Courage and Hope

It was 85 degrees today, after weeks of temperatures in the 60's.  Corn seeds, and other seeds, require temperatures of 70 degrees or more to germinate and prevent seed rot from the cold and wet soil.  So after waiting patiently for spring to arrive, I decided to plant the corn seeds today.  I planted about 5 rows of three across, to encourage pollination.

I harvested more peas and noticed new growth and flowers, so there should be more harvest to come! The winter lettuce continues and makes for sumptuous garnish for daily lunches.  I did not plant the rest of the seeds because I remain unconvinced that the temperatures will hold.  The gardner must attempt to predict the future and act based on those predictions.  So hope is mixed with fear and caution rules the day.

It is often difficult to accept that life is beyond our control.  It takes courage to face the unknown. Mother nature will either make our dreams come true, or offer us lessons from which we must learn.  The soil will be warmed and the fruits of our labor will unfold, perhaps not precisely as we want but as they must be. So we must enjoy the sweetness of the peas, the crispness of the lettuce, and the tanginess of the grapefruits while we are able.

Not so Virtuous

Although patience is a virtue, it is sure difficult to attain.  It has been lovely weather and this weekend seemed a good time to plant some tomato plants.  We missed Tomatomania at Tapia Farms, so we went to Sperling's garden store to purchase the plants.  We have had such trouble with tomatoes over the last couple of years so I am hoping the Sperling plants will have better luck.  While at the store, I could not resist a lovely sweet basil, an italian parsley and beautiful Marigolds -- which I plant every year as a pest control measure.  So here is the state of the garden as we start the new season.

This is the main garden with fall lettuce ready for harvest, strawberries in the rear and turned soil.

This is also the main garden showing the snap pea vines almost at the end of their cycle and the remaining garden ready for planting.

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Here are the newly planted Marigolds, organic pest control method.  The sweet basil and italian parsley are to the left of the Marigolds.  In the rear right is the Marzano tomato plant -- great for spaghetti sauce, and an onion plant.

The view of the main garden area showing the snap peas on the fence, strawberries in the rear, lettuce ready to harvest, Marigolds in the front with the newly planted basil and parsley.  The open areas will be used for succession planting lettuce and other veggies.

This is the "back 40" with the established artichoke at the very end, two new tomato plants planted up front, but the shade makes it difficult to see.  The garbage cans in the rear add such a lovely touch, don't you think?

Newly planted red cherry tomato and orange cherry tomato plants.  This is planted in the Back 40.  I plan to plant corn back by the artichoke and tomatoes and corn are not compatible, so hopefully this is far enough away.

Tomatoes newly planted in area across from the main garden.  We have planted tomatoes here successfully in the past but not in the last couple of years.  We'll see how it goes this year - ever hopeful. 

 Now for something completely different.  The flowering blooms in the yard were so spectacular today that I had to document them in this space, which I usually dedicate only to my organic vegetable, herbs and fruits.  But, the glory of these blooms cannot be denied.

Lemon tree blossom

Kangaroo Paws

Volunteer from next door!

Crazy bloom shooting out of the succulent, with Razlo our sweet dog in the background. 

Apparently that bloom will do something amazing and then kill its main plant.  It regenerates with small starter plants that are thrown off after the bloom dies.  It will be mystery unfolding before our very eyes.

So while I was not entirely patient, I am deferring until later in April the planting of seeds for all the rest of the veggies.  I am proud of my resistance to some of the temptations, and remain ever hopeful that this season will bring great joy, fruitful results, and learning experiences.