Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Spring is here




Spring is finally here in full force and I have been enjoying all of the beauty that it brings to my garden. The tulips, ranunculus and daffodils are blooming and the fruit trees are just covered with blossoms. The grapes have started to bud and promise to provide a beautiful backdrop to the flower garden. I keep thinking about the bounty that will follow in the late summer. My girls have really been enjoying the weather. They are scratching and pecking away, they love to dig up freshly planted flower bulbs and have completely annihilated the chicks and hens I had planted in the flower border. It doesn’t bother me too much these days. I just keep tucking the disturbed plants back into the soil and hoping for the best. Only the strong survives in my garden. I’ve got two cats, two dogs and 8 hens. My little menagerie keeps me on my toes, and they are sure to weed out anything but the toughest of flowers in my borders. If only they would take care of the weeds with equal enthusiasm…. This week I will finally be starting my summer veggies. I am looking forward to peppers, eggplant and tomatos. I have been working on a garden design plan. My garden planting area is 80ft wide by 43 ft deep. Minus my Green House, I have 2,960 square feet of planting area. I am planning to fill that space with as many veggies as possible. I’m hoping to stay on the 100 foot diet all summer long this year. Food prices are rising and I would rather invest in my own backyard garden then spend money at the grocery store.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

My Seeds Have Arrived


I am thrilled that my seeds have started to arrive in the mail. Today, I received my order from Baker Creek. The order included Golden Treasure Sweet Pepper, Yellow Hog Tomato, Anch Grande Hot Pepper, Ping Tung Eggplant, Purple Beauty Sweet Pepper, Kikuza Winter Squash, Golden Delicious Winter Squash, Thai Round Purple, Quadrato D'Asti Rosso, Thai Sweet Basil, Pandora Striped Rose Eggplant. I have never grown any of these varieties before and I can't wait to see how they all do. I'm going to get these little guys guys started in the green house this weekend. My Yacon and Oca plants should arrive sometime in March or April. I am off to a great Growing Challenge start so far.

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Backyard Views


I snapped this photo from my garden. The mustard field is in bloom and the vineyard on the hill looked especially pretty today.

New Lavender Plants


I bought 55 new lavender plants to complete my flower bed border. There is this awesome program at the Sonoma County Jail that teaches inmates how to grow and care for plants. They have a nursery and I've been buying plants there for a few years. I can't wait to get these cuties planted. It was really windy this weekend and I didn't spend much time outside. Looks like we are going to get a few rain free days this week, I'm hoping to get started on my new rock veggie garden beds next weekend.