...my spring garden. I will admit to being a little flower-crazy over this past week. I've fussed over my greenhouse seedlings (germination 75%! Hooray!!). I've micromanaged the new growth in the front garden, splitting up clumps of ferns and spacing out my columbines. I've mercilessly weeded. I've worried over a dry spell and grumbled over low nighttime temperatures. In short, it's been heavenly.
Only a gardener would understand as I bend over some mysterious green growth, puzzling over its identity. "Is this a weed, or did I plant this?!?" I ask Todd. He smiles and nods.
He doesn't understand my euphoria over sturdy peony shoots. "These were flattened by the drought last year!" I inform him. "Absolutely dead!" I show him my coreopsis. "These can be divided next year." I gloat. "And wait until we build a potting shed and I can start using rooting hormone!" Since he's not a "flower person," he politely admires and says yes, I've never seen such a healthy euphorbia and oh, definitely, that probably is a coneflower. In short, he does exactly the right thing.
I am especially delighted because I've built this big garden from scratch. When we moved in last year, the only things planted were a few hostas, a bleeding heart, and these daffodils (and weeds!). I'm sure I've got at least 100 plants coming up now, and that doesn't include what's coming up in the greenhouses. I've got 30 columbines alone! Squeee!!!
I did have to do something regrettable, though - pricking out my chamomile. "Pricking out" means thinning your seedlings, as they are likely to be too close. That means they're competing for nutrients, space, and water, and are not going to thrive. My chamomile went crazy this year:
I hate to lose even one plant, so pricking out is difficult for me. Even though I have plenty of chamomile...even though I still have a few seeds left, and it grows easily if you broadcast the seed...I tried to save as many plants as I could.
This is a dangerous time for young seedlings. First, they have to survive the upheaval of the pricking out. Then they have to adjust to a new planting - which means that, until their roots fan out a bit, they are going to struggle to draw up water and nutrients. Finally, they have to deal with "hardening off," or getting used to the sun, outside the comfort and protection of their little greenhouse space. We have cold nights and sometimes fairly warm days, so this will make them tough - if they survive. Finally, they'll have to make it through yet another relocation - to their final destination, my garden. Fingers crossed that I have a healthy crop!
Todd and I have been working all around the property this week. We walked the fields, trying to decide where to put the fences.
We attacked the fence line next to the house, spending hours and hours pulling up blackberry brambles and dried weeds.
We're both covered in scratches, but it's worth it to clear out that mess! On our rambles, we discovered...redbud trees!
Another mystery tree about to flower...
Pollinators out and about!
And an entire slope of trillium/trout lilies by the stream leading to the pond! They should be blooming within a week.
It's also heartening to see so many birds out and about.
And, another great harbinger of spring - our apple tree is starting to bud out! I can't wait for the blossoms.
Although I'm irritatingly hampered by my sore shoulder, I love this springtime work. I can't wait to see the fruits of our labor in a couple of months.
Have a great week!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment