Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Signs of Spring

Please enjoy these signs of Spring...even if it is mid-winter, technically...
Have you heard this one before?  NEVER, bury the crown of the strawberry.  Really?  What's this then?  Healthy strawberry plants emerging from their winter slumber beneath a 4 inch layer of mulch, that's what.

 Spot the 'sparagus.  Hint - it's purple.

 I love how the water drops get caught in this succulent.  Somehow, the surface tension keeps them round-ish.

 Grape Hyacinth near the garden gate.

 Ready beds and barrels, though the mulch hasn't been down that long so we'll probably need to fertigate with worm juice this year.  Maybe this Fall I'll get my act together and mulch sooner.

 Peering down into a crocus.

Crocus and a heavily pruned Helebore.  Looks like it is time to divide those grasses.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Its About Time

So I have finally done it - I am officially enrolled in Geoff Lawton's Permaculture Design Certificate Course.  YES!!  I am too excited to adequately convey in words how I feel about this.  If you have never heard of permaculture, please check out any of Geoff's videos.  'Greening the Desert' is a good place to start if you want to see something amazing.  Look for it on Youtube.

But I don't live in a desert, you may say.  Neither do I!  Permaculture is an ethical design science for building sustainable habitat that cares for the earth, cares for people, and returns the surplus in ANY climate where people live.  That includes the wet and cold Pacific Northwest.

I spent yesterday afternoon enjoying a break in the rain, planting in our front bed.  Kristi and I went to Watson's nursery on the way home from a nice day out (lunch at Friesenburger, shopping at the used book store) and bought Asparagus crowns.  Out front behind the apple trees are now two Jersey Knights and two Mary Washingtons.  Hopefully this year they'll grow tall and sink deep so that next year we can harvest.  I know, you're supposed to wait a couple years.  I have a feeling these plants are going to love the front bed and get settled in just fine.  We'll see next year how they look...and maybe how they taste.

Finally, I want to say that I'll be updating this blog more regularly, but I won't say how often.  I've been better at maintaining the train blog, my hobby, my sanity-soother from stress.  But there are many outdoor projects going on and plenty to share here as well.  So look for updates to come this Spring.  Here are a couple pictures from last Spring, 2014 - the first is from April 8, the second May 27.  What a difference a month makes!