February 7, 2010

tracks in the snow

A fun thing about checking on the garden plots in winter is looking for animal tracks. There are always rabbit tracks in the paths. And a few people and dog tracks. This photo is a plot near mine with lots of tracks inside its fence. I think I see a couple sets of mouse tracks (and maybe a slightly larger critter), each heading out of, and then back into, the compost bin. Also seems to be a set of bird tracks that go one way, loop around, and then end.…

February 7, 2010

February field

This is Rock Meadow, the big open field next to the community gardens. There are gradual signs of spring here. Some buds are swelling, the chickadees are singing, and lots of robins are hopping about the shorter mowed areas apparently finding edibles. Our snow has nearly disappeared, even as the mid-Atlantic is being buried today. We have 5-inches predicted in the middle next week.

February 6, 2010

empty seed trays

I looked up my old posts describing my plant shelves and lights. Also the old planting table I used to use. Here’s the link. I set out my trays and plants cells. Sowing will happen soon.

February 4, 2010

Paperwhites

These are opening much faster than I expected. Its only been 8 days!

February 3, 2010

seed sorting

I’m getting ready to plant! Today I sorted my seed packets. I made a pile for each planting date and wrapped these with rubber bands. A pile for 12 weeks (before last frost), one for 10 weeks, one for 8 weeks etc. I also stopped by my local True Value hardware store and got a bag of soil and some seed trays. I got my old stand by soil – MiracleGro seed starting mix. For trays, I got 4 large trays (no holes) and 4 packs of 1×1.5 inch planting…

February 1, 2010

more on the photo contest

I’m still playing with my macro lens for the January “what’s that” photo contest. One of the joys of an on line contest – I can play with my entry til the last second. Jan 31 at midnight. I had entered the door knob, but have now switched to the pumpkin. February’s theme is “love portraits”. I’m looking forward to a mid summer contest, theme something like “vegetable garden”. Or a March contest themed “seedlings”.

January 30, 2010

January full moon

The January full moon. I only had my cell phone camera with me tonight. Its beautiful even at low resolution. Check out Dan’s blog for a high res photo viewed from 550 miles west of me (link).

January 30, 2010

orange Jarrahdale pumpkin – pumpkin ginger soup

I grew this pumpkin in my community garden plot this summer. It was a beautiful shade of mottled green-blue-gray when I picked it (photo). I ended up with three 6-10 lb Jarrahdale’s from two plants. One I made into fantastic pumpkin soup and pumpkin bread at Thanksgiving time. The other I gave to my brother and he did the same. This is the third. Its now on my dining room table and has ripen to bright yellow-orange. I’m thinking about baking with it soon (tomorrow). Jarrahdale’s have very thick, flavorful,…

January 28, 2010

gardening by the moon calendar

I have been looking forward to hanging this “Gardening by the Moon” calendar by my planting shelves this year. And tonight when the moon is so full seemed an appropriate time to dig it out of a drawer and hang it up. It seems that above the ground plants should be planted on the waxing moon and roots on the waning. Or is it the other way around? This is new for me and will be fun to read about over the coming months. The calendar has a number of…

January 27, 2010

photo contest

These are my choices of photos for the January Globe photo contest. The theme is “What’s That?”. Photos must be taken this month. I think I can only enter one of these. Its a fun contest. Here’s a link to see all entries at Flickr. Check out this one: link. Do you think they are tomatoes? And this one: link, cauliflower? Of mine, I like this one best: Can you guess what it is? I have ended up entering “primary” the one at the top left with primary colors –…

weeks and counting until my last spring frost

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