Yes, we are excited about spring, but alas, it is still winter here in the mountains.  The American Beech trees are still holding onto their leaves, waiting for the new leaves to push them off.  

 

I did notice a lot of buds though, so it won’t be long now.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Time to look up!!!  The Red Maples are blooming.  

 

I took this picture on a walk, but you can even see them blooming if you are traveling at 45 mph.  The trees look a little fuzzy, and range in color from yellow to dark red.  

 

Another sign of spring to come.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Just three weeks after planting the seeds, they were ready to be transplanted into 6-packs.

 

We took two flats of seedlings, and transplanted them into these cell packs.  We ended up with 7 flats of healthy seedlings, each flat holding 36 little plants.  Quick, do the math!!!  That’s a lot of little plants.

 

They will stay in these cell packs another three weeks, give or take a little.  Their next big move will be into the garden.  I’ll let you know.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Look at our beautiful daffodils blooming!!!

 

They always make me so happy.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

Photo:  complements of The Farmers Almanac 

 

 

I was going to write about Leap year traditions, but it is quite complicated, so I will just suggest that you go to your favorite online dictionary and look up ‘leap year’ and ‘leap day.’  Or go to https://www.almanac.com/when-next-leap-year for the shortened version.  (Sorry for all the ads.)

 

It is interesting, and amusing all at the same time.

 

 

HAPPY ALMOST MARCH!!!

 

I also planted my arugula bed on February 9th;  the seeds will come up in 3 days if the ground is warm enough.  These just started to sprout after 12 days!!  

 

I guess I jumped the gun a bit.  Oh well, we have lots of arugula seeds.  I can sow them again if needed.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I thought you might like to see my seedling progress.  These were planted on February 9th.  

 

This is one of the flats of cool weather crops:  cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, kale.  The other flats have lettuce, beets, Swiss chard, mustards, and leeks. 

 

The celery hasn’t come up yet.  Still waiting, and hoping I didn’t miss the window for planting.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

My Forsythia is starting to show color.  

 

I am so excited!!!  Maybe I will cut a few stems and bring them inside to open up.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Saw the Mahonia the other day, and it is looking gorgeous.  

 

This bush is about 7 feet tall and as wide, and blooming all over like this.  I love to get up close, because the flowers smell heavenly.  But you can see those leaves are not too friendly, so we don’t get too close.

 

I will try to get a full picture next time.  It all depends on the light.  

 

 

HAPPY ALMOST SPRING!!!

 

I heard somebody last week complaining about too much rain.  

 

Not me:  I get Shiitake mushrooms.  After a few days of rain our Shiitake logs started sprouting.  The mushrooms were small, but there were about 20 popping out all over the log.  Then after a couple more days of rain, some were big enough to harvest, and others are waiting for more rain.

 

You might hear me whine about NO rain, but never about too much.  Rain is how we get food.

 

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!