Shuttle Launch

Well it’s supposed to snow tonight and tomorrow. We have had a heavy rain shower, sprinkles and hail so far today. Right now cloudy and cold outside. Soil is already too wet again though to sneak out and plant anything- darn clayey soil! But I’m dreaming of what the beds might look like outside kitchen window with all the bulbs planted yesterday- if they all grow.

So today has been a good day to read catalogs. That is when not watching the shuttle launch. Let Munchkin1 skip his nap so that he could watch it live. We did record it- but not the same. He’s had fun watching the replays of the launch from different angles. The baby even squealed the first time we saw the launch. It was pretty exciting. But as Hubby said it will be one of those things that we tell them about when they are older and don’t remember- but can say that they watched it. Crazy to think that the USA Space program is closing down. Discover Shuttle was really pretty to watch.

Garden Work- Spring Fever

Boys helped me to plant Tulips (35), Dahlia (2 and some small ones), 6 early alliums, 2 later alliums (giant?- bulbs were 4 times the size of the others) in a bed that we will see form the kitchen window. Then the battery died on the drill and I couldn’t find any others that were charged. So, switched to planting plants were in pots that I’ve been wanting to plant. So 3 1 gal lipstick plant by front gate and 2 Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ in 4” pots along border bed and a 6 pack of coral bells under an oak tree were then planted.

I also added some leftover narcissus along back fence area to hopefully deter gophers from taking my tulips. We’ll see if it works. I’ve seen them within 50’ of this bed. Though one I also saw get killed by a hawk- so nature is doing her thing.

I’m thinking of adding cosmos and zinnia seeds when soil is warm enough over the bulbs. So far the color in that section of bed is white and purple with a little pink. Behind the bulbs I left room to add hollyhocks or a vine on a trellis for some height. Next to the bulbs I want to plant Shasta daisy, horehound, fever few and money plant. All but the last are plants that I will divide from mom and grandma’s yard. The money plant grandma and grandpa already gave me and I’m going to start some soon. I’m going to save some seed to just sprinkle here and there when I’m digging on bare soil to see if that works to this Spring. I’m looking forward to their purple spikes.

Had fish for dinner tonight again and used garden  herbs again. Chives are looking good so I need to think of something to cook with them. Onions are sitting pretty- hopefully they will start bulbing soon.

Garden- Compost & Garlic

Went to city dump again and this time was successful in getting a yard of compost. Man did they have a lot ready to go! Munchkin 1 enjoyed watching him come in the REALLY BIG loader and after parking it use small tractor with ½ yard bucket to load our truck. I put a tarp down in bed of truck first to make unloading easier. Which worked like a charm. I was able to pull last 2 wheel barrow loads to the back of truck using tarp. When last bits where shaken into wheelbarrow I then laid it out to rinse off the leftover- once dry it’s folded back up and put back in truck for next load? (hopefully soon).

So total for this one bed is getting expensive. The yard of compost was $27- cheap compared to bags, etc. that you would buy elsewhere. But add in the cost of 1 redwood post, 4 cedar fence boards, wire to line the bottom (Staples and stapler to attach where free and mom sent them down when I was unable to find mine still). So as all but 2 wheelbarrow loads when into the bed I’m going to charge it all to the bed.

Also picked up another bucket of coffee grounds which went into the bed. Hopefully will be picking up 1 per week.

Nice thing though is I finally got to plant my garlic I bought awhile ago (yes I know it’s late- that’s been the running theme this year- especially with rains and wet soggy soil to slow me down more than the kids do). One sack of bulbs was hard neck and they were pretty much all soft so I tossed almost all. A few small cloves still felt firm mostly so tried planting them- not holding my breathe. Though I did make sure to plant them a few feet away from the others just in case. The soft neck variety was all okay except for one bulb. So If they all grow I should have about 40 bulbs from the little sack I planted. Looking forward to seeing them grow.

Garden Work- Compost?

Tried going to the dump to get compost today- It was closed! I forgot that with the holiday that they might be closed- Waste Management was picking up garbage today. But as it is a city dump they are on a different schedule. Bummer- hopefully rains hold off tomorrow so that I can get a load in the new bed finally.

Garden- Crap Apples & Thyme

Went to Gold Leaf Nursery and bought a 5 gal hardenbergia vine that reminds me of SLO (San Luis Obispo). I still try smelling it though I know it has no scent- its so pretty you think it should. One of my favorite vines that I always thought was underused. Show stopper when in full bloom. Does take about 2 years to get really going- but then look out!!

Watered 5 trees I still haven’t planted as rains still not here. Crab apple #1 is starting to bloom. It should look gorgeous soon.  Planted four 6 packs of thyme in the garden. Lime, creeping, woolly and mauve. We’ll see how they do. Now is a good test of their hardiness here as we still have frosts coming.