Mid-spring Garden Update

Yeah, you'd never know it from the weather forecast, but it really is mid-spring.  I hear we're expecting a couple inches of snow tomorrow night.  What a bother.  I'll have to be out and about covering plants, I guess.

You see, I paid attention to the weather forecast this weekend.  It said nothing about a cold front or the potential for snow in the near future.  I figured we might be done.  We'll see about that.  But the problem is I set all my pretty little pepper seedlings out in their pots this weekend.

I'm a numbskull.  Yep.  I did it.

But that's not the update part:

• We finally finished up the much anticipated berry bed!  I have room for 3 raspberries, a gooseberry and about 18 strawberry plants one of which has given me a berry already.

• Although it's not strictly a part of the garden per se, we planted a State Fair apple tree on Friday.  It was Arbor Day after all.  And I wanted an apple tree.  Like my little white painted wire fences around my tree and new shrubs?  Yeah, I thought of that all by myself.  You can use it if you want.

• The bush cherries I ordered arrived last week and I got them in the ground on Saturday.  Little sticks with tiny little buds on them.  I noticed last night that some of the buds are becoming leaves already.
• The early plantings are thriving in the cool and damp spring we've had so far.  The onions have never looked better.  Every single onion, garlic clove and shallot I planted has sprouted, I think.  The peas are finally growing and the spinach is finally getting actual leaves.  We thinned the radishes last night and munched on the thinnings.  Very radish-y.  It has me reconsidering trying my hand at growing sprouts in the kitchen.  I can imagine how wonderful radish sprouts would be in stir fry.

• I'm trying brussel sprouts for the first time this year.  That's them under the milk jugs.  Long ago, a friend of mine grew some in his garden and I remember thinking they looked a little like aliens when I discovered them hanging in his garage in November.  He was still getting sprouts at Thanksgiving.  I'm not a big fan of sprouts, but maybe if I grow my own, I could be.  I never liked tomatoes until I grew my own.  I know, right?  Crazy.
• The only thing I'm concerned about are my potatoes.  I haven't seen a single sprout out of them yet.  Maybe they rotted in the pots?  Maybe they're taking their sweet time?  I'll give them awhile yet.  It's still early and it's been unseasonably cold.

So that's where I'm at.  I was hopeful to get some more planting done this weekend but between the rain and potential snow, I doubt it.  My tomatoes will have to wait another week or so.

And now, here is a lovely picture of my new fish:

Rainy Days and Mondays

Yeah, okay.  I couldn't resist.  It's Monday and it's raining.  Has been raining all dang day.

It truly is a reflection of my mood lately.  With the extended late arrival of spring, tempered with the occasional 70 degree reminder of what we are actually supposed to have but are not getting, my mood has gone from hopeful, to disgusted to downright despondent at times.

It's irritating.

So, here's what I've been doing when the mud had been dry enough and the temps have been warm enough.

My fence/berry bed is finally taking shape.  When it's complete (pictures will magically appear at that time), I'll have about 18 linear feet of raised bed to contain my strawberry bed and raspberry bed.  I probably could have gotten it finished up today after work if not for the blessed rain which may turn to snow overnight.

Special.

But I digress.

My two TopHat Blueberry bushes arrived in the mail last week.  I carefully planted them in the previously prepared containers and gave them cozy, plastic bag and tomato cage covers until the weather settles a bit.  As anticipated, one bush looks great and the other looks anemic.  Why couldn't they send two robust specimens?  Pictures of that as well when the weather settles.

It occurs to me that I should do a blog on my plastic bag/tomato cage plant protectors.  Perhaps next time.  I'll need pictures.  Wait...

Well, you get the idea...

Details to come later.

Yesterday was a stunningly gorgeous spring day.  I spent it outdoors working on the above mentioned berry beds.  I also planted out my two, precious broccoli seedlings in their big, blue pot.  It's my first time growing broccoli. 

I guess we'll see if it's worth the effort...