December 30, 2018
There's was another juvenile rat in the trap yesterday, reminding me that there is still an adult at large. I better add peanut butter to the shopping list, this may take awhile. There were also red buds on the oak tree. I spend half the winter looking for signs of spring. After pining for the return of the buttercup blossoms last year, I complained that it wasn't warm enough. Apparently I've changed my definition of spring time to include being warm enough to not need gloves..
Ice on the pond is holding me back from planting my spring six packs. Even though they will come indoors for the next six weeks, planting out too early is not on my agenda this year. Patience is a virtue long in development. Sometimes you have to "fake it, to make it". I've seen both my sons act patiently while feeling impatient, and am rewarded that they might have learned that from me..
December 31, 2018
One of the horses that gets to roam around the yard discovered my trampled hay stash and ate it. I was told that horses don't eat trampled hay but this one does. My first thought was where could I hide it next so he couldn't find it. Then I realized that it's not mulch if he eats it. It's horse food. All good things must come to an end. The garden is done for now and I've been putting it on top of the old mulch. Covering all the garden waste that I use to suppress weeds with hay or straw makes the garden look more tidy, well kept and neat..
I've got straw but it's not free. When I use it I feel like I'm making the veggies cost more. Then I return to the truth of gardening. Make a beautiful place to enjoy. Let it be a microcosm of the processes that sustain life. Sit. Be still..
January 01, 2019
I went ahead and started my spring garden indoors yesterday. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, lettuce and Brussels sprouts. Two six packs of each. I always plant them in that order so I don't need plant markers. The pond ice melted and it rained all day. I didn't want to go out but was tired of not gardening, so I gardened in front of the fireplace..
These cold hardy crops can be way more tolerant of frosts, whereas the squash, melons, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers need protection. Our average last day of frost is March 15th in zone 8b so your target date for planting out summer veggies should be no earlier than March 30th. You may still need to protect them on freezing nights but on average you won't. This makes March 1st the time to start your summer veggies, except for tomatoes and peppers which you can get from your local garden center with blossoms already on them..
