Missed Post!

Not only did I miss today's post but when I tried to post this morning I kept getting an error.
Sorry about that folks, come back we will be on again.

Some Color is Going On

There has been a bit of sunshine although

it's been crazy and the weather literally changes

through out the day.

Yesterday we awoke to beautiful sunshine

alas as the day wore on we also had wind,

clouds, rain and it all repeated more than a few times.

I was able to find some color, what do you have going on?

'Blue Star' Anemones: Grecian Windflower

Pieris Japonica

Not sure which variety of Pieris this is but I 

bought it for the flower color.

A Planter Lives

Or the plant lived through the winter in a planter.

Last spring I popped some chard seeds in this 

planter, it was also filled with the seedlings of morning

glories and canary vine.

I didn't know what to expect from the chard

as it was quite crowded but here it is next

spring and the chard is standing proud.

The twigs are to keep the cats out, it seems to work mostly.

I popped some carrot seeds in awhile back

but had given up hope they would sprout but

just maybe they have.

I really hope these are carrots and not weeds.

I'm not positive but I think this might be a baby columbine

but will know as it gets bigger. I can't quite tell

which leaves those are yet, can you?

Nettles

I've only seen nettles before when they are going

to flower which makes them taller looking.
So when I first saw these while I was sure they

were nettles I didn't want to take any chances with 

them so we kept our distance.

After checking around online I found  local
information about the nettles here.

Yes the plant is edible but no we were not prepared to harvest.

I've not eaten nettles before, have you?

Spring Has Arrived

There was some beautiful weather

over the weekend -
when the sun actually shines here it

is quite beautiful.

It was time to get outside and see

what's going on, here is a bit

of what I found.

Weeds, yup that's what I found!

Pretty don't ya think?

These adorable little flowers come up all over the place.

Of course there are more of these.

This is actually a regular old primrose, if you can

find it through the grass taking over.

Saturday's Field Trip

The view of Mt Rainier when we were on the way to the park.

We are at the Arboretum in Seattle in early summer.

Here is a link to the Arboretum.

Oemleria cerasiformis also known as Indian Plum ~ Edible

Rubus spectabilis also known as Salmonberry ~ Edible

Compost Happens

Compost pretty much happens all on it's own,

I just plop the remains of garden plants, the

potato peels, coffee grounds and the like onto each other.

Now there was a huge pile of finished compost,

I'd say about 4 wheelbarrows full.

It's heavy stuff, I used half and left the rest

in 2 wheelbarrows stuffed to the brim.

They are covered and waiting for me to get back out there,

I need to pull weeds around the plants before

I dole out the compost.
Why feed the weeds?

So it's great to finally have finished compost

but the area where the compost resides isn't so great.

We had some pallets sitting around and I

now have a half finished compost pile doing

it's thing - hmmmm idea time.

I should have said work time because I worked

and now I can say tired and sore time.

Remember it was just a big huge pile of dirt looking yuck.

I removed the finished compost from the right and then started

building this ahem structure. In no way is it level.

You might laugh when you realize how level it isn't, in my 

defense the land isn't level as we are on a slope.

The finished compost was in the now bare spot, while

the left is half finished.

I moved the half finished to the right, whew.

It will be ready to use by the end of summer and the new compost

will get started on the left.

There is a pile of compost on the left towards the front, it 

will get used to cover whatever plant/fruit/veggie/coffee grounds

that will start the new compost pile.

For the most part I am a cold composter, I just let it happen,

although occasionally I will turn it over.

Poor picture quality but do you see all those wigglers!!!

This Saturday there will be a field trip of photos
 so please come back and take a look.

Growing Vegetables

When my kids were younger and we lived in a place

that has very warm summers, we grew a lot of our own

fruit, berries and vegetables.
When you live in a place that has hot hot hot summer heat -

well what I'm trying to say is that I think its easier

to grown ones own vegetables in a hotter climate.

No longer do we don't live in a climate that is known for it's heat

so now growing takes more work.

I like gardening to be fun, phooey on the work!

The cooler weather veggies tend to better 

here, unless I put hot horse manure full 

of sawdust in my beds and then nothing

grows too much!

Okay enough of my whining, here is one thing

I grew last year (poorly) - I planted

them in a bed that wasn't healthy so I 

was happy to get any beets from it.

Are you a beet eater? 

I love them, yum!

Dreaming

Dreaming, yup that is the only way to

get through spring fever.

These were taken last August.

This was my big box store mandevilla, super cheap on clearance.
I am trying to overwinter it in a cool area but so far it's chances

of survival are looking slim. The plant is 3/4 dead right,

we will see if it ever warms up outside and maybe
 the plant will recover.

These lilies grow side by side and are the most beautiful

flowers - they just light the area up with

not just their beauty but an amazing fragrance.

Summer hurry up!

What's Really Growing in My Garden

Mizuna and Kale

Mizuna flowers

The mizuna and this little bit of lettuce came from a mixed greens

packet I planted last spring. This garden bed was amended

with manure that most likely was too hot as very little grew

well or sprouted in this bed. 

The Kale was planted last spring also.

The celery was a volunteer in the same bed!!!

I know right?! It didn't care about the soil.

It isn't good for the stalks, instead I dry the leaves

in a paper bag in the fridge. 

If you are wanting to dry an herb the easy way all you do

is wash and dry them, place in a paper bag and fold over

the top. Place the bag in the fridge giving the bag a shake every day

or so and ta da that's it.

This little one was hidden under some turnips that had gotten

out of hand. I left the turnips (they were inedible) to be

turned under as a green manure this spring.

I've never really used a green manure before, always meant to though.

In the past I've always had leaf clippings along with grass clippings

so I never needed a green manure. Here I don't usually

have as much of that stuff and the weeds are out

of control so that green manure is needed.

Now I if I'd actually plan ahead and plant the green manure!

Cheating

I am cheating on this post, there isn't much going on

right now except for snow. Snow and hail.

Hail and snow and maybe some clouds

and maybe some rain and some more snow

and more hail.

Our weather is late, our warmer spring
weather is late. What should be flowering
hasn't flowered yet.
I don't like it, well heck to
be honest it makes me unwell.
Unwell, depressed, down, SAD.

Here are some flowers from another time.