This year's winter-to-spring transition in my part of zone 4b was rough and the garden is looking haggard because of it, so I took a cruise through last year's photos to find something to share as my first post. Absolutely cannot wait for this year's snap peas- something about the plants just delights me.
These are Oregon Sugar Pod II and Mammoth Melting. This year I added a few other varieties to the mix (Admiral, SS 141) as well as the Swedish Tall Red* just to see what happens.
Oh, that projection hurts to hear, I'm so sorry. :( If I've learned anything from attempting to grow crops and otherwise subsistence gardening, it's utter and complete respect for farmers and anyone else who relies on their plants for income. Being at the mercy of the weather isn't for the faint of heart.
Our spring was something like...extremely rapid snowmelt with a bonus late frost, and almost immediately two weeks of highs near 90 and (seriously oddball for the region) almost no rain for weeks. All of my starts were ravaged by hungry and thirsty wildlife/insects, and who can blame 'em.
Yeah, this is my first year really gardening and the thing I keep thinking is "oh, this is why famines have plagued the entirety of human history. I get it now." It's really easy for all of your food to just... vanish.