Deer moved into the yard; sleeping by the compost, under the big trees.

I put up a fence, but it doesn't make any difference to my new friend. S/he likes tulips ...

Overwintered edibles

Artichoke, against the south-facing garage wall; chard in the back garden bed; sage; rosemary; thyme.

Sprouts!

I planted peas a bit over 3 weeks ago and then there was frost the next night! Covered the beds the 2nd cold night, but then the rains came. When there was no sign of sprouting I replanted more peas last week, in the same rows, but spaced widely. Of course, the day after my loss of faith the first shoots from the first planting began to emerge.
The spinach was planted (seeds in the ground) way back in February when we had a "false spring". I planted a couple of very short rows, and only these pictured took hold; sheltered against the sides of the bed, getting south light bounced from the wood at their backs. The grid of wire over the spinach and the thin branches scattered loosely around the peas are an attempt to deter deer and cats. Both methods seem to be working o.k. so far!
Also sprouting:
pumpkin, melon, basil, tomato, eggplant, crookneck seeds indoors in a south window (laundry room).
And:
lettuce and more spinach from the ground near the earlier spinach in this photo.

Planting

Peas, with the trellis; spinach and lettuce, under the X.
Planted yesterday, and then a frost last night.
Tonight they are under tarps.

Also today, planted seeds for starts in pots: squash, pumpkins, eggplant, tomatoes (cherry), cucs and peppers (sweet). These will be in the laundry room, south facing windows.

Reflections

I woke with a start a bit after dawn this morning, thinking "It's time to plant!" It's cold and a little foggy this morning and ten minutes out tending the chickens basic needs (clean water in the can and letting them out to a grassy patch) had my fingertips frozen. We've just come off of a very cold spell, with a little snow and temps in the 29 - 34 degree (F) range sometimes in the daytime but definitely during the overnights. Still, there are some chard and lettuce plants hanging in there, small, thick-leafed and nestled in the most sheltered bed, which over-wintered and have survived the freeze. I came back inside, made my coffee, and checked out last year's posts from March. I am only one day past the day I started last year's indoor squash and eggplant seeds, so it IS time to plant! Do you suppose my subconscious keeps that calendar? So now my weekend is lined out: feed store (chickens need feed) and pick up some seeds (squash, cucs, peas, chard, lettuce, spinach). Plant the peas outside (this means clearing out the sheet compost layer where I want them and putting up a bamboo trellis). Clear out the back salad garden area and plant the spinach, chard and lettuce, and cover with a layer of wire fencing (against the cats, deer,birds and other critters interested in disturbed earth or new green tips when they emerge).