On one level there’s not that much happening in our April garden right now, since it’s still so early in our growing season, and yet there’s always things happening out there, all year long. Jeff and I both agree that our apple trees have more blossoms on them this year than we’ve ever seen before. Bracken and Jeff planted our first seeds awhile ago and then last week they planted peas in the garden, like they do each spring together. (Jeff soaked them in water overnight beforehand, thus the picture above.) Before we were harvesting kale here and there whenever we needed it, but now Jeff has been harvesting it all because the aphids are starting to get to it. That happens when we let our kale go for a long time, eventually the aphids get it. But the chickens are always happy to gobble them up when we pull up the plants to give to them.
I swear I can already smell the honeysuckle outside the door and there aren’t even buds on them yet. I guess I just anticipate them so greatly each year. We need to plant more. The little cherry tree that Jeff picked out and we planted last year, is full of leaves and looking happy. We spotted one single blossom on it this year and found it funny. It looked humorous with that single, tiny flower near the bottom of the tree. Jeff joked we might get a single cherry this year. Our little currant bush is covered in green berries! It is a red variety and is far ahead of the black variety we planted right next to it. Luckily, Bracken is at the age where he is not picking them green, but waiting patiently for them to ripen. Besides his usual of making “potions” in the yard, he’s been really into picking bouquets lately. This week he made one with ferns, one of the last lilacs (savoring that smell since we won’t get to enjoy it again till next year), some rosemary, and watercress flowers. Then he brought it inside and decorated it quite elaborately.
And what would you know? This week he had a nap in the garden. What better place for a nap than to the sound of birds singing, wind chimes, chickens clucking, and the river flowing? The most peaceful nap I can imagine, truly. After snapping a picture, I covered him up with a blanket. In the sun it was quite hot, but in the shade that afternoon a blanket was nice. That denim quilt that Bracken’s great grandma made for him when he was born is one of my very favorite things.
Our plans for the garden this year include lots of greens since we eat so many. Have you started planting yet? Any plans for your garden this year?
Braken looks so peaceful. Little ones seem to be able to sleep anywhere. Josh couldn’t get to sleep in his bed last night so he came down and curled up on the lounge floor and was alseep in minutes! Have a great weekend. x
Isn’t that funny how they do that? π
Your plants look great, as usual :o) Last year hubby built a raised bed on legs, so its waist-high. He’s got a bad back and doesn’t want to stoop. We’ve got tomatoes, yellow summer squash, pattypan squash, zucchini, purple basil and cantaloupes. Restarting some cucumbers from seed as the neighbor’s cat got in the bed and squished all the cuke seedlings. Its now covered in chicken wire to keep kitty out. Also sprouting some more purple basil (bugs ate some) and more cantaloupes (kitty again).
This year hubby rigged the bottom of the raised bed with some corrugated tin to capture the water runoff when we water and direct it to water the cantaloupes planted in the ground in front of the raised bed. Its all a grand experiment!
Great ideas! A raised bed on legs sounds like the perfect thing. π
You’ve got a better start than we do here in N. Ga. It has rained practically every day, so it’s quite wet out in the garden. And next week, more rain. I have been saying I might get a late summer-fall garden in this year. Thank goodness, we have lots of farmers markets around. Our apple and pear trees were loaded with blossoms, so we should get lots of them. My fig bushes all died, so no figs. Grape vines are still putting on leaves. One day, I will have a garden.
That little nap outside on the quilt looks so peaceful. I bet he woke up all refreshed and ready for more gardening!
You just never know what the weather is going to be like! We’ve had less rain than usual this year and it’s been warmer too so I’m feeling behind in the garden.
Down here in Ashland my peas are a couple inches high and I have starts of lettuce kale and chard starting to take off. There is lots of volunteer parsley from last season and the chives are going crazy with the tulips and lilacs. I love spring! I don’t plant the hot weather crops here until Mother’s Day weekend.
We planted our peas later this year than we have before, but hopefully they’ll take off. I bet you have a great growing season in Ashland with the warmth down there! Lettuce, kale, chard… the same starts we have growing right now. They are staples in my opinion! π
Yes the Rogue Valley is indeed wonderful for growing food. My yard in Ashland is actually a bit on the cool side- Medford tends to be even warmer and has a bit longer of a growing season. But no complaints- I grow amazing tomatoes with our sunshine and warm summer nights.
awww, you’re soooo far ahead…
here in the Austrian Alps we haven’t got much to harvest at the moment…we enjoy looking at the first spring flowers though…tulips and stuff…
the only thing we’re harvesting right now are dandelions for our bunnies π they sure seem happy after a long winter without fresh greens..
our apple trees are full of fresh green leaves, but the blossoms will need some more weeks to grow!
our red and black currants don’t do much so far- but just as you said, the red ones are usually a few weeks ahead of the black ones π
enjoy the season!
cheers from austria