Feels Like 18

It feels like 18 degrees.  Oh March.  Sigh.  This isn't water flowing out of the hose.  It is water FROZEN in the hose and waiting to melt in the sunshine.


Because March is tromping out like a lion and no, I am no longer bouncing around barefoot in the yard, I've checked off a few other inside gardeny to dos.

Before doing any digging, or tilling, or sod ripping, etc in your yard it is best to call and get the yard marked for lines you wouldn't want to hit while getting it ready for your yarden.  I dialed 811 which is a call before you dig number.  I had the fortune of talking with an actual person who asked me several questions - like what we were planning to do (garden), where in the yard we needed it marked (the whole thing, front, back and side yards) and if we would be doing this all within the next 14 days (yes, hopefully).  She gave me a dig numer and said they would all be out within the next 48hrs from my call to mark the yard.  As you can see we have 3 different markings.  AT&T, MidAmerican Energy, and the city.

I need to now figure out what "OK" means with a flag in it.  At least the energy company spray painted lines, so I know not to get crazy within 18" of where they marked.  But what the hell does "OK" mean?  Okay if you don't dig right here, or okay, we've marked your yard?  I'll be giving them a ring.

The good news is that with the chill, the record breaking flooding we were supposed to be getting has slowed down and decreased in intensity, at least for now.  The soil also is wet enough it has protected the sprouts in the raised bed, and that's wonderful.

And sunshine, though it is still cold cold cold out, the sun is keeping the cold frame warm and our sprouts are getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

Happy Spring

These babies (left) are coming up in our raised bed.  This last week has been warmer and we had rain over the weekend so our seeds are sprouting!  Our greens are growing - and I'm betting these are spinach, but I'll have to wait till they get their true leaves to be sure.  I planted, but didn't jot down what got planted where (some might see this as a cardinal sin of gardening, not writing down EVERYTHING, but ehh, I'm not worried).

And these little lovelies (below) are getting taller and stronger in our cold frame.  It's so exciting to see the ground springing to life this first day of SPRING.  I was walking around BAREFOOT today, and my feet were so happy to be touching the grass, which is getting greener, and will soon be getting ripped up (at least some of it) to make room for more garden beds.

The tulips (right) are much bigger than last week, and we have a daffodil that has emerged as well.  There's just one right now, but hopefully we'll see more soon.  We must have planted them a little deeper than they should have been planted last fall.

And here are our strawberries greening up again in the raised bed.  It's their second year so we should have a decent crop, or least enough for a couple of bowls of ice cream!  That's the rain barrel in the background, which always fills up so much faster than I think it will.

And then there's my Meyer Lemon Tree - it has new leaves by leaps and bounds and we should see some lemons in 5 months or so!

And yes, I did follow my own advice with garden decision making and planning.  I sat down on the floor with a friend last week and we plowed through seed catalogs and found veggies and herbs that we loved and names we were excited about.  We should have seeds in the next week, give or take.  

Decisions Decisions

What gets to go in my garden this year?  (What doesn't?)  Eggplant doesn't.  I really like it and man is it a pretty pretty plant and fruit, but a gal can handle only so much eggplant.  I will farmer's market it for the eggplant.  This question of What gets to go in my garden? goes along with the questions What gets planted where? Where do I get my seeds?  Do I start everything from seed?  If I do start it all from seed, when do I need to get those going?  What supplies do I need to get those seeds started?  How many seeds should I start?  And that's just the tip of the ice berg, but HONESTLY gardening is about having fun, trying new ideas and eating the best veggies ever.

Your garden has to start with seeds, for things you're not planning to put seeds in the ground or start inside, find starts from a local farm that does this, or your farmer's market.  Seed catalogs loads of fun to look and dream your way through.  Reality has to settle in there somewhere too, but look through and find what you want to try this year and go for it.  Our smattering include catalogs from Seed Savers Exchange, Johnny's Seeds, Jung Seeds & Plants, Seeds of Change, and Burpee.  I know there were others too, but too many choices make me nutto so some had to be purged.

Really the best advice that I can share is to find plants that make you crazy excited to get out in your yard and start there.  Some things will work smashingly and other will probably flop - too much rain, not enough rain, too hot, not hot enough, all of these things can and will impact your garden, but for the love of pete, just get out there and go for it.  Get a lovely note book and jot things down as you go so you have a reference for next year and get (or borrow from the library until you figure out which ones you like) some solid gardening books.


It's time to get the ball rolling!  Grab a friend a pencil and paper and make some fun and rewarding decisions.  (You could add into that mix some tea or coffee, or if you're really adventuresome some beers, and in my experience chocolate almost always helps the situation.)

I'm planning to follow my own advice tomorrow afternoon.

Is It Springing Yet?

It is.  It just isn't the wand waiving, kind of *BAM* experience we sometimes wish it was.  And it IS happening! It's actually starting to smell like Spring.


We've hit the Ides of March, Daylight Savings Time, Pi Day, and we're less than a week away from the Vernal Equinox.


We are getting there.  I promise.


Proof?  You need Proof?  Let's see what I've got.

The cold frame is now planted withTennis Ball Lettuce, Apollo Arugula,  America Spinach, Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce and Chives

Grape Hyacinths (Muscari) are coming up all over the flower bed.  There were 13 at this morning's count.

Tulips poking their shy little selves through the soil.  Any bets on color?

Check out our lovely garlic too. It's been nicely buried under leaves all Winter, and is still surrounded by leaves to protect it.


What wonderful signs of Spring!