And in many cases, all over our cars, lawn chairs, and anything else that’s left outside for more than a minute. I wonder what percentage of Claritin, Benadryl, etc., is sold in these couple of months? Probably a large minority.
In any case, it’s also time to garden, and since the writing has stalled out pretty badly, I’ve been planting things.
Not many, because I don’t know where I’m going to be living at the end of June, except that it probably won’t be in the current house. Thank goodness. I don’t hate this place, but I’m itching to be gone, even if I end up in yet another little suburban neighborhood next year.
Because I’m a weirdo, I’ve planted a few things in-ground, so we can have one last salad on our way out the door. Those are the peas, bok choi, and lettuce. So far, they’re tolerating the ups and downs of the Midwest in spring- the temperature can go from 70 to 20 in four or five hours- and might actually produce something before I have to wave goodbye. A thick layer of mulch and a bit of row cover keep them nice and toasty whenever there’s a frost.
I have seeds to start precisely two cucumbers and two tomatoes around the beginning of May, so they’ll be strong enough to transport in my car’s cupholder, six weeks later. Okay, I might seatbelt a pot int the backseat; that’ll give them a little more space. Once I’ve gotten settled, I might try to sow lettuce, carrots, and scallions in containers. Since I don’t yet know what the garden- or even the house!- will look like, I’m trying to be flexible and assume I’ll be growing everything in pots this year. And next year, because we’re doing it all over again in 2025.
I also need to dig up bits of my herb garden to take with me. I’ll leave some for the next tenants, but the oregano, chives, and thyme are spreading and need to be divided anyway, so why not?
On the flip side, I managed the incredible feat of killing the mint. I didn’t know that was possible, but after a harsh winter in clay soil and not enough water, I can’t find it. Oh, well. Now I have an excuse to acquire new mint.
How does your garden grow?
Mad Genius Club 
9 responses to “Spring is in the Air”
The terraforming is coming along. In the fenced backyard, the stonecrop is coming back. In the front, it looks like it’s been eaten by deer. (“Deer resistance” is meaningless around my yard.)
The Virginia bluebells and the golden ragwort are up and maybe about to bloom. The spicebush, too. Any day now.
I was super excited to see signs of Canadian snakeroot in a new spot in the backyard. That will feed pollinators in the shade. I wish I could remember if I snapped off a stalk and shook it there, or if it truly just volunteered. I’m checking for the hepatica every other day. It was blooming when I put it in last year, so I have high expectations for it.
I’ve spent bits of time this winter pulling invasives: star of Bethlehem, the dread lesser celandine, and always Japanese honeysuckle.
More than 20 years ago, when we bought our “farm” as a vacation place (where we are now living), we purchased a big specialty load of daffodils for naturalizing in a mix of varieties, and planted it in a long line along the near bank of the stream near the 1812 cabin that drains the orchards.
They have settled in lushly and spread as a creek margin — just now starting to color up and open.
The old (before our time) orchard remnants are still substantial. Without care (spraying, etc.) the fruit (such as it is) is not for us, but the bears continue to vote their preferences for particular trees, especially the climbable ones, where we occasionally find our stolen bird feeders, or parts of them.
The bears share with us a marked preference for Northern Spies.
There’s a single Canada Goose (presumably on the nest) somewhere around our frog pond who sounds just like a bullfrog, but the Merlin bird id app assures me it ain’t so.
I love the Merlin app!
We had a hard freeze last night. The spring flowers looked fine this morning, but I shall see how much damage was done. (They are all close to the house and I watered them yesterday evening. Plus south and east facing.)
Fingers crossed that they made it!
They look good thus far! I bought more flowers. But while the violas and pansies are sitting under the porch waiting to be planted, the dwarf cranesbill is sheltered in the garage at night when necessary. When I think the danger is less, I will plant them.
Pinky the ferocious attack rose is showing signs of fresh growth after a severe late winter haircut a few weeks back.
Went to get in the car Friday and found it covered in yellowish green pollen thick enough that I had to run the windshield washer to gain visibility.
Had our (hopefully) last hard frost last Tuesday so I waited until Wednesday to set a Big Boy tomato plant in it’s home pot on the back deck. Will pick up some cherry tomato plants to join it in the next week or so along with probably a couple of green pepper and perhaps a cucumber or two. This one was a gift so lived inside for a few days. Two raised beds are settled in with a bed of compost and yard trimmings in place but the garden soil to fill is still in bags. Was not as productive as I’d hoped over the very strange winter we had. Intention was to have one ready for vegetables and herbs while transplanting several volunteer blueberry plants from the bed in front of house to the other, but missed the window on those as the bushes are already in flower. Should have another bumper crop long about mid June. Need it as my new recipe for blueberry cobbler has become a favorite amongst my friends and relatives.
Uncle Lar, I have no idea why your comment got spam-trapped. WPDE.