SWISS CHARD WAS DELICIOUS!

Was not sure if the chard would be
OK since the plants were from last
Fall. Of course they are all new
growth, but sometimes vegetables
that "winter over" are bitter.
IT WAS DELICIOUS!
I planted 4 packs of flower seeds
last Friday and we had LOTS of rain
over the weekend so I am keeping
my fingers crossed that they did
not wash away. If they did there is
still plenty of time to replant.

VEGETABLE GARDEN 2010 ON IT'S WAY!

Planting a vegetable garden is an act of faith, hope and charity. Faith that you remembered all you've learned about planting, hope that all the plants will continue to thrive, and charity when you are eagerly awaiting the first "maters and you share them with your family
and friends! Well, the vegetable garden is in for 2010! I added a couple rows of tall and small zinnia seeds and cleared the corner near
the shed to put in some herbs. I pulled up the rosemary which had gotten overgrown and woody to make room for a couple more herb
plants.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!.....

I know I am ahead of our May 15th frost free date, but I thought Earth Day was appropriate to pick as "plantin' day" for my 38th year
of organic gardening----and yes I am PROUD of being true to organic methods all these years!! Here is a photo of my swiss chard which
we will have for dinner tonight. These plants "regenerated" from my Fall planting and may be bitter----I'll find out tonight!

"GIFT FROM A SQUIRREL"?.....

I had a nice surprise in the garden this year. A squirrel must have dug this tulip bulb from someones yard and "stored" it in my garden.
He put it where the euonymous is very thick so the tulip grew an extra tall stem to get it above the shrubbery. It lasted for weeks even
through our mini "hot spell". Tomorrow I will get some shots of the multi-multiplied forget-me-nots and plant some of the flower seeds.

EVEN COVERED OVER!....

I had forgotten about the astilbe after it died back last Fall. I placed the birdbath over part of where the plant was. I was amazed that
even with the concrete slab over it the shoots of the astilbe were still coming up! In just a few days they were as big as the rest of the
plant----amazing! I have been amazed by everything growing this Spring! Here it is April 14th and we have cut the lawn 3 times
already and it needs to be cut again! I have some transplanting to do tomorrow before the perennials get any larger.

GETTING THE VEGETABLE GARDEN READY....

It took quite a while, but I finally got all the thick weeds (mostly grass?!) out of my vegetable garden. I discovered years ago that if you
painstakingly pull up all the weeds and cultivate rather than turn over all the soil it will keep the weeds at bay for a long time. I only turn
over the soil for each tomato plant etc. in a 2' circle and add peat moss and Plantone. I will plant soon even though our frost free date
isn't until May 15th. My garden is small enough that if a threat of frost comes I can protect the plants without much trouble. With the
wacky weather we have had I think I need to be prepared for ANYTHING!! In the foreground is the perrenial geranium that Ole gave
me last year which is really doing well. I FINALLY divided and transplanted the iris leaving only 1/3 in the original spot. the clemantis
in the background is really shooting up the old garden gate and the coreopsis is coming up quickly. I have been watering the daffodils
every day and hope they hang in there for a least a while longer.

"DAFFY" WEATHER!!!

Yesterday marked 2 months since the first of our back to back blizzards. Talk about EXTREMES!! The temperature got to 93 degrees by 3pm. The second day of record breaking temps going back to 1929. The daffodils won't last much longer if it doesn't cool down soon!