Spring is finally here!

This weekend saw huge changes in the landscape of our back yard.  Right in tune with the first day of spring on Thursday, we had a full weekend of clear weather which finally allowed me to knock off some of the many projects off my list.

Fitting that the first day of spring should see the blooming of the first daffodil.

Crocuses in the front yard.

The main garden beds are finished, and a temporary fence has been raised around the garlic & onion bed.

The first planting of early potatoes (Norland).

One of the three main beds with some seed plantings and the first transplants (spinach) from inside.  Today I planted spinach, carrots, beets, turnips, peas, arugula, lettuce, corn salad and Sorrento Raab.

The full garden space.

Rhubarb beginning to show it's character.

Our newly renovated crab apple tree.  It's tough to tell, since there's still plenty going on here, but I removed all the low hanging branches, plus quite a bit of growth in the centre in order to open it up.  We'll see if it makes a difference in this Fall's crop.

Raspberry canes given to us as a generous gift from a good friend.

On the doorstep of Spring

Typical rainy March weather and a brutal family-wide battle with a stomach flu were not enough to keep me from binge baking and getting garden work done.  I find sometimes it's best to just push on through when you feel at your worst.  I may have overdone it a little, but I'm happy with the results.

Homemade chicken stock.  A couple of carcasses easily made about 25 cups worth.

Apple Strudal Muffins.   A little more like dessert than a snack, but that's okay...the kids don't mind.

My first attempt at Challah Bread.  Turned out pretty well I think.  A full half of one of the loaves disappeared at breakfast the next morning.

Crocuses and Hellebores hiding in the shade in our backyard.

Hellebores.  A nice surprise, since I had no idea these were in the garden. 

Our Plum tree starting to bloom.

Late winter garlic looking strong.  There's at least 25-30 of these guys poking up in the garden.

Some beautiful Crocuses in the front yard.

And just above the crocuses, the Magnolia is starting to come out of hibernation.

I'm not sure what this beautiful plant is.  All I know is that it's attracted the first bees that I've seen in many months.

Daffodil just days from blooming.

Rose bush starting to come alive with tulips just beyond.

I finally got some garden beds set down!  It seems like every weekend that I've had an opportunity to get stuff done in the garden so far this year it's been pouring rain.  This weekend I decided to work out in the rain and just get it done.

March 9th, 2014

After a couple weeks of snow fall we finally find ourselves thawed out, and our eyes are once again turned to spring chores and planting schedules.  Thankfully we haven't seen any where near the kind of winter that our friends back east have seen.  I honestly think our late snow fall was a blessing in disguise.  Not only was it fun for the kids, but it also gave the local reservoirs a boost in what was otherwise a very dry winter.

Our front yard

The fruit trees under a blanket of snow.

Despite the snow outside, plenty is still growing inside under the grow light.

The most recent plantings.  A little bit of everything.

And finally, in honor of obsessive micro managers everywhere I give you our family garden plan for 2014.  I was able to put it together with a great free program at www.smartgardener.com.  The site uses the principle of square foot gardening for creating the layout, and had the added bonus of giving us a baseline of plants needed to feed our family of 2 adults and 2 children.  I highly recommend this tool if you're looking to maximize your garden space.  Along with a number of 4' by 10' beds, I included a space for a three sisters planting (corn, squash & beans/peas) in the northwest (top right) corner.  In the bottom left is the collection of cucumbers and melons that we will be growing out of pots on our sun deck.

 Just 11 days until spring!  Wooo!!