Welcome Spring!

As I sit and write this, it's a comfy 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The windows are open and spring is in the air. I couldn't be happier. Spring is my favorite season after all. I think for many people it's a favorite. The return to the light and things coming to life outside our doors feels so hopeful and refreshing after the long winter doesn't it? If you're a gardener it’s most certainly a favorite season. The Impatient Gardener, Erin, recently shared the idea of doing spring gardening jobs a little bit at a time. I love that. No need to stress and it's more time outside on a regular basis. I've been pruning, fertilzing, adding more soil to my raised beds, spraying fungicide on the peach tress with leaf curl and poking around to see just what is popping up.

The tulips (Menton and Calypso Greigii) and daffodils (My Story Double and British Gamble) I planted in the fall are coming up! I've never planted daffodils and these are promising to be so pretty! I've tried some sort of small tulip in the past, but they didn't make it. Wrong location perhaps. These I feel hopeful for. Will the deer eat them? I really hope not.

Garlic! I planted a bunch after a trip to Hudson Valley Seed Co. in the fall. They’re doing so well so far. It makes me so happy to see it growing. I believe the variety is Music. I've never tried growing garlic but we eat a ton of it. Now to figure out what to cook with the scapes. Any ideas?

What I've been listening to and reading related to gardening:

Pansies: How to Grow, Reimagine, and Create Beauty with Pansies and Violas by Brenna Estrada It's beautiful and after my pansy loving heart!

Sarah Raven ‘Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange’ Always a good listen.

Cultivating Place Podcast I learn so much from this podcast.

The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa Mason Ziegler Inspiring and Educational.

At this time, when things are just getting underway in the garden, things feel hopeful. No doubt there will be failures and set backs. It's all a part of the process. There will also be successes! I consider myself an advanced beginner gardener. I have so much still to learn, which I just love. I believe I heard Charles Dowding, who has been gardening for probably 30-40 years, say he's still learning! So it never ends, which is very exciting!

How's your garden growing? What plans do you have?