70 degrees yesterday - 46 Today!

It's spring! In the Northwest! Changeable weather is a certainty but the work goes on.
Planted strawberries Monday. Re-potted Sweet Italian Basil and Lemon Basil yesterday.( they had outgrown their egg cartons) Started White Swan Echinecea, Cilantro and Cinnamon Basil. Couldn't stand it any longer so put the Nasturtiums in their pot by the front door yesterday. They look alright this morning in spite of the rain and wind.
 We need to get the garden arch in place between the raised beds. I hope the blueberries will do well in spite of the probability of Asian fruit fly. I'll surround them with marigolds and other herbs and try the yeast and sugar water traps as recommended.

Though we have given several plants away the laundry room nursery is pretty crowded.

Cherokee Purple Tomatoes and Banana Pepper

 


Peppers, Roma Tomatoes, White Sage, Lavender (still looks like a weed), Nasturtiums (banished to the outdoors)







Nasturtiums and a rescued pansy in the pot. Strawberries and thyme below.

I think the blueberries look nice in their pots.






                                                                    

                                                                        Raised beds, blueberries. Work in process.

Happy Spring!

False Spring

Though snow is predicted for Monday - with thunder!!! - we are still working toward spring. It's supposed to reach 60 degrees today!!
The baby plants in the laundry room are clammering to go out but not a for a month or more. The night time temps need to be 50 degrees or above for things to do well in this part of the NW. That is usually around Mother's Day. I'll have a jungle by then!  Must move more tomatoes and peppers to larger pots today, thin the lemon basil and start the cinnamon basil. Yum!

The front garden is in process. 
The raised beds are looking great. Have an arch to place between them. The small blobs in front are blueberry bushes which need to be in larger pots! Tomorrow I hope.




This is an interesting book.

CD very, very soon!!!

We (Eric, Terry and I-TwoRivers Band) spent 6+ hours last Thursday recording 8 of our original songs. Lyman and Eric have spent the week producing it and Wow!!! You are gonna love it!

Transplanting

Was gifted with 24, 4 inch peat pots. This morning I transplanted 14 tiny English Lavender plants from their egg carton nursery. They look much happier. Tomorrow I'll move the 4 White Sage plants.
Dug and pulled many weeds (ugh!) and set out more chives. Moved the Rosemary plant to the back garden where it will get more light and rain.
Italian Basil and Lemon Basil sprouting. Finally!!!...the Sweet Peppers are sprouting. The other peppers are all about 2 inches tall with double leaves so it's about time!
I'll be very happy when I can plant them outdoors.

February Already!

It amazes me how quickly January went!
Had to thin the Lavender and White Sage plants yesterday. I hate doing it. Seems like murder but it has to be done. Have 4 White Sage and 13 English Lavender starts happy in the laundry room. 
The pepper seeds are warm and damp in their milk cartons. I expect signs of life there very soon.  The laundry room isn't very big - have to turn sideways to get in and out - but seedlings seem very happy there.

Starting the garden

Yes, it's early. Especially when I consider that the usual day to plant around here is Mother's Daybut you have to get started.
The first garden catalog arrived yesterday from Territorial Seeds. This is a great reference guide, packed with information and color photos yet small and light and easy to read or carry in your bag for those boring moments of waiting in line.
News! The $$ Tree stores have marigold seeds (last year) for sale 4 for $1.00. An excellent price for companion plantings - keeping bad bugs off of your tomatoes and peppers - colorful and edible too.
I received to large planter boxes from my neighbors when they moved-free. They need a few screws and some paint. Got a quart of dark blue paint from the free section of Craig's List that will be trim (about a gallon of gas to go get it). Now just need a lighter color for the main part of the boxes and the tomatoes and peppers will have an attractive home this summer. I've been gathering rocks to edge a bed approximately 7'x 3" and just need a few more. This will be the kitchen herb garden. We live in an area that has lots of river rock so I pick them up as I clean the other beds.
An arched trellis will support the green beans (got it last year at a yard sale for $1.00)
We purchased 4 very nice, small clay pots at Goodwill yesterday for $3.00.  The white sage plants (sprouting and some with 2 leaves already!) will have a temporary home in them very soon.

Tools for the garden.

Not every useful tool cn be kept in the tool shed.
I'm having fun with  http://myfolia.com/. This is a free and very user friendly site that will help you plan and track your gardening progress.
Going to start an egg carton of lavender-angustifolia-Munstead strain today. I've saved an 18 holer just for this purpose.
Fred Meyer has a coupon in store for 40% off on Lilly Miller and Ed Hume Packet Seeds good through today!!! I especially like Ed Hume as he is based in Puyallup, WA.
Go now while there is a good variety of seeds available at this great price.