Saturday, March 17, 2012

Waking Up!

UPDATE (3/18/12): Today I planted carrots, beets, parsnips, lettuce, swiss chard, radishes and peas from seed. I also couldn't resist the transplants already in at our nearby home improvement store so also in the ground our 4 cabbage plants and 4 broccoli plants. Why not! The soil was calling my name! I forgot to put in spinach and kale, but they will have to wait as the next few days are calling for thunderstorms, some severe.

(Earlier entry from 3/17/12)
In the middle of March in Minnesota we are usually still covered in snow or at least the ground is still frozen. This year, however, with only about 20" of snow having fallen (compared to last years 75") and balmy weather (it is in the middle to upper 70s) the ground is already thawed and seeds will be going in the ground. Amazing!

I cleaned off the potting bench that my dad made me last year and I started cleaning out garden beds uncovering what is already waking up in our "I Spy Garden" (I have things hidden everywhere).

Goodies spied reaching for the early Spring sun...

Chives

Garlic

Rhubarb

A flower - for the life of me I can't remember what this is!
Will need to wait and see when it blooms.


The little and I also planted one small tray of herbs - rosemary (a favorite flavor of my eldest), basil and lovage. Garden books are at the ready - my favorite is The Backyard Homestead and I also often refer to The Garden Primer. Stock was taken of our seed stock, one pack of spinach, which I forgot to order with my seed order, was purchased, and I feel we are ready! Now we can't wait for our gardening partner, Grandma, to get home from Arizona!

(Linking up with Ginny over at Small Things for Saturday Garden Journal.)

11 comments:

  1. I believe rhubarb is essential in the garden. It's great to see yours growing!

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    1. Thank you for visiting! My mom and grandma and great grandma always had rhubarb in their gardens and I still use their recipes. I will sharw some of them once the season really gets going!

      (And believe it or not our neighbors have 8 huge crowns of rhubarb in their yard!)

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  2. Oh how I would love to grow garlic and rhubarb. Two things that won't grow in Florida. Have fun and happy spring.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by! My aunt used to Fedex rhubarb to my cousin in North Carolina because she missed it so much :). The things I wish I could grow here that don't seem to work for me are sweet potatoe and okra. Some people have had luck but I never have.

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  3. We are in the same boat over here in Ontario. Normally, I have another month to wait before I even THINK of starting anything, but today I planted a few seeds myself.
    Have fun finding your new sprouting treasures.

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    1. Hello! Thank you for visiting! It has been an amazing spring hasn't it! We got one of our raised beds all ready yesterday and today we will be planting peas, carrors, parsnips, beets, spinach and lettuce. Supposed to rain tomoorow so today is the day.

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  4. It's so nice to see we aren't the only rhubarb lovers out there. :-)

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting! We love rhubarb and I have a couple dessert recipes that only get made in June with fresh rhubarb! I can't wait. If I remember I will post them on my blog. I when I was little I used to pick itand eat it raw after dipping the end in a dish of sugar. I remember how our whole faces puckered!

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  5. Hi sweet Carrie! I am so happy you are having warm weather! What a delight to see those goodies popping out of the ground! Spring is so exciting and is my favourite season! Like you, I not only love to sew, but I love to garden! It sounds like you have a wonderful plan! I love that your grandma is your gardening buddy! That is a blessing! I know your boys love to garden with you both! Thank you for recommending the Backyard Homestead. I am going to have to purchase it. Love, Paula xo

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    1. Hello! We are setting records up here temperature wise! It has been an amazing Spring already! It's actually my Mom who is our gardening buddy (and canning buddy) but I often call her Grandma because that is what my boys call her. I really do love that book and highly recommend it! I am shortly setting up my own little Amazon store. I really must do that soon!

      Many blessings,
      Carrie

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  6. The warm weather is amazing! We usually wait here in Maine as well, but peas are being planted as well as spinach and bok choy. Hopefully we won't get a big snow storm next week :-) I am enjoying 80 degree days in March!

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