I like growing from seed better, but a short cut is needed to lift my spirits after this long, cold winter.