The gardener's busiest weekend of the year. Spectacular weather. Yesterday, helped Greg install a new cornstarch-based solar "mulch" and planted out his tomatoes (10), cucumbers, peppers (28!), broccoli, lettuce, eggplant seedlings. The mulch will last about 3 months. Also planted my cosmos, teddy bear sunflowers, and store-bought snapdragons and replacement alchemilla (Lady's Mantle). Today planted some plants that had been bought/delivered a while ago (tricyrtis, anemone, rose campion); repotted the bay (my theory is leaves turning brown due not to disease or insects but being rootbound); potted leftover eggplant seedlings; lobelia and calibrachoa that we bought today. Sprayed roses, baptisia and yarrow with Pyola. Tomorrow, hope to tackle the agapanthus and impatiens.
Last night Greg made some really delicious cream of asparagus soup -- really simple, sauteed leeks, chicken stock, asparagus, salt, pepper, a touch of creme fraiche, pureed. He made this soup last week (also quite good), but the flavor was more intense this time, in part due to the asparagus, in part due perhaps due to the leeks.
Struggling along with a bruised shin/ankle obtained Thursday night (run in with the tub, sleep walking perhaps?).
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Daffodils & Asparagus
What is up with the Daffodils in my yard? This particular clump is blooming well but...
Other clumps are kind of pathetic; weak sprouts, few blooms. We've planted several daffodils since moving here, and in years 2-3 following initial planting, they seem to kind of crap out. I need to research this. Too much mulch? Some kind of subterranean bug? It's not the deer or rabbits.
Accomplished a lot this weekend and last. Planted out larkspur and sweet pea seedlings (direct sowed additional larkspur last weekend, including Sydney Blue Picotee seed purchased to replace the plants sold by Parks). Planted dahlias last weekend (0rdered new tubers from Swan's). Weeded cutting flower bed and mulched seedlings and young perennials with Mainely Mulch. Put soaker hose irrigation systems in veg and flower gardens. Sprayed vulnerable plants with copper soap and deer repellent. Thinned phlox to reduce mildew. Bought a rose (Falstaff) to replace one of the pathetic tree peonies. Still so much to do! Delicate balance between enjoying the work and doing everything that needs to be done; gardening is peaceful and fulfilling but can easily tip toward feeling stressed out about not getting key tasks done in time. Too tired to do the copper spray and deer repellent? Then you'll be crying when your peonies rot or the deer devour your tender plants and rosebuds.
First meal-size portion asparagus harvest of the year tonight. This is what it's all about!
Other clumps are kind of pathetic; weak sprouts, few blooms. We've planted several daffodils since moving here, and in years 2-3 following initial planting, they seem to kind of crap out. I need to research this. Too much mulch? Some kind of subterranean bug? It's not the deer or rabbits.Accomplished a lot this weekend and last. Planted out larkspur and sweet pea seedlings (direct sowed additional larkspur last weekend, including Sydney Blue Picotee seed purchased to replace the plants sold by Parks). Planted dahlias last weekend (0rdered new tubers from Swan's). Weeded cutting flower bed and mulched seedlings and young perennials with Mainely Mulch. Put soaker hose irrigation systems in veg and flower gardens. Sprayed vulnerable plants with copper soap and deer repellent. Thinned phlox to reduce mildew. Bought a rose (Falstaff) to replace one of the pathetic tree peonies. Still so much to do! Delicate balance between enjoying the work and doing everything that needs to be done; gardening is peaceful and fulfilling but can easily tip toward feeling stressed out about not getting key tasks done in time. Too tired to do the copper spray and deer repellent? Then you'll be crying when your peonies rot or the deer devour your tender plants and rosebuds.
First meal-size portion asparagus harvest of the year tonight. This is what it's all about!
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