Its sort of an in-between time, most of the pruning is done and for many of us the new growing season has not yet started.  We've been hit by polar vortexes and many of us are concerned about how much damage has been done by the unusual cold. It hit me as I looked over at a sunny window, that instead of worrying about what we will find in spring, we should be celebrating our small successes and minor miracles.  So here's a chance to share what you are feeling good about.

As I look at my window, I see a whole bunch of small potted figs blocking my view of the outside. Last year I started 12 cuttings and lost just about all of them.  This year using the knowledge learned from the forum, I have successfully rooted Celeste, Dominick, HC, Petes Honey, Tarantela, Lattarula, Mission Blacks and several mystery cultivars which have outgrown their rooting chambers and are soaking up the late winter sun in sunny windows. I have more light and dark mystery cultivars, Sarizebek and Kadota which have rooted and are leafing out.  In another week, they too should be ready to migrate from the rooting closet to a sunny window.  Still in the rooting closet sit half a dozen other varieties more recently started.  Presumably by the time these are rooted, the weather will be warm enough for the bulk of my pots to be moved to the sun porch until it is warm enough for them to go outside. I have only lost a handful of the cuttings I started. Most of these were the first group which I started and which were not left to sit in the fridge for any length of time.  It does seem to me that the cuttings which were stored for several weeks have rooted and leafed out more quickly and with less drama than those that I planted immediately upon receipt. So no matter what the weather may have done to my outdoor trees, it will be the start of an exciting new growing season.