| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| free bird |
Posted - Feb 20 2005 : 06:16:40 AM
Here it is, sleepy early Sunday morning when I should be relaxing, and how is it I suddenly find myself in this odd situation of having to run to the garden and do early chores? Moving out trays of seedlings, putting cardboard over newly planted areas so the chickens won't scratch it up...How did this happen. Last year I didn't have a vegetable garden (too busy at work, etc, lots of excuses) and I got out of the habit of hoeing, pulling weeds, etc. This year it looks like it will be great for a big vegetable garden in the chicken yard, because the chickens have got rid of all the grass for me and killed all the bugs. (Or so I am hoping!)
Well I planted beans, squash, and corn yesterday. Found a ton of grass roots and had a workout trying to get them out. I feel as though I had a 12-hour long session at the gym. It got dark and I was still trying to finish planting the squash rows. I really get obsessed with finishing something. By 7:30 pm my jeans were covered in dirt (flashlight even covered with dirt) and I still was not anywhere near finished.
Ring a bell to any of you? One week it's winter and things are still in the planning, and the next week suddenly you have everything to do at once. I planted romano pole beans, and some ornamental corn (the kind with little multi-colored ears that you can use in crafts). And I planted a Mexican kind of summer squash called "tatume squash"--it's a true vining squash that trails all over the place on the ground and puts out new roots where it goes on the ground. It can run 30 feet or so away from the original plant. I thought it would be good to have under the corn, to help shade the corn's roots when it gets hot here (which it wil soon). It makes squash in little oval green-striped balls that look and taste something like zucchini, really good in Mexican squash recipes that use the spice cumin. (By the way, I have found that cumin is really good to use with any kind of summer squash--gives it a really smokey meat-like flavor).
I also planted white patty pan squash, and next I'm going to plant my favorite, yellow crook-neck squash (ran out of time yesterday!)
I love my chickens |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| free bird |
Posted - Mar 03 2005 : 04:59:17 AM
Update: OK, it's definitely spring here, but it's the rainiest spring I've seen in a long time. Torrential rain last week for 3 days, and again yesterday. (The rain came here after flooding southern California.) Time for replanting, because my beans and squash got flooded out. That ornamental corn is a real trooper, it came up in the rain and now it's standing in 3 inches of water but still going. I planted all these in the lowest part of my garden, becaause in the the dry hot times that usually works out good for waterr-thirsty plants (my okra really thrived during the long hot summers when it was planted in the lower part of the garden). But thanks to "El Nino" this spring the beans and squash got flooded out instantly. Oh well, I'll plant again, I reckon it will get dry and hot really soon now. (I seem to recall that whenever there's been a wet spring here in the past, it was followed by a dry hot summer.)
I also had planted a long row of birdhouse gourds in the wire tomato cages my chicken yard last week. I hope they come up. If not, I have more seed. Hoping for some sunny days soon.
My tomato, pepper, eggplant seedlings are growing strong, and I'll plant some of them in my chicken yard in a few weeks. Also I have seedlings of oregano, basil, chamomile, and also I've started marigolds and zinnias and strawflowers. In just a few weeks they'll be ready to plant out in the garden. I've still got a lot of weeding to do before that.
You mentioned robins, I guess they're harbingers of Spring--I saw many of them here beginning in early February. Also the wild peach trees here are blooming. (Not really wild, but we call them "wild peach" because they naturalize really well here and they have smaller peaches, but really good ones, really sweet with a slight tart bite).
I love my chickens |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Mar 03 2005 : 03:50:21 AM
We are under 18" of snow and have a possibility of another storm next week. We won't see daffs until later in April. I am ready for spring. I'm even eager for mud season (our fifth season on the year). It's so nice to read of and envision your springs!
Robin
Thyme For Ewe Farm
www.thymeforewe.com |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Mar 02 2005 : 8:07:01 PM
we are having an early spring here too..my daffodils have been blooming just a few days now. I wish I had more. The tulips take a little longer. I don't dare plant my garden yet, but I have been working a little on my herb garden and starting things in pots inside. I am so jealous of people with the seeds in the ground already! I noticed as I drove by Walmart today that they had their big outside "greenhouse" up now and so that is a sign that spring is near!!!
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
| bramble |
Posted - Mar 02 2005 : 3:02:34 PM
WOW! And thanks for giving this snowbound northerner a taste of eternal spring and what will come ...eventually! I am enjoying your descriptive powers and envisioning these grand landscapes both large and small unfolding around you. Drink it in, soak it up, leave no detail unnoticed !And thanks for sharing!
with a happy heart |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Mar 02 2005 : 12:12:19 PM
Eileen - your area sounds absolutely beautiful. We here in North Florida are also having the beginnings of spring. I continue to have broccoli, lettuce, snap peas and caulifower growing in my winter garden, and they are giving enough to get two or three meals a week.
The azaleas are blooming, as well as the redbud trees, the Japanese magnolias, and cherry trees. The daffodils are coming through but not flowering yet. We had a freeze last night, so I had to cover the gardens with tarps. The feeders are empty every night from the constant feasting of the American Goldfinches. They really tank up before heading north. There are also cardinals, chickadees, tufted titmice, woodpeckers, wrens (looking for bugs and a place to nest on my porch), blue jays and several hawks who, while screeching, cast huge moving shadows on the ground as they circle close looking for lunch. Do they eat small birds or just raid nests for eggs? I know I have seen them with baby squirrels in their mouths before.
It is also mating time for the owls, so we hear them a lot and get to see them in the daytime too.
All God's critters are ready for Spring, it seems!
jpbluesky |
| Eileen |
Posted - Mar 02 2005 : 09:33:30 AM
We are having a very early spring here so I can talk garden to you. I have a Rhodie blooming already and the wild umeboshi plums are in full bloom. The bees are out pollinating everything already and all of the hazelnuts are covered with catkins. My daffodils will be open by tomorrow and all of the tulips are at least 6 inches tall or more. I have crocuses open and the iris beds have sprung to life overnight. The local magnolias are beginning to open up and all of my hydrangea are covered with 1 inch new growth. My primroses that are 6 years old are covered with color and the hellebores have been in bloom for a month.All of my roses have lush new growth except for the wild ones. The momma deer has a new set of twins and I see them regularly. Had to scold momma for eating on one of my new tulips yesterday but she has not tried it again. the swans have returned to center valley and are 60 members strong this year. The western tanengers have returned as I heard their very familiar beautiful song yesterday. Pregnant robins are everywhere here especially in my holly bushes eating their fill of red ripe holly berries.
Happy Happy Spring everyone!!!
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| bramble |
Posted - Mar 02 2005 : 09:12:24 AM
I was beginning to have hope that spring was not far off last week when I was somewhere and saw the shoot tips of daffodills up a good two inches! We had another storm Sun-Mon_Tues that left us with another 8 " so they are back under their snowy covers for the time being...DRAT!!! It's funny that we had mild winters for so long that this winter which is normal for my part of the world has people really in an uproar and it is just that the cycle has returned to being somewhat centered again! I am living vicariously through all of you in the warmer climates for the time being, so.... talk garden to me!
with a happy heart |
| Clare |
Posted - Mar 02 2005 : 08:40:28 AM
I agree... hope springs eternal for me today! I have crocus blooming!!! And the daffoldils are poking through, so life is good! For those of us in the colder climates, this is such a welcome sign... nature reassures me! |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Mar 02 2005 : 07:09:22 AM
Oh Simpledreamer I am sooo envious! My daffodils and tulips are just little tips poking through the cold earth here in Kansas...but they are showing life and that is enough for me for now... Seems forever to the warm balmy days you are already enjoying! Jenny from Kansas
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| simpledreamer |
Posted - Mar 02 2005 : 06:57:31 AM
Well, today it's cold AGAIN...but hopefully, it will warm up over the weekend and I can get outside and get some stuff planted. My daffodils are getting tall and the Easter lillies are, too. No blooms. I've got so much to plant. I just need some warm weather to get out and do it. It's been so back and forth this year. I'm ready for spring to come and STAY!
Smiles,
Marybeth |
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