As February Ends

As we near the end of another month I’m at a loss for words.  In my experience January and February are the coldest months.  Not this year. We’ve had more days above freezing then below and several days above 75 degrees F.  While I expect there will be many hard frosts and cold days ahead of us  I’m at a loss for words.  So I’ll just take you on a walk around the yard with me.

Plum. February 26, 2017

I’m so glad I don’t make a living selling fruit.  Our plum is in full bloom and a hard freeze will destroy any hope of a crop.  While I would love to have plums the two trees are beautiful and a wonderful addition to the landscape.  When you look out the living room window they take center stage.

Forsythia. February 26, 2017

Forsythia always makes me smile.  The bright yellow flowers cheer me.  The bed they are in has had a rough go.  First in the process of removing several massive pine trees they were crushed by falling limbs; next many were buried under a sea of wood chips; a year later their roots were assaulted when we had the stumps ground; and then they were buried under a sea of poison ivy and honeysuckle.  Over the weekend I pulled out the poison ivy and honey suckle.  I know they’ll be a price to pay.  But they look so much happier.

Potato sprouting in worm bin.  February 26, 2017

This is our backyard worm bin.  I’m always amazed at the things that sprout in it.  I keep it filled with leaves and kitchen scraps.  Looks like a potato has taken root.

Foggy morning.  February 23, 2017

We’ve had several foggy mornings. Can you see the cardinal in the fig tree?  We put a bird feeder right outside the dining room window and have so enjoyed watching the birds.

 

Collard greens. February 18, 2017

This is one of the containers I had gotten to store rain water.  When it leaked I just cut it in half  and filled it with dirt and compost.  One half became a planter and the other  our worm bin.  It makes a great raised bed.  Just need to remember to water it.  Growing in raised beds and containers is a lot different than growing in the ground.  These are collard greens I planted in October.  They managed to survive the winter and gave us a wonderful dinner.

 

The weeded strawberry bed.  February 26, 2017

The strawberry patch is looking good.  Yep, just finished weeding it and added a layer of shredded leaves.  Lots of new growth. I see a good crop of strawberries in our future.

Oh before you leave let me show you one more thing.  See these potatoes?

Seed potatoes.  February 12, 2017

Last year we planted German Butterball potatoes.  At the end of the season we had a few that we didn’t plan on eating so I buried them under a pile of leaves.  I doubted they would survive and to be quite honest feared they would rot into a stinky mess.  But I was wrong.  They looked great.  Many were covered in sun starved shoots and long straggly roots.  I pulled most of these off.   Now I have more seed potatoes.  I planted them last week.

 

February 23, 2017

Oh is it time to go already.  Well, thank you for coming over.  You’re always welcome here so don’t be a stranger.

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“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.”  Gertrude Jekyll