Cindy and Dave's Adventures

It was so nice to spend time outside today, tidying up the garden and pool area. We’ve had some VERY much needed rain and, unfortunately, lots of wind. So most of the plants that “thought” it was approaching summer have been trashed. Others finally “figured out” that it was indeed spring. We had weather in the 70Fs in February and now it is highs in the 50s and rainy. There is good reason the plants are confused.

I thought we had missed the freesia bloom when we were on our desert trip in February and March, but this weather turn around brought out a second set of flowers on many of the plants. Yay bulbs! Several of the bearded irises are already blooming (about a month early) but many held back their bloom so we might get two sets of irises also. And the first Dutch Iris just bloomed, and it is on time. The tulips from last year and the daffodils bloomed in January and February but some still had a little flower remnant went we got home in March. I figure the freesia will be gone next week when we have our return to normal late April weather being in the high 70s and low 80s most days. They are not fond of the hot weather.

The rain and winds trashed the azalea flowers around the pool, but they were amazingly beautiful this year. I really cut back the bushes last spring after they flowered so they seemed happy. And I think more light got into the middle of the bushes because they flowered in 2 rows (like a front “normal” row of flowers and second slightly deeper set of flowers). But now the Rhododendron is blooming; this is quite early for it. Usually they are in mid May but I will definitely take these flowers any time! Maybe they will last a while since they normally hang out until mid June.

The garden continues to produce a few peas each day and I was going to pull them out, but since the weather got cold again, the peas put out new leaves and flowers. So I will hold off until next week and see what we get. The snow peas hate it and die back pretty quickly went it gets into the 80s even when the nights are still cool. It is OK…I need to start the corn! The garlic is also ready to harvest but it needs a few weeks without water for the “skin” around the bulb to form. So…again we will wait. The cold weather kept them from bolting so I will watch them closely and pull at the first sign of flowers. There are quite a few in their little plot so it will be interesting to see how big they got. Last year was the year of mini bulbs! I started some early corn in peat pots and I did put them out (might as well use the natural water!) since it hasn’t been very cold. They look a little funny in their pots out in the garden but the pots will provide good fertilizer as the corn roots break them apart. I have more growing in peat pots on the deck where they are still a little protected from these crazy storms. The zucchini is holding on against the d*^m ants but I think the squash and cantaloupe are goners. The ants even ate my marigolds!!

I was so enjoying the sunshine today that I also spent some time repotting a few plants from the house. Edna and Eric got me a ficus for my birthday (we took a field trip to Green Acres – absolutely my favorite shop!) and it needed a bigger pot so I started with that. Then I repotted some of my cacti since I had some sandy soil left. But now the wind is kicking up (did I tell you how much I detest wind after being in the desert for 6 weeks!!) now so I decided it was a good stopping place. I am looking forward to my garlic and possible pea harvest in the next weeks and planting more corn. And replacement cantaloupe and squash!