We're committed now...

It wasn't a warm weekend.  In fact, it was quite chilly.  That didn't stop me from planting some of my seedlings in the greenhouse.  It is supposed to warm up.   If the temperature does dip, I have a little heater.   I planted tomatoes, pumpkins,  luffas, and a few broccoli plants.   I'm not really that committed,  there are still seedlings in flats and continue to bring them in and out.  There are tomato seedlings coming out my ears. Somehow they seem to have popped up all through my seed starts. The lettuce and spinach I planted is also coming up.  I'm hoping they are staggered enough from the ones that are up already. Last year I had horrible luck with trying to stagger plantings.  It got too warm too quickly and things didn't come up.  My lettuce and spinach was ready in early spring and that was it for the rest of the summer. 

 

 I planted a sunflower with the pumpkins.  My hope is the pumpkins will crawl up the sunflower and out the window.  It has been done before.  Now looking at this photo, I see a little tomato coming up under the pumpkin leaf.  They are determined buggers.

I added soil and seeds to the windmill bed.  A few irises were also transplanted.  I am very pleased with the outcome.  Lawrence County e-mailed this week and my plants were in. Three apricots, 5 lilacs, and 5 raspberries were promptly planted.  My orchard is complete.  It has apples, pears, cherries, currants, gooseberries, buffalo berries, plums, sand cherries, nanking cherries, juneberries, chokecherries, blackberries, raspberries, and grapes.  The only plants that haven't produced yet are the sand cherries, plums, gooseberries, chokecherries, and buffalo berries.  They had a major set back when the blizzard Atlas flattened everything. 

I wish you could see the trees better.  Everything just blends in.  It looks great.  Things aren't leafed out yet.  They are being smart and waiting until the chance of frost is past.

  I have a dream that someday we will have a lilac hedge.  Lilacs don't seem to like it here.  Probably because they need full sun and that is somewhat difficult to find in a forest.  Despite the shade in the picture, this is the sunniest spot on the property.  After planting my little twigs, I surrounded them with wire to keep the deer away.  

Not much else is happening in our neck of the woods.  I was somewhat glad for the cool temperatures.  It helped to motivate me to get a majority of my spring cleaning done.  Are you planting your garden?  Are you done with your spring cleaning?  

Easy come and easy go...

We went fishing yesterday.  We caught several catfish and a few mooneyes.  My husband had the biggest fish of the day.  It was a very enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning. 

Sunday was nice and sunny.  I cleaned the flower beds then planted some carrots, lettuce, and spinach.  Finally, I tackled the job I'd been dreading all winter, putting a border around the windmill.  It turned out pretty good.  I will get some fill and plant a plethora of orange flowers.  

 My daffodils are putting on a show.  I absolutely love how the sun shines through their petals.

 I wish you could have heard this bumble bee.  The trumpet of the daffodil was like a speaker and his buzzing was heard loud and clear.  I love getting close ups of bees.  Especially when you can see the pollen on their legs.  If you look closely the bees knees are full.

 These crocus are very cheery.  I'm afraid they won't last long as we are supposed to get snow tomorrow.

 As I was writing this post, this jackrabbit entertained my husband and I.  He went up the road and down the road.  Through the garden then just sat forever at the edge of the lawn.  We couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.  

It was difficult to hold back from planting my seedlings.  I have to keep reminding myself it is only April.  These are the same crocuses around this time last year.   Easy come easy go.  I'm not even going to pretend it isn't going to snow.  I'm sure it will.  I hope everyone is enjoying nice weather.  Do you have snow in your future?

A cool spring weekend...

Although the sun was shining all weekend, it wasn't super warm.  We went turkey hunting and saw every bird possible, except a turkey.  We saw hawks, wood ducks, other ducks, geese, kingfishers, meadowlarks, robins, black birds, and even heard some pheasants.    We only heard one gobble far far away.  Still it was very fun to sit and enjoy the sounds of spring.  

 I got some quick shots of the geese as they swam away.  They nest along the river.  

 At the home front, my orchard is blooming.  I'm pretty excited about that.  I thought they were fickel to keep as a houseplant.  This fella has been a pretty easy keeper.

 My seedlings look great.  At some point, I need to transplant them.

In the Black Hills the snow has melted and the pasque flowers are making their appearance.

Another weekend flew by.  We kept busy.  I hope everyone had a happy Easter.

Back in the swing of things...

It has been a rough start to the year, but hopefully we will be back on track.  It was warm this weekend and I got a lot done in the garden.  I am not pie eyed, it is supposed to snow 8 inches tonight.  

 The seedlings are up in the greenhouse.  The spinach, lettuce, and peas are all looking good.  Please no comments on the careful spacing.

 I was able to till up the garden using a good old fashioned shovel.  I was very excited by the amount of worms in the soil and the progress of my garlic and onions.  I even had a couple of carrots overwinter.  My asparagus is also starting to peak out.

 I need to plant more crocus.  They are such happy little buggers.  The problem is they start to show and then get crushed by snow.

 The orchard looks wonderful.  The garden looks good.  The flower seeds I sowed are coming up.  I'm ecstatic with how things are shaping up outdoors.   On the house front, I am keeping busy.  It started raining heavily and I was stuck going indoors.

 When it started to rain I had to do something inside.  I settled on pumpkin cake.  An odd choice for spring.  I also bottled my Giggling Gooseberry wine.  I am super happy with it.  I was afraid it would be teary eyed tart, but it is just right.  

It is getting harder to work on indoor things, as I love being outdoors.  Next weekend I will be turkey hunting with my bow.  Hopefully, we will be able to do a little fishing.  What is going on in your neck of the woods?   I leave you with a few beautiful sunsets.  

Wishing you a beautiful spring!