Magnificent Tulip April Spring Garden

 

On Sunday, I took some snapshots of my Tulip Spring garden. Amongst the tulips are also daffodils and hyacinths blooming.

Early Spring Garden: Flowers & Veggies in April

Things are happening in the gardens! The flowers are making a splash, the daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, and grape hyacinths. When these bloom, along with the Redbud trees, you know it's time to plant your cold crops! 

I have planted broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, pansies, and potatoes. For these, I tilled, then hoed large mounds and then applied mulch to each mound. From there, I transplanted seedlings in the mulch. For frost and freeze protection, I affixed plastic hoop pipe over each mound then covered with clear plastic sheeting. Simple as that! 

Additionally, I have potatoes in garden mounds and covered with mulch, to keep some warmth and moisture retained to help them grow. In the pictures, you'll notice that I have put tobacco sticks on those potato mounds- this is an effort to keep all of my grandma's cats out.

This is just the beginning stages of the Spring garden, I have more pounds of potatoes to plant and directly sow some radishes, carrots, kale, spinach, and lettuces. Stay tuned! 

Signs of Spring Part 2: woodland creek adventures

In our neck of the woods, we have two spots where go to enjoy the sounds of a gentle creek, bustling squirrels, and tumbling leaves. We have been favoring the park across from us and getting some much needing hiking and walking in. There's always beauty here to explore.

Today we basked in the warm sunny 70 degree day. I felt like a bear coming out of hibernation. I walked along the creek bed in my water shoes, touching every tree barnacle, rock, leaf, and even hugged a tree.

The other day when the evening was slightly warming up, we headed to another side of the park's creek.

Signs of Spring Part I: canning, houseplants, Seed starting, & walking in the woods

 I have started seeds indoors. The broccoli I sowed is at least 4 days old seedlings. I have them growing in a micro greenhouse using plastic salad recycled containers. 

In addition to broccoli, I am germinating basil, parsley, and cilantro. 

If you gave the space and you live in Zone 6 to 7, you can beginning starting cabbage, cauliflower collards, and other brassicas indoors. 

There won't be a last Frost advisory until late May, but I tend to start my seeds indoors in Late February.

It was a nice, warm Sunday, so I brought my houseplants otside to get some Sun and fresh air.

I was hauling compost to my gardens today, and noticed these signs of Spring...the Crocus. Such a cold hardy and dainty little flower...

Yesterday was my birthday, so I indulged in some restaurant veggie sushi...

I turned 32 years old...

As Spring presents itself, it's crucial for me to spend lots of time outdoors. It's my version of therapy. So after work  this past Wednesday-- when it was another warm afternoon-- Ashley and I went to our local park and had a little fire. We roasted some veggie dogs and peppers.

Last Friday-- the afternoon was warm, so I took the houseplants outside to fertilize them.

Although it's not my normal canning season, I was gifted 10 pounds of tomatoes or more. I decided to can tomatoes and spaghetti sauce. For the spaghetti sauce, my recipe was 9 tomatoes, blanched and skinned, then simmered for 1 hour with peppers, onion, carrots, herbs, salt. I sterilized jars, lids, rings, and equipment. And was able to can 3 pint jars of sauce.

For the cold pack tomatoes: I sterilized the jars, boiled tomatoes to remove skins, packed the tomatoes in the jars with lemon juice and water bath canned for 50 minutes.

I'm excited for what Spring will bring.  I hope for more peaceful weather, warm days and nights, colorful flora and fauna. 

I also hope to get some veggies in the ground this upcoming early Spring for things like Swiss chard, collards, kale, spinach, radish, cilantro and lettuce.