Gardening Naturally in the Spring

Well it’s that time of the year, for most of us that means getting our hands in the soil.  So I bring to you a little bit of spring gardening.  We use organic methods when ever possible and mostly raised beds as we sit on top nothing but gravel. 

First here are my tools.  Its all manual labour and getting harder to do every year.    By Spring all of the previous  vegetation that was worked into the beds and covered by hay for the winter is all composted.

             

After removing the hay I turn and work the soil.  Then a light raking to smooth things over.

             

Now the bed is ready for planting.  Some of my beds with more tender seeds or plants I use a row cover to help ward off a few degrees of frost and hold moister.  The bed with the leaves on it has garlic coming up that was planted the previous fall.

            

Healthy soil should be full of lots of earth worms.  These are the guys that helped with the composting under the hay during the winter.

Also a friend to the garden is the garden snake which I have lots of.

 

As you can see my bulbs are only just coming up and there are no leaves yet.  The grass is just turning green.  Quiet a difference from when it is so full of color in the summer.

Well here I am in the middle of weeding and getting rid of last years vegetation in my 30’ perennial flower bed.  For the 1st time I am no longer able to stretch across the bed to do the work.  So I am sitting on a little stool right in the middle.  My rule for years had been  you never ever walked in the bed.  Well times have changed and I must now adapt.  I also have a very bad neck from it popping out way back in January so I wear a neck brace when ever working. 

Took a few passes down the bed but finally got it all ready for the summer.  Threw in a few more annual and wildflower seeds just to see what comes, but generally the perennials take over the whole bed.  I also use grass clippings all summer on all my beds to reduce moister loss.  The next bed still has a tiny spot of ice left.  I will be working on the shade beds around the house next.  They are all lined with fuchsia coloured primrose that will be the 1st of my flowers to bloom early May. 

            

Container planting has begun with wildflower seed mixes I save every year.  My 1st to plant is always my old wheel barrel.  I put the plastic over many of my containers to keep the soil moist and heat it up for germination.  Only a few days and the seeds are already sprouting. 

              

So my friends its back to the garden for me where lots of work still has to be done.

I haven’t even started in the greenhouse as we have had such beautiful few days I wanted spend it outside.

So may your gardens bring you joy and beauty as well as a nutritional supply of food.

Good Morning…  Good Afternoon…   Good Night…

Whatever it is to you…

Photos & Words

by

Here I Am/Carrie

Home for Easter 2010

There’s no place like home. Surrounded again by mountains that create my valley.   It’s so good to be back looking over that familiar view and all the sights and sounds of nature. 

A short walk up my nature trail for a visit to the beaver dams.  Didn’t see any beaver but the calming sight of the waters was enough.  Surprised some deer that always winter here near our yard.  I make a weak crying sound that always stops them to listen to the sound. 

         

We left a small palm tree in our greenhouse for the winter as it’s getting to big to take to friends every winter hoping it would survive.  It was still alive and green with even a small nasturtium seed that had sprouted.  Except for the evergreen trees that’s the only green seen around here.  The bulbs are only just breaking ground.

 

But the one who I could see so much joy in was Wildflower our cat.  She has been away for a year and half and kept in doors for 9 months now.  I could just see it in her body how happy she was to be back here and outside.   

  She ran around the yard when I let her out of the car like a nut for about 10 minutes with her tail flicking and her hair all fluffed.  As you can see I have lots of winter branches and raking to loosen the grasses that were covered with snow all winter.  Everything is bare, not the usually green and colourful scenes of summer, but soon the buds and color will come.

 

In  the house she also explored with excitement.  Finally she was content to just sit and relax at the window looking out, knowing she was finally home..       

        

During the trip home the cats were so good.   Siriun stayed most the trip in his cat carrier even though it was opened at my feet.   In fact he spent most the winter sleeping in it.  His little cave.  I had no leg room the whole trip.  Wildflower was behind my seat on top of stuff with a view out the windows.  There was a litter box behind my husband seat in the truck they both had access to any time they needed it.  We just left them in the truck at night when we took a motel.  They were so good the whole 3 days of driving.

        

Here are a few special scenes from our trip home these are from Nevada, Idaho and Oregon.  We managed to get thru between all the snow storms.  But did encounter some flurries.  All photos taken from our moving vehicle. 

        

        

        

Home again what can I say.  My heart soars like the hawks that fly over my valley.  Home again…..

Easter for me new beginnings, the rise of energies preparing us to grow in our hearts and souls to know the love that God wants us to share.

 

I have missed you all sooo and thank you all for visiting here while I was unable to visit you.  Your notes, graphics and comments always warmed my heart soooo..

To Everyone

A Happy Easter

and

Good Morning….  Good Afternoon…..  Good Night….

Whatever it is to you….

Photos & Words

by

Here I Am/Carrie