marked out plots
Most of these are about 20 by 20 (feet), I think. We didn’t measure. We laid them out in a ridiculous wind. The string and stakes were almost blown away. Nonetheless, I think the paths are nearly straight and the plots are fairly even. 16 new plots for 16 new gardeners.
CSA bee hives are in place
I believe our beekeeper set up this hive last Friday. Lots of bees! They have a nice sunny spot with a southwesterly slope and a good view of all the flowers that will come soon in our community garden plots.
preparing new community plots
We are nearly finished with preparing an additional 15 or so plots for rental at our community garden. It will make a small dent in the long waiting list. This area was previously overgrown with trees, shrubs and all sorts of invasives. After clearing the growth, we found that the soil was a bit rough. A good layer of topsoil was spread, and then a layer of dark black compost. Soon we will mark out plots with stakes and string. Then these new plots will be assigned. It will be…
fava seedlings
These are crimson flowered fava beans. The seeds were collected and sent to me by Dan. I planted them on March 17 – St Patrick’s Day. I love the full roundness of the leaves. Prettier then regular favas it seems. I’m looking forward to the red flowers.
woodland wildflowers
On a drizzly and cool afternoon, Skippy and I went hunting in the woods for early spring wildflowers. We found many. I think many more than in previous years. In some areas, I just stopped and starred – amazed. The woods were blanketed with flowering natives: a mix of anemones, Solomon seal, Lily of the Valley, geraniums, foam flower, bellwort, wild roses, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, trillium, wood violets and even showy lady’s slipper. Amazing. And beautiful. Several are still budded and I will have to return here to watch them open.
Showy Lady’s Slippers — not
I made a real find today. Skippy and I wandered into an area of the woods where we don’t usually go and came across a nice stand of Showy Lady’s Slipper Orchids (Cypripedium Reginae). I have never seen these before and am mostly guessing that this is what they are as the leaves look like pink lady’s slippers, which are fairly common here. The difference is that the plants I found are MUCH taller – 2 to 3 feet tall. I looked up photos of the showy lady slipper and…
double digging
Before we planted my Mom and Dad’s garden last Sunday, we double dug it. My dad gave us instructions. (I had already spread a good 4 inches of new compost on the garden.) First we dug a 12 inch trench and moved all the dirt to the far end of the garden. (We I say “we dug” here, I will mostly mean “my husband dug”.) Then we turned the adjacent soil into the trench to progressively move the trench down the garden. The result is a bed loosened and amended…
a toast to the new season
We’ve done a lot of planting this weekend. Soon I’ll have fresh homegrown vegetables for my martini. Radish, then carrots, then cucumbers, onions, melons, apples, pears …. And maybe I can discover a new martini this year. Today’s martini is traditional – a couple of nice olives. Cheers! Note added: Oliver sent me this link http://www.gineralelection.com/. Cute site. Now I’m really looking forward to fresh cukes – with Hendricks. (I think Oliver may work for them, but the site (and gin) is good anyway.) (click on the link below to…
planting Mom and Dad’s garden
After double digging the new compost into Mom and Dads’ garden, we planted: One row of marigolds, Lemon Boy, Petit mix and Fireball 3 Early seedlings tomatoes with Wall-O-Water on green mulch film One row cabbages: Radicchio, Savoy, Wong Bok and Super Red One row salad greens: Elegance mix, Black seeded Simpson and Red Romaine One double row of onions: Ruby Ring, Frontier, Sweet Yellow Spanish and Ailsa Craig Two long rows of potatoes: Butte, All Blue and Cobbler
This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy thinks the garden is his, even though I do all the work. We're located near Boston, in USDA zone 6. I have bees, chickens, fruit trees and berry bushes, too. I use all sustainable organic methods and strive to grow all of my family's vegetables myself. -Kathy
weeks and counting until my last spring frost
My garden this week
Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!
