Today's Salad

Today is March 28th, 2009. (Which, coincidentally is my mother's birthday. She passed away about 22 years ago at the age of 51. I am now 53 years old myself. )

This is the first real harvest of the Spring. We have eaten a few green onions, but today we will have a full salad from our small home garden. Out of view are some mint sprigs boiling in (filtered) water for ice tea. I am pretty much always thankful to the Lord for His provision; but, am generally more emotional about it when it comes directly from our garden. "Thank you Lord of the harvest for this beginning meal, through which we remember your ever-constant provision for us...Amen."

A Few Spring Pictures

1. Onions, garlic, spinach, broccoli, and day lilies are going strong.
2. The lettuce is ready for us to start picking and eating.
3. If you enlarge the picture of our main sidewalk, you will see a fire-ant bed that began a few days ago.
4. This is a picture of our Lady Banks Rose. It will be in full bloom for about two weeks. We have to trim about 3-4 feet off of it every year so that we can get through the gate. It harbors a variety of birds year round.

I have to make a confession

Ok, ok ok...I know that I shouldn't have done it...but!!!the temptation was way too great. Please don't quote the "No temptation" verse to me-->I have it memorized. Yes, I gave into temptation and planted my tomatoes and peppers today...BUT, I didn't plant any summer squash....Do I still maintain partial righteousness?

I know it's time to plant garlic and onions when the ones I missed last Fall start to grow in late January. My neighbors, on-the-other-hand, know that it's three weeks off to planting tomatoes when I get mine in the ground.

I have been gardening for about 26 years and still get the itch every Spring to get those tomatoes out early. Up in Denver we had these plastic tomato "walls" you could fill with water and place around your plants. It could snow and your tomatoes would survive. Of course, tomatoes won't start growing rapidly until the ground is around a certain temperature.

Found a lot of things in the garden this afternoon-->I found some round squiqly things that looked like worms and burrowed into the earth when I turned the soil over. I think that we should call them earthworms. I found a few (more) grub worms (which are June bug larvae). I also found one "hidden" fire-ant bed, with only one subsequent bite. Also found quite a few pill bugs (sow bugs).

Please remember that real gardeners shouldn't plant their tomatoes and peppers until after Easter (we ALWAYS seem to get an Easter freeze).

It's Time to Plant Onions

How do I know that it's time to plant onions? Onions from last year are growing. I accidentally turned over some onions while preparing the soil for this year's batch and found extensive roots on last year's onions. Also discovered were a few grub worms (June bug larvae) and some adventurous earthworms.

The garlic that we put in and mulched in the Fall are looking good. Nothing like fresh-squeezed garlic on your food.

Okay, here's a promise...I will not plant tomatoes or squash until after the last frost date on the calendar. I will not plant tomatoes or squash until after the last frost date on the calendar. I will not...