Spring Break

Spring break began Friday, March 11th with a high of 75F and ends today with snow (promptly melting of course). Expected freeze (30F) tonight. And today is the first day of Spring!

What is in bloom (that faces impending doom): Spicebush, Plum, Peach, Apricot, Honeyberry.
Also in bloom: Hellebores, Daffodils, Hyacinth

Varying Hellebores in the Northeastern Perimeter bed

 

Growing on 

Mache, Chinese Cabbage, Red Kale  and Perpetual Chard overwintered in coldframes (above)

 First Asparagus

Bitter Endive reseeds about the yard

Under lights

Little Lupine doing well (above)

All of the tomato plants are up (but the ground cherries are not) (below)

Began transplanting peppers this weekend.

 

Projects: New Upright Cold frame

I decided to build an upright cold frame inspired by one I saw on the internet. I plan to use it for storing nursery plants, overwintering, cold stratification, late summer starts (for the fall/winter garden), early spring starts and hardening off. It's like an unheated greenhouse, but cheaper and with a small footprint. I plan to build doors at some point (fall probably). It also now has walls on both sides (the one on the right is missing in this pic) Below with temporary plastic covering. 

 Will have 3 shelves. I think I already have them full.

I made need a second one. ; )

Projects: The Orchard Overhaul continues

Beds were topped with compost, conduit frames and bird nettting.

I discovered the chickens won't go near this stuff. Why hasn't anyone

written about this yet?! It's a game changer.

Ready for planting. 

 Pots were topped with compost and protective bird netting.

 Papi in foreground. Angry Mattilda was moved

into his new home just behind the blooming Plums.

 Going to plant a Fig in this double tire.

Hoping the tire will work as insulation for winter-keeping.

 The raspberry beds got new frames (below)

Squiggy supervising.

 Pots circle the south side of the hoophouse. 1 lavendar

was planted. Waiting for warm up!

And inside the hoop (below). Chard, Kale, Collards, 

Arugula, Mustard, leeks, Green onions

Hardy Kiwi leafing out (below)

Other Spring Break Activities:

Spent most of Friday burning at a coworker's place. 

I doubt there is better weather to end spring break than snow. It keeps me inside so my body can heal and I can get some grading done!       View from office window looking down into the orchard (aka beeyard. chickenyard).

It's been a gorgeous and productive week. Thankful for my awesome job.

Snowy and 70s

On Wednesday:

On Saturday: Sunny and 70s

Roll with it. What more can you do?

Basement Nursery:                      Little Delight Lupine

 Various perennial flowers, mustard (right)

 Onion & parsley seedlings

 Lots of Peppers this year (fingers crossed)

 First tomato seedlings up (Roma)

Going to compare a hybrid and open pollinated Roma this year.

The OP germinated first (out of all of the tomato seeds)

Might explain why they are also one of the first types to produce?

So yums. Ruby & Emerald Steaks Mustard

Really starting to like these mustards (when young)

 Yarrow & Blanketflower seedlings

I overwintered a tomato plant and it has made a few fruits.

Too bad they aren't very tasty. Ah, well.

Outside progress:

Feb in the Biergarten

 Front yard with burn pile evidence

 Cleaned perennial bed by Biergarten

need to replace the edging. This was suppose to be a temp 

border reused from something else.

 New path between prairie, new native bed (on left)

and a veg bed (in the back)

 The new native bed cleaned and ready 

for mulch and plants

 February in the fresh burned prairie (below)

 And March- daffs coming up

 Garden prepped

potatoes planted (in December)

 The tommi crocuses have been blooming for

about a week. The bees are happy they have these.

Seeds in pots.

Brandywine (a purple) Raspberry in new pot

with poppy seeds.

 Rural King onions ready for planting...

Seeds started in a window in the shed

 Bok Choy (above) and Kale (below)

Food!

                                          My first attempt at Chicago-style pizza. Yum.

One of our new favs: roasted sweet potatoes, mushrooms & onions.

A little soy sauce (for saltiness). Add cheddar cheese and put in a wrap.

Toast the wraps for extra crunch. Still have lots of pumpkins and sweet taters

in the larder.

Finally organized my spice cabinet. I can't tell

you how happy this makes me. Also labelled

everything because hubs has started to cook 

and I told him these words will haunt him if I die soon, 

   "You will cook." I had to make it easier for him. 

Plus, I'm writing it here. Hold him to it. No excuses.

Snow is again in the forecast or is it rain? 

We'll know when we know. 

Until blue skies arrive

 we can just dream of gardening.