fledgeling blue jay

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Its a hot and humid late afternoon and this little guy has just left his nest. The water in my backyard waterfall is cool on his feet I’m sure. There is a tall fence around the yard that keeps predators out. He can rest for a bit and think about learning to fly. There are two other sibling fledglings, who are more adventuresome than this guy, and two adult blue jays also in the backyard this evening. A busy day! One of the young jays almost landed on my head…
 
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my dad’s garden

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After giving my gardens some water early this morning, I went up to visit my Dad’s garden. It looks awesome. Beautiful vegetables in nice straight rows. I gave my Dad several types of seedlings this spring and its fun to see how they have done under his care. And I would say he has done better than me with them. Without a doubt his broccoli is better. His kale is nice too and his tomatoes are big and healthy looking. His lettuce is great. But them who’s comparing anyway. (I…
 
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too hot for gardening

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Too hot to do garden work today! Skippy and I paddled around on the lake instead. Aahhh…. Skippy balances up on the bow of the kayak. Sometimes standing, sometimes sitting. A small boy on the shore said he looks like the captain. Cap’n Skip! I like that. More of our kayaking pictures are here. Where did this weather come from anyway? Last week it was cool and wet, and this week it is toooo HOT. The plants are all wilting in the 90 degree heat. I did go to my…
 
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three types of lettuce

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I am picking 3 types of lettuce now. Prizehead is the red curly leaf growing at my community plot (center). Four Seasons is a green curly leaf growing in my home garden (right). Escarole Blonde is a plain green leaf also in my home garden (left). I also have some nice arugula I add to the lettuce bowl. I harvest my lettuce by pulling out the entire head. I choose heads that are crowding other heads. I break off the dirty roots and leave these in the compost. I prefer…
 
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lettuce

 
 
Lots of lettuce! I started harvesting it last week and have been able to keep the salad bowl full so far without buying supermarket lettuce. I’ll see how long I can keep this up. I am finding that there are differences between the lettuce grown at home and the lettuce grown at the community plot. The lettuce in my home garden is a little bit more bitter and more limp. The community garden lettuce is a bit sweeter and crisper. My community plot gets much more sun. I am continuing…
 
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I got mail!

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I received my first mail in my new garden mailbox that my son made for me. I gave some seeds to Victoria and she returned the extras in my mailbox. I knew it would come in handy! garden structures garden gifts
 
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garden in the rain

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We’ve gotten stuck in a wet weather pattern for most of this week. I’m curious to check out my rain gauge at my community plot. Most of my vegetables love this weather and are growing like crazy! If I skip a day of going by my plot, I appalled at how much plants have grown. My potato plants are enormous! And the peas. The favas, onions and carrots seem to enjoy it too.
 
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new garden gate

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I have a great new garden gate that my husband made. Now I don’t trip over the fence every time I try to get into the garden. I stepped on several plants this spring after I tripped on the fence. No more! The gate is made from pvc pipe. It rests on either or both of 2 copper pipes set in the ground. It pulls up and off completely. Or it can be set on one pipe or the other so it swings. A very cool design. The fence is…
 
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Kathy Martin
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

What I planted recently

Jan 21
thyme, lettuce, escarole

Feb 21
celery, celeriac, parsley, leeks

March 11
cabbage, kale, arugula



What I'm planting soon

April 1
peppers, eggplants, marigolds, beets

April 12
tomatoes, basil, sunflowers

Make your own customized planting calendar. Try out my app!
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My garden this week

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17 years of archives!

Check out the food pantry farm I helped to start up:

Aurelia's Garden

Flickr

Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!

“I envision a day when every city and town has front and back yards, community gardens and growing spaces, nurtured into life by neighbors who are no longer strangers, but friends who delight in the edible rewards offered from a garden they discovered together.” – Greg Peterson

"What can happen to a seed is a miracle."

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