These kale seedlings are 3 weeks old.  The two rows on the left are kale seeds that I saved last summer.  Aren't they pretty?  You can see the heart shaped seed leaves, and the curly true leaves.  They are ready to transplant into 6-packs.  

 

I started yesterday and got several flats filled.  Now they are under the lights until they get big enough to put into the garden.

 

I thought you might like to see how tiny they are in the beginning.  By the time you see 6-packs in the garden center they are about two months old.  I will show you again as they grow.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Spring sprang this morning at 5:01 am.  I didn't see it, but I am so happy!!!

 

You know that spring is here when the Speedwell blooms blue in the field.  I have always called this Corn Speedwell, but Seek called it Bird's eye Speedwell, Veronica persica this time.  Hmmm.

 

I just read that there are over 500 species of Veronica.  Well, that explains it.  How can I remember that many different types of little blue flowers.  Anyway, who cares what it's called, we just love seeing it in the spring.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

 

 

Have you seen Daffodil Hill this year?  It is just across from the little Baptist Church on the back road.  It is just beginning to bloom, and it is beautiful!!!

 

I love it!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Wow!!!  The Bradford Pears are so pretty all over town, and especially in our neighborhood.  

 

Spring is springing.  Yay!!!

 

 

HAPPY ALMOST SPRING!!!

 

Look how our clever neighbors transformed the Christmas camper into an Irish camper.  They decorated it for Valentines Day too, but I forgot to take a picture of it then.  Sorry.  

 

The haybale always makes us happy as we drive into the neighborhood.  I hope it makes you smile too.

 

 

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

 

Now you know why they call it Crabgrass.  It just LOOKS crabby.  Fortunately, with a good dandelion digger tool, it pops out easily.  Just don't let it get too entrenched.  Once it takes over, you can never get rid of it.  

 

HAPPY ALMOST SPRING!!!

 

We are happy to be planting potatoes in the garden today.  Jon built an eight foot long raised bed, and we filled it with a couple inches of good soil.  Then I will put in the potatoes with the eyes pointing up.  As they sprout and grow we will add soil to the bed.  The potatoes will grow along the stems into the soft soil.  With the 12 inch sides of the raised bed we can keep the soil and the water from rolling down the hill.

 

This is our first attempt at raised bed gardening, and I hope it works with potatoes.  It should...  I will let you know.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I know I show you this every year, but it is so pretty!!  I always get excited when I see it blooming, and it smells so sweet.  

 

I hope you have Mahonia in your world to watch as it blooms.  Be sure to get up close enough to breathe in its fresh scent.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We saw flowers on the Bradford Pears opening up.  They are not in full bloom yet, but showing promise.

 

I'm happy.

 

HAPPY ALMOST SPRING!!!

 

Now this is a pretty picture!!!  Hahaha!  It is our old maple tree stump.  The big part is about 2 feet in diameter, and the smaller part is rotten to the core.  If you look past the stump down the hill you can see the branches and the logs that were once connected to the tree.  OK, enough of that.

 

Look at all those spots on the cut edge of the stumps.  That's where we plugged our shiitake mushrooms.  Jon drilled 100 3/8" holes, and we put in the plugs inoculated with shiitake spawn.   Then we painted over the plugs with beeswax to seal them.  

 

We inoculated oak logs back in 2020, and for the past few years we have harvested shiitake mushrooms.  They were so good that we decided to try it again with this big fat maple tree stump.  I have no idea how long it will take before they fruit, but we aren't going anywhere, so we will just be happy when they do it.  I will show you then.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!