How quickly plants develop in the Spring! Iris is about to burst into bloom, as are peonies. The lilac bushes are fragrant. Sweet William now makes its appearance and adds to the purple-pinks -- the first blooms of the season.
Grass needs to be mowed again and the light rain will help it grow. Of course, that means hayfields, too, thankfully.
Life is busy, busy. I'm losing the race against time and will soon accept that I cannot keep up with the pace of Mother Nature. So, I do what I can do and try to be philosophical about it.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Asparagus Time
It's hard to believe, but I picked the first asparagus on Saturday and took them to the market. Many more are coming up each day.
I pulled the turnips and harvested their tops, as well as kale.
Eggs are abundant. That is an understatement. I'll need to make time to bake eggy poundcakes for the market tomorrow or Friday. The geese are especially productive and those are the best eggs for baking.
The peas, greens, and even beans and cucumbers are up in the garden. Some of the beans planted themselves, so there will be a good variety in addition to the new varieties I planted. Shallots and garlic are looking good.
In the greenhouse, tomatoes, peppers, and cabbages abound. It's time to start ferrying the overwintered plants up to the porches and courtyard.
Other tasks are taking up my time. Today, I'll try to finish painting the baseboard in a bedroom in the old farmhouse so that we can move the furniture back in to prepare for visitors. I painted the floor last week and paid for it in terms of muscle pain -- but it's done!
The roof that fell in on the shop ell is being rebuilt. Hopefully it will be enclosed before the rains come again. I'm looking forward to reclaiming the space.
I pulled the turnips and harvested their tops, as well as kale.
Eggs are abundant. That is an understatement. I'll need to make time to bake eggy poundcakes for the market tomorrow or Friday. The geese are especially productive and those are the best eggs for baking.
The peas, greens, and even beans and cucumbers are up in the garden. Some of the beans planted themselves, so there will be a good variety in addition to the new varieties I planted. Shallots and garlic are looking good.
In the greenhouse, tomatoes, peppers, and cabbages abound. It's time to start ferrying the overwintered plants up to the porches and courtyard.
Other tasks are taking up my time. Today, I'll try to finish painting the baseboard in a bedroom in the old farmhouse so that we can move the furniture back in to prepare for visitors. I painted the floor last week and paid for it in terms of muscle pain -- but it's done!
The roof that fell in on the shop ell is being rebuilt. Hopefully it will be enclosed before the rains come again. I'm looking forward to reclaiming the space.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
The Whole Bloomin' World
A loud crack of thunder woke me at about 3 a.m., then the pounding rain started. Yay, I thought: all the seeds I planted in the vegetable garden can start growing now.
As it is , even though it's been dry for more than a week there are tiny chard and beet seedlings. The pea plants are up. Overwintered kale and turnips have been doing well and the rhubarb looks splendid.
In the greenhouse, the tomatoes and peppers have emerged. They'll stay inside until all danger of frost is gone and the nighttime temperatures stay above fifty. We can be lulled into a false sense of complacency because we've had sticky near-90 F. temps during the daytime already, but I see some cooler weather coming on the weekend.
The weeping cherry is loaded with pink blossoms and all the fruit trees are now in bloom. I've mowed the grass once already, dodging the bees busily pollinating pears, plums, peaches, apricots and apples.
Daffodils are declining and tulips are in full bloom. Blue pulmonaria is blooming and the lilacs are ready to open their blooms.
The two day fly swarm is over. I'm not sure what that's all about, but think it some mass mating ritual. It's yucky, so am glad it's short term. I see that wasps are already making nests in sheltered places.
If it rains some more, I'll transplant Cannas which I was given last year. New growth has emerged in the pots in the greenhouse. The fig which looked like a dead stick has not only developed leaves, there are tiny fruits at the ends. It needs transplanting outside too.
As it is , even though it's been dry for more than a week there are tiny chard and beet seedlings. The pea plants are up. Overwintered kale and turnips have been doing well and the rhubarb looks splendid.
In the greenhouse, the tomatoes and peppers have emerged. They'll stay inside until all danger of frost is gone and the nighttime temperatures stay above fifty. We can be lulled into a false sense of complacency because we've had sticky near-90 F. temps during the daytime already, but I see some cooler weather coming on the weekend.
The weeping cherry is loaded with pink blossoms and all the fruit trees are now in bloom. I've mowed the grass once already, dodging the bees busily pollinating pears, plums, peaches, apricots and apples.
Daffodils are declining and tulips are in full bloom. Blue pulmonaria is blooming and the lilacs are ready to open their blooms.
The two day fly swarm is over. I'm not sure what that's all about, but think it some mass mating ritual. It's yucky, so am glad it's short term. I see that wasps are already making nests in sheltered places.
If it rains some more, I'll transplant Cannas which I was given last year. New growth has emerged in the pots in the greenhouse. The fig which looked like a dead stick has not only developed leaves, there are tiny fruits at the ends. It needs transplanting outside too.
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