lorna-organic
April 21st, 2009, 02:38 PM
I spent three hours working on the gardens today. I planted produce and flower seeds. A small flock of hummingbird hawk moths were feeding on the arugula flowers. I saw a dragonfly and a couple of baby lizards.
I have kept a dozen large, bolted arugulas in the garden because butterflies and bees have been feeding on them. There isn't much else for them to eat right now. I would like to use that garden space for spring planting, but I think it is important to provide some habitat for wild life. The arugula flowers have a very pleasant scent. Next fall I'll make sure to plant some arugula outside of the garden, so I can have my garden space and the wild life can have arugula flowers in spring.
I found a small peacock tail feather in the yard. The feather is just the right size to put in a hat band. :) Obviously a peacock has recently been on my property. Last year I saw a couple of peacocks wandering loose about three miles from here.
The corn flower (Bachelor's Button) seeds have sprouted. I harvested arugula leaves and some chard from a plant which wintered over. Have some wintered over kale, will hopefully be able to begin harvesting that in a couple of weeks.
There are new chard, arugula and radish sprouts in the garden. I planted tomatillo, ground cherry and the first round of summer squash seeds (patty pan, Lebanese marrow and crook neck). The onions and garlic are really doing well. The hunk of oregano I shovel pruned and planted is growing. Last week I put in collard, rutabaga and kale seeds.
I had a couple of bolted mustard spinach (tender greens). I planned to let them go to seed. One of the dogs sneaked into the garden behind my back and pulled one of the spinach plants. Saw him trot off, head held high, spinach dangling from his mouth, proud of his prize. He ate it.
The Spanish broom and one lavender look like they didn't make it. My Osteospermum, Marguerite, and Euryops aren't looking promising either, darn it. I thought they'd come back. I'll leave them in place for the time being, and keep my fingers crossed. It is spring in the high desert.
I have kept a dozen large, bolted arugulas in the garden because butterflies and bees have been feeding on them. There isn't much else for them to eat right now. I would like to use that garden space for spring planting, but I think it is important to provide some habitat for wild life. The arugula flowers have a very pleasant scent. Next fall I'll make sure to plant some arugula outside of the garden, so I can have my garden space and the wild life can have arugula flowers in spring.
I found a small peacock tail feather in the yard. The feather is just the right size to put in a hat band. :) Obviously a peacock has recently been on my property. Last year I saw a couple of peacocks wandering loose about three miles from here.
The corn flower (Bachelor's Button) seeds have sprouted. I harvested arugula leaves and some chard from a plant which wintered over. Have some wintered over kale, will hopefully be able to begin harvesting that in a couple of weeks.
There are new chard, arugula and radish sprouts in the garden. I planted tomatillo, ground cherry and the first round of summer squash seeds (patty pan, Lebanese marrow and crook neck). The onions and garlic are really doing well. The hunk of oregano I shovel pruned and planted is growing. Last week I put in collard, rutabaga and kale seeds.
I had a couple of bolted mustard spinach (tender greens). I planned to let them go to seed. One of the dogs sneaked into the garden behind my back and pulled one of the spinach plants. Saw him trot off, head held high, spinach dangling from his mouth, proud of his prize. He ate it.
The Spanish broom and one lavender look like they didn't make it. My Osteospermum, Marguerite, and Euryops aren't looking promising either, darn it. I thought they'd come back. I'll leave them in place for the time being, and keep my fingers crossed. It is spring in the high desert.