All posts by jane

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – April 2013

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Today is April 15th, and that means it’s Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day. Huzzah! On the 15th of each month, garden bloggers take snapshots of what is currently blooming in the gardens. Then they upload the photos as bloom day posts. And then they run over to May Dreams Gardens and share a link to their garden blogs. This way you are able to visit the links after Carol’s bloom day post and view what is blooming in gardens around the world. How cool is that?!

The Lot has spent a week soaked in chilly, spring rain. Not much is blooming right now except for a lone grape hyacinth, the snow drops that have been rocking out since last bloom day (the party has gotten bigger), the resident hellebore (lenten rose), and a smattering of crocus. Even the daffodils in the southern bed aren’t quite ready to debut yet.

Since this is the case, I instead photographed the Grand Ideas Garden located at our local extensions office. This garden is cared for by many Master Gardener Volunteers. The GIG is open for the public to enjoy, and often used as an outdoor classroom and hands-on training grounds for the Master Gardener Volunteers. I was fortunate enough to join a pruning class there today. Afterward, I snapped a few photos.

Witch Hazel

This little tree is a witch hazel. I am uncertain if it is the native witch hazel of the area since those usually bloom from October-November. This one has been blooming since last month. The flowers on the witch hazel are really unique, the petals being almost like thin, yellow ribbons attached to the branches.

Crocus

I liked how these crocus were planted en masse as a variety of color popping up from the leftover leaves.

Scilla

This scilla was really pretty with the leftover ornamental grasses in the back and some perennial leaves from last season. Unlike the Lot’s more classic blue scilla, these were white with baby blue lines drawn from center to tip of each petal.

GIG Overview

Here’s a more macro shot showing how the bulbs are placed throughout the landscape. There are bits of color popping up all over.

GIG Overview 2

Here’s a macro shot showing more of the mixture of spring bulbs. Check out that witch hazel in the back left. Love it.

Okay, off to May Dreams Gardens to view what the other gardeners have in store for this month!

Veggies 4.0

vegetables

I cannot believe this is our fourth season planting the two 4’x4′ raised vegetable beds. We learn something new each year, usually by screwing something up, and adjust. We also try something new whether it be vegetable or approach each year. This growing season is no exception.

This past weekend I sketched out the planting plans for the two beds. We would have liked to plant as well, but I am a weenie and whined about the miserably cold and damp weather. However, now is the time in Zone 6a to plant cool season crops. Everything we are growing this year can be direct sown into the soil of the beds. I know some gardeners who have already done so the weekend before. Here’s what is on the list to plant as soon as we are able:

  • Teton Hybrid Spinach
  • Melting Sugar (Snow Peas)
  • Red Cored Chantenay Carrots
  • French Breakfast Radishes
  • Hybrid Granex Yellow Onions
  • Evergreen Long White Bunching Onions
  • All Season Butterhead Mix Lettuce
  • Hollow Crown Parsnips

Cool Season Crops

The seeds of these cool season vegetable plants germinate in soil temperatures of about 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants such as lettuce, peas, and onions can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, the plants grow best in the cooler spring and fall weather and can tolerate some mild frost. They cannot tolerate hot weather, and will usually bolt (go to seed) by the end of June in our zone.

So, this makes for interesting planting in the veggie beds. Peas grown right now will eventually be replaced by cucumbers, which is a warmer season crop. Spinach will make way for pepper plants and basil. Then when fall begins it’s approach in mid to late August, another round of cool season crops can be planted! We’ve not done this before with our raised beds, but I’d love to give it a try this year.

Are you growing any cool season crops this year? Which are your favorite?

Signs of Spring

bulbs, pruning, spring cleanup, ,

This past Saturday was sunny and warm, so the four-legged garden help and I headed outside on the Lot to poke around a bit. It actually hit 50 degrees and once I was moving around and working, I even had to shed my coat. Cabin fever is at an all time high and I just needed to dig and/or prune something. The trick is to get the gardening fix without prompting any plants into an early flush of new growth. Signs of spring greeted me all over the Lot.

Turning Over the Beds

4x4 Raised BedsThe week or so of warmer weather and sun had melted all the snow away from the Lot.  The shredded leaves and grass clipping my Other Half and I had piled high onto the veggie beds last fall had broken down over the winter. Only a thin layer of compacted leaves remained level with the edges of the bed. Since the soil wasn’t frozen, I took a shovel and turned over the soil to mix in the remaining leaves. And yes, that is a jack-o-lantern.

First Arrivals

Emerging SedumA favorite sign of spring on the Lot for me is the emerging sedum. I leave the stalks of the various sedum standing throughout the winter since the snow is pretty on the spent blooms. This time of year I clip back the stalks to around 4″. While doing so, often the very beginning of new growth is just visible. Is it weird I find these little buds freakin’ adorable?

Lenten RoseAnother early emerging plant on the Lot is the lenten rose tucked away by the back door. This guy has saw-toothed evergreen foliage I leave like the sedum during the winter and trim back this time of year.

Other trimming this past weeekend included cutting down the maiden grass to about 6″ so the bleeding heart just breaking ground can receive more sun. The false indigo stalks were trimmed back to 4″ so the area will be ready for the tulips whose foliage showed up this week. Finally, I cut back some mums, rue, and wand flower.

What Up My Finches?!… and Robin

So, another favorite sign of spring on the Lot is when the goldfinches at the kitchen window feeder begin to look a bit rough around the edges. During the winter, the male goldfinch retires his flashy duds and black cap. All the finches are the same dirty yellow or dusty olive color. However, when winter is on it’s way out, the finches molt and patches of brilliant yellow begin to show again. My Other Half and I imagine this awkward stage before the mating season to be much like adolescence. This comparison works well with the finches squeaky, questioning-like call.

Finally, on Easter morning, I saw my first robin. Even though there may be a sprinkling of snow and many frosty mornings still ahead, I do believe spring is here. Are you noticing the arrival of spring? Any favorite signs?