Suddenly, when you least expect it, Spring arrives! Yes, I admit, this hasn't been the best year for gardening so far, from our poor drenched east coast to our usually fortunate area here on the pacific west coast. But this morning, I just had to look for some bright colors amid the grey of the sky and the green of the vigorous weeds that obstinately thrive even more in constant rain. |
I'd thought the bamboo I bought last year as a background for one of the beds was quite a floppy failure, but now, all of a sudden it has developed canes which are growing swiftly and proudly straight up. I've started on the annual ritual of moving plants now too, as they indicate a need for more suitable locations. That's what I love about perennial plants - the ones that lie asleep and hiding under the earth all winter and then gradually reappear when you thought they had succumbed to the harsh winter temperatures we experienced this year. Well, some did, but for the most part it's onward and upward.
The good things…
- The Tristar strawberries from last year are back in full force, and flowering, with a few fruits already starting to form. They are a wonderful variety, really luscious, and will fruit until Autumn, because they aren't affected by the short day length.
- That four-way grafted apple tree is thriving, and covered in beautiful blossoms. I can't wait to see what delicious fruits will appear soon. It's just a small tree, espalier trained on wires. Great fun.
- Dearly Beloved finally got ticked off seeing me having all the fun in the garden and decided he'd grow a bean screen in some planters out front, like I did a couple of years ago. So he’s now in full charge of his garden, and I noticed he'd bought and planted some red onion sets in his planters too! He's officially 'grounded.'
And, the sad...
This week I'm enjoying what I can, and sending positive vibes out to our flooded East Coast. My optimism is high that summer and the return of good weather will soon put our plants back on track.