We worked outside in the garden today – the sun was finally warm enough, for long enough, to defrost the ground.  I planted 3 Clematis vines on the fence outside our bedroom windows, in the hopes that it will cover the 40′ x 6′ fence and make a beautiful barrier that will attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds over the next few months. Clematis is perennial, so it will return every year and be the much needed wall that will allow us to look out the windows and feel enveloped in nature.

In the house, we started seeds for Pepperoncini, Cayenne, Jalapeno, and a variety of sweet Peppers. As well as San Marzano Tomatoes and Tomatillo. We will also be planting Cherry Tomatoes. Last year, the tomatoes and peppers did not do well, and we are hoping that giving them several weeks indoors will give them a head start to thrive when we put them into the beds.

We spent some time cleaning out beds and planting a snap pea that will be chopped down to add nitrogen back to the soil and provide a green mulch for the next set of plants.  We also started a couple of beds of early peas to harvest and freeze. After planting – we covered the beds in leaves and stuck sticks in the ground at angles that would discourage/prevent feral cats from using the beds for a litter box.

At the end of our work, we sat in the garden with a glass of wine and looked at the potential before us. One of my projects this year, is to fill in a spreadsheet that tracks the types of seeds, planters/garden beds we use, and any yield we have from the harvesting of each of them. I want to spend the time we have on productive things and this will help me see where we should spend our time, and what we can let go of and not spend our time on.

Our goal is to transition the bulk of the garden into perennial plants, trees, etc. and have less and less work to do each year. There would be just the annual plants – tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, carrots, etc. for canning and everything else would come back each year on its wn.

Spring is a time of promise and hope – the potential is before us and we wait in anticipation to see what the season will bring. As the Crocus and Daffodils poke through the ground, I know that this year, as every year, will be an adventure.

Until next time,

Michele