Spring Is Upon Us

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. And one of the surest signs that Spring has sprung is this blossoming peach tree in a nearby yard. It's enough to make you forget the term polar vortex.

The Birds The Word

Here's something to crow about. Today marks the 229th anniversary of the birth of naturalist, ornithologist and painter John James Audubon. No need to go cuckoo. Just follow the link to learn more about this man and his amazing contributions to our knowledge about nature.

They're Baaaaaaaaack!

While performing the annual ritual of container triage I came upon an unexpected find. This pot was located in possibly the worst place of any container. It was buried under a mountain of snow near the fence that was the result of not only what fell in that location, but what was piled there during numerous shoveling and snow blowing sessions. Yet the chives in it have survived and have sprouted anew. I should have taken a few pics of the mini snow Everest that engulfed this container. But take my word for it, this is the last thing I expected to see as I prepared for this season's container gardening. I guess there was more going on beneath the snow than I suspected. Nature truly is grand!

Learning To Hate Thinning Less

If you think the title of this piece is about hair, you're barking up the wrong tree. It's actually about one of my least favorite gardening activities, thinning. Maybe it's my keen sense of frugality, but it has always irritated me that sprouts must be removed so that others may flourish. The loss of potential produce just rubs me the wrong way. Although to be honest, I don't just discard the potential tomatoes, carrots, etc. The young plants go straight into the compost bin. But still, I'm haunted by the thought of what might have been.

This sense of loss is greatly reduced when growing lettuce and other greens. Even when young, the tender sprouts can be used in a sandwich or salad. So my thinning becomes grazing. Now that's something I can live with!