Evening glow in the greenhouse

Evening glow in the greenhouse
WELCOME TO MY BLOG! I am glad you found me because I hope I can be helpful or at least interesting for you to follow, be you a gardener yourself or just watching vicariously.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Diary 4/30/11

The month of May tomorrow.  That floors me.  It seems like we haven't had spring yet.  The Wildflower Show had a steady stream of folks coming in until about 1:00.  What can you expect on the first sunny Saturday in forever?  Still, even though we have had such a wet Spring, there were at least 150 examples of local wildflowers.  I should have picked one of the Monkeyflowers I saw because they did not have it there.  Next year! 78 degrees tomorrow will seem too hot tomorrow and this week.  Have to help at show for a few hours in the afternoon, but have the morning to maybe plant some potatoes.

Diary 4/30/11



I think the weather is going to switch up today.  I will be at the Wildflower Show, but the soil can warm up and start to dry so that by Monday afternoon, I can get something done about cleaning up the strawberries and getting some beds ready for onions and everything else in a couple weeks.  By the end of this next week, I think we may be able to till, especially if we get some new tines on the tiller.  We picked up the last few rounds from a firewood permit we bought from the Forest Service.  The dead tree, snag, was at the edge of the forest next to a logged area that exposed the ancient tree to wind, sun, and dryness, more than it could take.  Across the road from the tree there is a huge White Oak Savannah, a magical place.  I took these pictures with a couple wildflowers, Monkeyflower, and Biscuit bush, and violets showing there. The area is called Abbott Prairie for a Hiram Abbott who lived on Big Butte Creek and was some sort of Indian agent.  Perhaps he came to this place to speak with natives as it seems to have that sort of feel.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Diary 4/28/11


Guess what?  It's raining this morning.  Any big plans I had to continue my progress from yesterday are washed away.  If you step off the beaten path into the beds, you sink immediately producing a packed earth print.  Will work on beds in the greenhouse that I am taking over-wintered broccoli and spinach out of. Looks like good weather starting Sunday.  I will be working at Wildflower Show, but come Monday, I am full of purpose, although I have volunteered to help my flower friend that day, but probably only for part of the day.  Hardening off tomatoes to go into lower greenhouse that is not as luxurious as where they have been living to date. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Diary 4/27/11

I worked on tagging the plants for show.  They are looking better everyday especially when they are sunny days like today!  Got into an overwintered bed of carrots that were totally covered with weeds.  They look really good and will grow happily now that they are revealed and will be mulched a little tomorrow.  The picture is of the carrots in the greenhouse.  They will maybe beat out the outdoor ones by a week, but hard to say, the outside carrots just want some more sun to really take off.  I have two more successions , one in the top greenhouse, and one outside that are stalled out.  Won't plant more until we get to till-no space.  Have to keep beds open for onions which will be ready in a couple weeks to go out.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Diary 4/26/11

Dog had to wear the collar.  He would not leave elbow alone.  Felt sorry for him, but that was the deal.  Doing better today, so only part-time cone head. Transplanting Sweet Burpless cucumbers into row in greenhouse.  Finishing hooking down wall of plastic on one end to keep it warmer.  Not rainy much, but not sunny as they had predicted.  Maybe I missed something, but I could have sworn they showed a sun by today's weather.  Too wet to finish potato bed as we got another 1.4 inches over the weekend.  No tornadoes, so I am very thankful.  My thoughts to all those dealing with storms and floods.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Diary 4/25/11

Garden Dog had elbow pad surgery.  He is supposed to refrain from licking sutures.  I have built him a ridiculous looking tee-shirt to protect the elbow from his tongue as described by one of the vets.  If he is good, then he won't have to wear the dreaded cone collar.  He is a dog that shivers at two plastic milk jugs banged together, so you can imagine how much he likes the collar.  He would back up around the globe if he could.  It is really pitiful to watch him get a drink from the pond with it on.  I hope he is good about the tee-shirt. Helped at my friend's nursery today.  Another friend :) came, too.  We really got alot done for her.  She grows every flower I can think of and all the new things that came out this year.  In addition she goes an assortment of vegetable starts.  She always can use help, but especially now.  Will try to get back again next week and maybe one more time to earn some cool starts for the garden here.

Sunday, April 24, 2011