Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Around the Garden

Front beds

Beets

Kale

Mesclun mix

Strawberry flower

Back beds

Garlic

Service berry flower

Apple blossom

Well, it happened, as it always seems to on the long weekend...we got frost. And that is why all planting of sensitive plants waits until after the long weekend. I had plans of getting the tomatoes, and the herbs in the ground last week, but as soon as I head the forecast, all of that changed.

I was a little disappointed, but I would have been even more disappointed had I planted them and lost them. This weekend is looking very promising, so the plan is to spend a good chunk of time getting everything in the ground as the sun shines on us.

There is good news though, the seeds are starting to sprout. Beets, kale, mesclun mix, and salad mix are all peeking out making this homesteader very happy. Every year I plant those seeds and every year I hold my breath while I wait for them to peek out. It is pure magic to me, and it never gets old. Carrots and peas were also planted this weekend, so hopefully they will be showing themselves above ground soon.

And did you see that strawberry flower? We walked in the woods on Saturday and noticed the first wild strawberry flowers and then on Sunday morning as I walked around the garden I noticed the first flower in our garden. Exciting! The strawberries are not the only thing to be showing off, the apple tree is ready to burst with beautiful blossoms, and the service berries are blooming too.

We have been eating a little from the garden this week, just herbs, but it is something, and the simple act of walking to the garden to gather food before our meals feels so right. We have enjoyed omelets with chives and a little parsley, and lemon balm and peppermint have been added to water. And the best meal of the week, hands down, our nettle pizza. It was delicious, so much so, we will be enjoying it again this week.

There is just so much goodness around here right now and every day there is something new. My little homesteading heart is very happy.

How are things around your garden?

21 comments:

  1. It looks good Kim. A frost? Wow, we have been cooler, as in no air conditioning, but no where near a frost. Things are dry here. We did get a little rain the other night, but there is watering in my days now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tracey, and yes, a frost. It isn't unheard of to have a few flakes of the white stuff at this time of year too. I do think we are done with it now though, the temps for the weekend are climbing and I will be barefoot in the garden :)

      Delete
  2. How wonderful! And we have wild strawberries growing through our grass. LOL! I've convinced my husband to not mow. I wan to see if we would actually get strawberries if he lets the yard grow for a while. Things around my garden are moving slowly but surely : radishes, kale, swiss chards, lettuces, peas, brussel sprouts... My cucs and zuccs are hardened off and in the ground. The tomatoes are hitting the beds this week-end as well! :-) Just a beautiful time of year, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, hope those strawberries grow for you. Slowly but surely is good, and allows for maximum enjoyment. It is the most beautiful time of the year :)

      Delete
  3. That Strawberry flower is so sweet and such a lovely sight! We put our seedlings in the garden yesterday. Still have a few more to do. This raised bed/square foot gardening has me feeling like a brand new gardener again, very unsure and constantly questioning if we have enough space etc....We are looking forward to lots of yummy food from our gardens soon!

    http://ouronesweetfamily.blogspot.com/2014/05/our-day.html

    Have a lovely day, lovely friend! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was such a surprise when I saw it, didn't think I would see one quite so soon with the cold winter we had. Wishing you a lovely day too! xo

      Delete
  4. Your gardens photos are always a delight. I also hold my breath waiting for those first shoots to come up. It is magic indeed. This weekend we hope to finish planting up our raised beds, then I'll have fun photos to share as well. I wanted to plant a service berry hedge of sorts in our yard, but they did not survive the post office :( be well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Can't wait to see your raised beds when they are all planted up :) Sorry about the serviceberry plants :(

      Delete
  5. I miss nettles a lot. I wonder if I can grow them in a pot? :) Garden is looking so lovely. Do you compost by the way? I haven't heard you talk about compost.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't see why not, give it a go. Thank you. Yes, we do compost. We use our compost over the summer on the beds, and add a good layer on the beds in the fall.

      Delete
  6. Your garden is looking lovely!
    We also have lots of wild strawberry flowers, and I also get excited to begin eating from the garden- even when it is just chives. It does feel just so right.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've learned to roll with the frost hardy veg in our climate, mind you thats a light frost, not hard frost. Our peas have survived -8C/17.6F last year! We also use frost fabric (heavy weight row cover) if your ambitious enough :)
    I'm looking forward to seeing all your beds fill in! You have such a gorgeous garden layout. And I agree that the magic never gets old. I think that's what makes the soul of a gardener, seeing the beauty in the simplest of things.
    Our garden update (we had a frost 2 weeks ago but it was light and things rebounded nicely)
    http://littlemountainhaven.com/garden-journal-may/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It gets tricky here, we have had snow fall on the long weekend here, so it is a pretty good rule with most homesteaders around here that you wait til this week to plant the more sensitive plants. We have row covers, they are on a few beds, although they are not the frost protection ones, these ones are just light ones to keep the chickens off the seedlings until they have grown a bit :)

      Delete
  8. The garden is coming along beautifully!!! I haven't started my garden posts yet....everything is still seedlings in their pots. But I put up a post of other things growing around the yard. We have our three day weekend this upcoming weekend and we have big plans to spend a lot of time out in the yard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jen, I am happy with it and can't wait to get out there and get everything else in the ground. Exciting times! Enjoy your long weekend and the time in your garden.

      Delete
  9. Kim that looks amazing! What a nice little piece of land you have...not so little actually!
    Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Cory. It is little, but it feels big to us and we love it!

      Delete
  10. Your garden always makes me feel hopeful for a variety of reasons. Today it is because I think we are just a week or two behind you in terms of spring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awe, thanks, that is so sweet of you to say. Yay, that is awesome. It feels good to finally welcome spring, eh?

      Delete