Today is Rain Day at work...a day built into the school year calendar for the possibility of flash flooding and so much rain that the power is knocked out. It used to happen often enough, but not this year, so today I was granted the privilege of being home all day on a Friday at the end of April.
Of course time has been spent in the garden. I was able to harvest some nice fat beets I will pickle, more radishes, a handful of peas, and then one green bush bean. I have had such problems with bush beans being eaten by birds and cats that I am ready to go to only pole, which for some reason are never bothered.
The video is of the East Garden. The West Garden is still in the baby stage. In fact this evening I'm making some cloches for some plants over there. It took me three times to film this...I finally got lucky and found a span of time that a Huey wasn't flying over.
Wonderful day, if anything the garden has reminded me to be patient, good things are to be had if one waits just a bit longer.
broccoli...it seems to be doing well--I think I'm one of the only gardeners that hasn't been very lucky with broccoli
German Chamomile...pretty, delicate flowers
grapes!
lots of sunflowers opening up
I got impatient and decided to pull a few carrots to see how they were doing. I really want carrots and I've been worried the soil isn't lose enough where they are. If I wait a bit longer I'll get some.
this bushy green bowl holds today's harvest...pulled a Chinese radish just to see how they are doing...still too soon, but I'm going to try the little guy in a salad so it doesn't go to waste
As I watered tonight I kept imagining the garden in full splendor...it's coming, some plants are already starting to take off. The first year down here was such a let down. I had phyched myself up to believe that the climate would welcome 12 month gardening, and then it didn't work out so well. To not have a successful garden was deflating. But with a little homework and perseverance things started to come around. IT IS POSSIBLE TO GARDEN 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, really! The new connections with the community garden will make this even more successful...contact with Master Gardeners, the ASU publications and outreaches...I can do this with a little help from my friends and good old fashion research. Right now is the easy season...pretty much like regular summer time only kinder due to the fact that hail storms are really not likely and the rain comes down regularly and at a gentle flow from the hose.
As I watered I couldn't help but wonder what this year will be...the year of the pumpkin was my last successful year when I could share my pumpkin harvest with my whole class. Will 2012 be the year of the cucumber, or carrot, or tomato (and then which variety), or okra, or watermelon....? Good things are ahead.
