Garden Journal: being a bit keen

Local wisdom says to plant a garden the last week of May and to plant corn when the oak leaves are as big as a squirrel’s ear. I began turning over our 36’x36’ garden on March 21st.

The chickweed blooms early and prolifically.

Parts of the garden were still frozen solid.

Even so, the garlic grows and shows.

I turned over a bit less than a quarter of the garden in two days. Then our weather turned wet.

The chickens stayed inside.

The ducks rejoiced in mud.

Then our weather turned cold.

Duck art.

We have bounced between wet and wind and snow with the occasional warm sunny day.

Whenever I have a chance, I’m out battling the quack grass and chickweed. The parts that Michael turned over last fall go quickly. The parts where the weeds have taken hold go slowly. The frost is out of the ground now.

The snakes awaken. I heard frogs peeping yesterday. Today I saw a vulture. More signs of spring!

Despite local wisdom, Michael has started eggplant, tomatoes and peppers. He has also pruned our fruit trees, having rigged a system that is kind to his broken foot.

Persephone and Nate got married on the 23rd. We celebrated with them a few days later with a “wedding pie” and Prosecco. I love the fact that they got married at 6:30 am at the place where they met and where the minister still works.

I cut our annual pussy willow bouquet two days ago. They know we’ve reached more than 12 hours of sunlight, even if the high for today is 29°.

Warm weather or no, it is time to be outdoors!