March 20, 2009

White House vegetable garden digging starts TODAY!!!

I have to quote a friend (Victoria) on this one: “Woooo hooo!!!! The first vegetable garden on the White House lawn since Eleanor Roosevelt! Score a big one for the local food movement! Michele ROCKS!” New York TimesObamas to Plant White House Vegetable GardenBy MARIAN BURROSPublished: March 19, 2009WASHINGTON — On Friday, Michelle Obama will begin digging up a patch of White House lawn to plant a vegetable garden, the first since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden in World War II. There will be no beets (the president doesn’t like them)…

March 19, 2009

seeds for a friend

I’m planning to put together some seeds and seedlings for a friend who has never grown any vegetables and wants to grow some with her young girls. I’m trying to think of fun but easy varieties. She has a roof top patio, so they will be container vegetables. I’m thinking I’ll get her some of those little peat pots that expand in water and some cucumber seeds. And I’m thinking I’ll pot up some of my basil, thyme and tomato seedlings. I think maybe Sun Gold (cherry) will be a…

March 17, 2009

growing

March 16, 2009

primrose

Another sign of spring – the racks of $1.99 primroses are out at Home Depot! Love their happy faces.

March 15, 2009

first garden work day of the season

Another photo of my plot. This time with evidence of work that’s been done. The soil is now thawed and ready for work. And the weather this weekend was beautiful for gardening. Tasks accomplished:Brought tools to plot.Removed of salt hay from beds and stacked for reuse.Spread 40 lbs of lime.Gathered and spread about 5 wheelbarrows full of horse manure.Marked out beds and added up footage of boards needed for raised beds. And I finally mailed out my garden registration form and fee.Took down my birdhouse. The birdhouse removal has been…

March 13, 2009

March in the community gardens

Yesterday Skippy and I checked out my plot at the Belmont Victory Gardens. I took some photos and assembled them into a PhotoSynth. Here’s the link. Everything is still drab and mostly lifeless. It was cold (about 28*F). But the snow has melted in most areas. I was interested to see which areas are melting first. My garden is in the center of the south slope that is clear and must be the warmest area. The low spots are the snowiest still. I can see all the work I need…

March 13, 2009

orange orchid

This is Lc. Trick or Treat – one of my favorite orchids. Its blooming a month late this year, but as beautiful as ever.my old orchid photos

March 12, 2009

kale survived the winter

Yesterday I finally made it over to my garden (10 feet from my house) and checked on the kale. The Tuscan is dead. The Red Russian lost all its leaves, but looks like it is regrowing some small leaves now. The Winterbor looks fantastic. It also tastes great fresh from the garden with no cooking. Sweet and a bit of a broccoli-like bitterness. I love vegetables that have a real flavor! So I picked a big bunch and cooked it up. I love the combination of potatoes, garlic and kale.…

March 12, 2009

the first crocus of spring !!!

What a welcome sight. I came across this soft purple crocus in the mist yesterday afternoon. I’ve been mostly walking outside with my eyes closed as the winter has done me in this year. Maybe its time to start looking around now. I found this one crocus and two little snowdrops in the gardens around my house. Lots of little sprouts and buds around too.

March 11, 2009

today’s planting list

Heliotrope, Marine (1 pot)Lettuce, Prizehead (4-pack)Broccoli, Calabrese (4-pack)Broccoli, Marathon F1 (4-pack)Eggplant, Orient Express F1 (4-pack) 2009 sow-what-and-when

weeks and counting until my last spring frost

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31