April and Spring

April is here and Spring is showing some signs of arrival. We have had a wet winter, heavy snow in spring, record river levels, and below average temperatures. Even though the yard is snowier and wetter than last year, things don't seem to be too far behind.

Above is a photo of ladybugs in the south foundation bed -- it was actually taken March 20. It is interesting to see this bed come to life first...the beetles are the first moving insect of the garden! I really must make better use of this early bed with its heat.

No outdoor seeding yet, things are way too wet still. I will try to transplant some lettuce this year and see if we get salads sooner than direct sowing. If that works, then I will repeat again.

(lettuce seedlings, 7 days old on 4/5/2009)

Cool-season transplants are growing nicely...

(early cool-season seedlings on 4/5/2009)

Some are chomping at the bit to be put out. I may start some hardening off so they can go in as soon as the garden is ready. I see some round swiss chard leaves, and the kohlrabi and kale are hard to tell apart at this point (kale is on the end).

(closer view of seedlings on 4/5/2009)

But, as you see - that last 12 inches of snow is holding on still. That is probably good though as the river levels are still falling (they will rise again come this weekend maybe). I do know it is spring...robins are singing, staying in the trees - what is up with all that white?

(snow from late March storm 4/5/2009)

This is the first vegetable showing its green. Walking onions I planted last year. I am hoping they will take off in their second season. I think I will be happy with this perennial giving a yearly supply.

(walking onions 4/5/2009)

In the south bed, day-lilies are sprouting nicely. They are a bit water-logged this spring, but about as tall as last year.

(day-lily in southern bed 4/5/2009)

I think this some kind of crocus I planted last fall. Either way it was planted last fall and it is coming up now.

(bulb in southern bed 4/5/2009)

I'm getting excited to get out and plant and see what is coming back under the snow!

Winter Reports -Late

It's Winter! Well, it has been winter for a while including record snow in December and frigid temperatures in January. I have meant to do some updates these past months, but I think a hibernation mode set in once the snow started to fly. I've been visiting my favorite blogs over the winter - but have not left many comments (don't be surprised if you get comments on old posts!).

Let's take a snowy tour of the last couple of months...December was the "snowiest" in record - at least in terms of inches of snow fall. Everything was helped along nicely by a blizzard around 12/15.

(North Dakota Blizzard 12/15/2008)

It was interesting to see how the stiff North wind made the windward side of buildings and fences almost bare to the ground...meaning the leeward side got double the snow as it swirled back.


My wife's vehicle was on the windward side and free of snow. My vehicle...


January has been a calmer month than December, but colder. Nice, clear sunny days didn't feel all the sunny in the arctic temperatures.

(Clear cold day 01/04/2009)

As winter wears on, the view of the car gets smaller and smaller.


The dogs, especially our little one, now have tunnel-like tracks around the yard.


Dakota is in her element -- she is always Queen of the Hill.


The features of the garden are limited to some structure from seed heads that are not yet buried or eaten by rabbits.


I think someone wants out...only to sit in the snow.


I would say December was a time of embracing Winter and snow. January has been a time of dreaming about the next growing season (posts about seeds and catalogs to come soon).

What is Quiet?

That's the question that came to me the other night as walked outside and noted how quiet everything was. It might have been the late hour - everyone was home from work and the sun was set. It might have been the rain - every sound seems to become dampened in the wet. Finally I knew what it was....there was no wind!

I had become so used to the blowing and rattling of leaves and branches that it was so different for things to be very still and calm.

As timing and luck would have it I am making a post with snow again - get used to it because it will become more common from now 'til spring. The snow we had before did disappear - really.


We are on the lucky side of things...no blizzard with 50 inches here. Just rain and now a small amount of snow.


There are some awards for plants that have stayed around longest through the frosts...raspberries (can't wait 'til next year when we get to harvest them).


Curly parsley has proven fairly hardy as well.


The swiss chard near the house has also survived.


Thanks for stopping by and let me know...how to you know when it is really quiet?

First Snow 2008

I will call this our first snow of the season...with a howling wind, we received a bit of snow that is sticking around for the day. I'm sure by tonight it will be mostly gone. Next week is supposed to have some pretty nice days, so this will not last - but it's a first look.

Dakota was not too excited yet...


Snow covered most of the plants today - I think many will suffer from the snow and overnight freeze.


A few days ago it was rain we had, and the last late flowers were still trying to race the freeze. I think some have missed their deadline to produce seeds...


The sunflowers did produce, and birds are happy

No Comment

Okay, actually I have comments! We got 8.5" and the temperature is to be in the mid to low 20s (F) tonight. Good news is that it shouldn't last long and thaw out next week. The bad news, I have to wait to see how my seedlings outside have fared. Here's some progressions from (04-23-2008, 04-25-2008, 04-26-2008) that is Wednesday, Friday evening, and today - Saturday.

Chives looking good on Wednesday.


The snow started Friday night.


Today. The chives are there, see?


I was just getting ready to post my proud pictures of peas sprouting and that Spring is looking good.

Here's the seedlings, good things they're small.


There were coming in nicely on Wednesday.


Aww, so cute poking above the snow Friday.


Umm, they're under there somewhere (Saturday).


One more progression to prove I did have things growing...

Here's the sugar snaps, kohlrabi, and radishes.


Closer look, sugar snaps are here.


Kohlrabi is there.


Today (Saturday) they're under there.


So, I hear that peas, lettuce, spinach, and such are cold hardy. I'm glad because it will be cold a few days. I think that the snow may help to insulate things and the plants probably knew what they were doing. They didn't grow a lot yet, so I think that's also to their advantage. I think they were waiting for some sunny, warm days before really taking off.

Oh yeah and the tulips :-)


PS: Snow images seem to take up much less disk space. So much uniform white!