The temperatures have been in the 50’s and 60’s during the day, and in the 30’s and 40’s at night for the last month. (Temperatures are in Fahrenheit, for my non-U.S. readers).
My Dorsett Golden Apple is leafing out. It’s the first one to do so each spring (it ripens in summer). Those are flower buds in the center.
The plum, apricot, and peach trees are almost ready to flower.
I have lettuce, radishes, arugula, spinach, Swiss chard, borage, and several other things coming up in the garden. I have planted more things that will sprout in the next couple of weeks. Everything is tiny and holds so much promise. I am so excited for the garden this year.
My poppies have sprouted in the garden as well. I grew poppies two years ago, but not last year. This year I hope to have lots. Ideally they are planted in the fall here, so I hope they do well this spring.
There are several random sunflowers growing in the garden that have reseeded themselves from last year’s sunflowers. They are not growing in the most convenient places, so I still haven’t decided what to do with them. I may move them, pull them, or leave them where they are.
Most of the asparagus seems to have survived being transplanted. There are several tiny asparagus stems poking up. I planted new asparagus roots last year to replace some others which had died. It takes 4 years to harvest asparagus from seed; I started with 1-year-old crowns last year. Asparagus is my family’s favorite vegetable. I have given over half of my raised bed, plus another several rows in the garden to asparagus because of this.
My tomato plants are in the ground now. I covered them with quart-sized glass jars to help them grow faster while it is still cool.
I’ve added several more strawberry plants this year as well. I’m not sure that the strawberry plants are a frugal addition to the garden, but I hope they turn out to be! The strawberry plants were not part of my initial plan for this year, but I am excited with the possibility of having more strawberries in the garden. Hopefully the plants will all do well.
I have spread several bags of manure over the grass to help the lawn to green up.
In a month everything should be much bigger and greener. Would you like to come see my garden?
I’ve had several requests for another garden tour. I will be doing one at the end of the month in March (on the 30th). There were several requests for different days, but many people said they would be in town that day, coming to visit family for Easter, and I wanted to make it possible for those who are already making the drive from out of state to come see my garden.
It will be warm, so wear sunscreen and a hat, bring some water, and of course bring something to take notes with if you’d like. You may bring your camera if you want.
The garden should be quite pretty then.
I have room for 35 adults on the tour. You will need to email me to reserve a spot for you and any adults that you will be bringing (no children are allowed during the tour; it’s not fun for them. I send my own children inside during the tour). The cost is $10 per person. I will take a waiting list past 35 people. I will email you directions to my house the week of the tour.
The tour is a class that is around 2+ hours in length. As we tour the garden, you will learn about dirt, drip irrigation, watering times, growing food year-round, pruning fruit trees, getting rid of bugs, mixing food and flowers to create an edible landscape, fruit tree selections for the desert, espaliered fruit trees, how to make use of the walls for growing space, and more.
I’ve had people come from St. George, Phoenix, and Los Angeles before (plus one from Idaho!), as well as those here in Las Vegas.
Email me at brandy (at) the prudent homemaker (dot) com if you would like to come.
(If you live too far away to attend, here is my virtual garden tour from a few years past.)
You mentioned using manure in your yard, so I thought you might be interested in this article about killer compost: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/killer-compost-zmgz11zrog.aspx#axzz2LhGtynbV
Interesting. We use compost on the lawn once a year and I actually use chemical fertilizers on the grass after that, but organic ones on the garden. I’m sure they’re not perfect either 🙂
Oh how I envy those of you who will be able to attend! 🙂 Brandy, have you thought about asking someone to videotape the tour so those of us who can’t be there can still watch? You could charge the same $10 and since it would be open to more people, I’d bet you’d make a lot of money that way.And, would you mind sharing what kind of strawberry plants you are growing? I’ve never seen ones with bright pink flowers before and they are beautiful!
That is an interesting idea!The berries were called Pink something or other! I also have some other berries with white flowers, but when I went to the nursery, this was the only kind they had, so I bought them. I have to go back today for some more drip line (they were out when I was there last) so I will look at the name.
I found the article interesting, but not alarming. I know very few ranchers who spray their pastures, or their hayfields, for weeds, esp in this economy. I also use manure on my garden, but only because I can pick it up for free at a stable where I know the owner (& with 14 horses, he gives it away!) I get mine from the pile in the back, from the far back of the pile, where I spend 10 minutes pulling out the weeds first, but the manure is over 5 years old & well broken down. It has done wonders for our alkaline clay soil that comes with a side of rocks.
I live in Scotland so no chance of attending, but I would pay to watch it online 🙂
Yvonne, that’s kind of you. I don’t have a video camera, and I’ll be talking about some specifics for the desert, but I will be taking pictures when my daffodils start blooming and I will post those. I will post other pictures later, too.
They are called Pretty in Pink strawberries.
Oh, those buds!Oh!Spring, please, come here.