It seems like the April days are flying past! My Kansas garden corner is intensely green. A few days back I looked out the window and practically shouted out, “Wow! When did the leaves come out on the trees?” I could swear that just a few hours earlier there had been no sign of leaves on the branches of the trees in my garden. Today my garden is both green and wet. This morning I enjoyed the garden through my window. I’m off to don my boots and head outside to see what is happening. I’ll be back in a few minutes to let you know.
Pictured on the left are leaves on my grape vine. Other leaves which have sprouted this week are: red oak, red maple, river birch, linden, weeping mulberry, and all of the shrubs. The white oak just has flowers – no leaves yet. Columbines are in full bloom and I have a group of red tulips which have looked absolutely beautiful all this week. I’m sure they’ve been enjoyed by neighbors out walking their dogs too – they are right in the front of my prairie/woodland garden and very visible from the street.
My lettuce is finally growing. There is one radish big enough to eat and the little onions are getting bigger by the day. Last weekend I planted parsley, wild strawberry, watermelon, and lavender seeds. The weather has been just perfect for seed germination; I’m hoping to see the results before long. Unfortunately I’ll soon be doing a mass of weeding – those weed seeds love the wet, warm weather too! I’ll have to get mulching. I’m hoping my second batch of compost will be ready to use for mulching within the next week. I struggle to keep the moisture level right in the compost though. After the bad smell generated in the last lot when it was too wet I’m being cautious this time.
Right now I don’t know whether to wish for a few dry days to make the soil workable, or for this beautiful cooler and wetter weather to continue. I just feel so at home when the garden is wet and green; it reminds me of my first home. What is happening in your garden corner?
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Oh! I have something to report!
My seed trays are producing seedlings.
There, now I’ve redeemed the MN contingent of gardeners.
Ruralmama, I’m sending some positive thoughts to your little seedlings for them to grow and give you bounty. Now you got me wondering what type of seedlings!
I’m an apartment-dweller, so there’s not a lot I can do on our shady porch. Still, I’ve decided to plant two planters of impatiens to living up the place! I’ve had them a week and haven’t killed them yet…but I have good “roots” so I’m bound to have the skills to keep plants alive, right?
Ronnica, I’m not sure about those “roots” you mention. I didn’t get my mom’s green fingers – she loved houseplants and tomatoes, I fail with both. I’d rather grow veggies though anyway so I’m OK with it.
You can grow bean sprouts in a jar for some fresh veggies if there is no space for you to grow something outside.
I didn’t realise you had such defined seasons in Kansas. You learn something new every day!