Spring officially arrived just this week and there is plenty of activity out in the garden, all this in spite of the unsettled weather conditions.
We’ve been teased by seventy degree temperatures recently, only to have it turn cold again the following day. This week has seen heavy rains, snow showers, thunderstorms, and now a forecast for a low of twenty-two degrees tonight and snow accumulating over the weekend!
Through all of the fluctuating weather there are some hardy plants out there determined to make the best of what warmth and sunlight they can manage. Today’s entry offers a view of what’s green, growing, and stirring in the landscape. While I haven’t planted a single seed outdoors yet, there are plenty of perennials and over wintered vegetables out posing for the camera…
Bouquets of crocus flowers are scattered about the garden to add a nice touch of spring color as they wait to be joined by the forsythias and other early spring blooms.
Garlic was one of the first crops to awaken and peek up through a thick mulch of straw and even the snow that covered the ground during late February and early March.
Fall planted leafy greens were over wintered in a cold frame and have already reached harvestable sizes to yield fresh, organic produce for the kitchen!
After trying for several seasons to eradicate these ornamental onions from the herb garden, I’ve finally given up and will leave them alone as they race to get off to a fast start each spring.
While it’s not very recognizable at this stage, the rhubarb is putting forth the odd looking bumps and foreign growths that always precede the huge stalks and leaves that will soon follow.
Strawberries were planted in the garden last year and have made themselves right at home and returned as they continue to spread by sending out runners to cover the bed and travel beyond their designated growing area.
A low tunnel contains a nice mix of everything from lettuce, kale, and mustards, to beets and carrots that were all sown in November or December and germinated as they saw fit throughout the winter months.
The Burdock roots (Gobo) hidden underground are now marked by their leaves which will make it a lot easier to locate and harvest them now that the garden’s soil has thawed.
Turnips that were left in the garden also survived with no cover and have started producing new leaves. These roots and leaves will provide another extra early treat from the veggie garden.
Then there are the herbs such as this sorrel plant sprouting up all over the place. Others showing some signs of early growth include chives, horseradish, and sages.
The garden’s activity isn’t limited to plants; the fish in the pond have survived another winter, the bees are venturing out on warmer days, birds have returned from their southern shelters, and rabbits are already trying to stake their claims to the next harvest.
If you live and garden in the Central Pennsylvania area and want to stay on top of the local gardening conditions, events, and news check out Central PA Gardening, a new website where myself and a group of local writers, bloggers, and friends will report on what’s green and growing here in our local region.
In the meantime leave a comment below to let us know if spring has actually made an appearance in your neighborhood, and to share the plants that you have spotted which are restless and antsy to get growing!
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