gardening today

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.

GardenMamma · April 21st, 2009, 02:47 PM

Lorna I am so jealous. I was going to get my onions out last weekend but is started raining. It is still raining and there are flurries in the forecast.! I think I am going to move out there by you.

lorna-organic · April 21st, 2009, 02:51 PM

We could still get some snow, if it makes you feel any better GardenMamma.

But April snow never seems to harm anything, so I don't worry about it.

gerry · April 21st, 2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorna-organic

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.

I hear spinach is good for him; but it's better if he takes the leaves and lets the plant make new ones, and some seeds.

It's good to hear some 'normal' folks are getting things out. I left on a 10-day vacation the day before I had planned to fill my garden.

I threw out seeds for corn, carrots (the ones I sprouted inside all died), lettuce (ditto), parsley, strawberries and borrage, potatoes and bush peas. Yesterday and today I seeded my herb garden: rosemary, chamomile, lemon balm, dill, echinacea and shingu-ku, whatever that is.

Today I put in beans and squash to go with the corn I planted before we left.

And then there are the shrubs and flowers ... AARGHHHH!!

I've been trying to spend an hour or two a day gardening. I just don't have the endurance for a full day's worth any more. One of the advantages/disadvantages of being retired.

gerry
who is learning fast
and needs someone to help mow the grass ... err, weeds

Growing Boy · April 21st, 2009, 03:39 PM

Planting like a banshee. Second run of greens, first of corn and cantalope last friday, first of cukes and watermelon last Wednesday, already up. Summer squash in. Tried to till tomato and pole bean bed but after 3 inches of rain It was like tilling quicksand. After 30 years in Colorado never thought I would resent rain. Got to put up the netting for the second run of peas. A third of the roses are in bloom, got to STOP, smell the roses. No time for pictures What's next?

journey149 · April 21st, 2009, 07:32 PM

I am wondering is it too late plant tomatillo seeds will they be able to with stand the Florida sun.

April 21st, 2009, 02:38 PM	#1
lorna-organic Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central New Mexico USDA Zone: 7b Posts: 18,543	gardening today 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. __________________ Lorna Boycott Land O Lakes products because they lobby for GM alfalfa. Boycott Monsanto, Bayer, Syngenta, BASF, Dow, DuPont, Scotts. Scotts is the sole licensed U.S. distributor of Monsanto's RoundUp. MiracleGro is owned by Scotts. Last edited by lorna-organic; April 21st, 2009 at 02:44 PM..

April 21st, 2009, 02:47 PM	#2
GardenMamma Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Battle Creek, MI USDA Zone: 5b Posts: 252	Re: gardening today Lorna I am so jealous. I was going to get my onions out last weekend but is started raining. It is still raining and there are flurries in the forecast.! I think I am going to move out there by you.

April 21st, 2009, 02:51 PM	#3
lorna-organic Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central New Mexico USDA Zone: 7b Posts: 18,543	Re: gardening today We could still get some snow, if it makes you feel any better GardenMamma. But April snow never seems to harm anything, so I don't worry about it. __________________ Lorna Boycott Land O Lakes products because they lobby for GM alfalfa. Boycott Monsanto, Bayer, Syngenta, BASF, Dow, DuPont, Scotts. Scotts is the sole licensed U.S. distributor of Monsanto's RoundUp. MiracleGro is owned by Scotts.

April 21st, 2009, 03:39 PM	#5
Growing Boy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Piney Woods of East Texas USDA Zone: 8a Posts: 304	Re: gardening today Planting like a banshee. Second run of greens, first of corn and cantalope last friday, first of cukes and watermelon last Wednesday, already up. Summer squash in. Tried to till tomato and pole bean bed but after 3 inches of rain It was like tilling quicksand. After 30 years in Colorado never thought I would resent rain. Got to put up the netting for the second run of peas. A third of the roses are in bloom, got to STOP, smell the roses. No time for pictures What's next? __________________ Expect nothing. Be surprised! http://www.rozannasgarden.com

April 21st, 2009, 07:32 PM	#6
journey149 Journey Join Date: May 2008 Location: west central florida USDA Zone: 9a Posts: 395	Re: gardening today I am wondering is it too late plant tomatillo seeds will they be able to with stand the Florida sun.