In the Gardens

59 this morning, quickly warmed up to mid 70s. Rain in the forecast for later today.

Writing this with my phone, on the porch because it's just too nice to go back into the room where my computer is.

Larry is sick with a stomach bug that had the poor man up and down all night, and me too as you can imagine. But he was really sick so today he is in bed, still not completely over it. This is the first time either of us has been really sick in years. I sincerely hope it's the last.

I went out and planted by myself this morning just in case we do get the predicted rain. It was seeds today...carrots, beets, lettuce, radishes, kale and lettuce. The soil is still on the wet side but not enough to be a problem. There is an odd thing in the garden that we can't figure out: celery growing around the strawberry planters. I haven't planted celery in years so we are clueless as to how it got there.  There are 4 or 5 plants and they look great. I did put out celery plants this year but not where these are. A gift from the universe?

I took a few photos while I was out there.  Things are weedy and now we are behind on mulching, where we had been so far ahead. Pride goes before a fall. But here's a little of the gardens, weeds and all.

I love the way the red spirea makes a color contrast, almost as nice as when it's flowering.

My old spirea, dug up years ago on Bucket Run, the abandoned road down below our property, and carried back up the creek. Back when I was young and strong.

This Red Emperor tulip is just about done, but so pretty still.

New this year, but can't remember the variety. Maybe Apricot something?

This one made it through from last year, a rare thing for a tulip here.

I am still over the moon about the lenten roses. They are still looking absolutely wonderful, after being in bloom for over a month. That's heal-all in there too, a weed that's actually quite a good medicinal herb. We have a LOT of it here in our gardens now, not on purpose.

Some late daffodils, almost over with.

These tulips haven't come out yet, and I am anxious to see what they are.

One last small daffodil on those mini ones that are so early and vibrant.

And more late ones--I can't recall their name, but these are new for us this year.

Not much happening here--but see that cardboard on the right of the photo? It's been there all winter, where I planted some perennials last fall. Of the 7 different kinds I put in, I have 3 peonies and 3 astilbe coming up. The plants were 75% off, so I expected some not to make it through the winter. I'm happy to have the stalwarts that survived, especially the peonies. I don't think I could ever have enough of them.

This garden is in the WHAT A MESS category. We can't seem to get a good grip on it for some reason. However, without our interference, a lot of things are doing just fine in here despite the weeds and super wet soil. There are multiplier onions, garlic, chives, asparagus, and I am hoping the chamomile and dill will have re-seeded themselves again this year. There are also raspberries, a currant bush, and some wild dame's rocket all thriving in the chaos.

I haven't been able to get mulch on this bed yet. It's usually a much later job, mostly because there are things that come up from seed in here and I don't want to smother them. So it stays messy and weedy for a while, until I feel sure everybody has come up that's going to.

Weeds, weeds, weeds. Tomorrow's job, after the rain, when they'll be easy to pull.

A view of the veggie garden, or one of them anyway. This is where we're experimenting with permanent mulch.

Hopefully next time I post photos, things will be in better order. For now, I'm happy to enjoy the green, and the surprise of what comes up. I hope your gardens give you as much pleasure as mine do me, and less headache too.