This has been the coldest/wettest spring anyone around here can remember. Normally it’s well into the 80s by now. Instead we have the 50s with rain. We did have tons of wildflowers, which have already died back. I’m a little worried about what all this extra plant growth will mean once wildfire season hits.
My garden hasn’t been doing as well as I would like. The potatoes I planted ‘after the danger of frost has passed’ are doing so terribly I might have to pull them out and replant once it finally warms up. At least this gives me more of a chance to enjoy my handknit socks and favorite sweaters.
Spring had finally arrived at my house. I’ve seen the first lizards of Spring and the baby rattlesnakes are presumably off in the wildflowers somewhere. They might not have the romance of robins, but I’ll take what I can get. Plus the really fat lizard that lives near my patio made it through the winter and I’m happy to see him.
My flowers are starting to bloom, including my daughter’s rose bush and her brand new anemone. Red is her favorite color and she just fell in love at the garden center. She received 2 watering cans and a pair of bright red wellies for her birthday so she’s been ‘helping’ me outside.
My darling husband built me this new garden bed. Our eventual plan is to have 4, but I think one is plenty for now. It’s now filled with compost and I’ve planted 3 tomato plants and a border of marigolds. In the past I’ve had a tendency to spread myself too thin, so this year I’m focusing on tomatoes only.
He also bought me this Spanish Lavender for my birthday. I’m hoping this one proves hardier than the lavenders I’ve tried in the past. My English Lavender went from looking a little off to breaking apart in about 3 days last fall.
I’ve started seeing ladybugs in the garden every morning and I’m so excited! Last year I didn’t see a single one and I’m hopeful they are a sign of better garden health. I even found one in the house yesterday morning.
In addition to the bed I have 2 tomatoes in pots this year. I saved seeds from a tomato for the first time last year and I wasn’t sure if I did it right or how many germinations I could expect. So I played it safe and was rewarded with 11 little plants. I’ve been giving them away, but I still have 2 left.
Last year we bought just over 2 acres in rural San Bernardino County, CA. It has certainly been an adjustment and we are still trying to figure out what to do with all this space. I’m sure we’ll manage to fill it up eventually. Right now I’m just enjoying the wildlife that stops by and not hearing every sneeze my neighbors make.
We have several joshua trees.Having rented so long means a lot of container gardening.
One of the large trees on the property.
My daughter’s rose bush has started waking up.The shed my husband built and is so very proud of.More containers on the rickey movable garden shelves. I’m looking forward to putting up something more permanent. The wet winter we’ve had means buds on the joshua trees. The south facing view.
A Journey Towards Home 