First entry of the season. This is the second year this garden has been in existence. I garden in a 12x22 foot space, which I fenced to keep my two dogs out. I grew a variety of things last year, vegetables, herbs and flowers. I have in one corner what I call my farie corner, where I have planted a variety of perienials, fairy friendly flowers. I placed ceramic mushrooms which I made in high school, in ceramics class. A gnome resides there keeping an eye on everything especially the strawberry patch.

Today I finished raising one section of the garden, what I'm calling my spring bed. I planted the early crops; peas, carrots, radishes, leaf lettuce, spinach, beets and some other salad greens.

This year I began working on the flower bed out front of the house. I planted a couple of clementis vines, I peeked at them today, they were just roots when I planted them, but already they are several inches long with leaves. Last years clementis that I left in a container over the winter, I didn't really expect it to survive, because of my neglagence, but it has and is doing great. It has 3 big buds and a new strong shoot 3" above the soil. It is going to be really beautiful this year.

April 12, 1998 Easter Sunday

It is a beautiful day. I played around with the computer a bit then headed outside. Everything is doing wonderful. Spring is well on its way. I think ist starting a bit early this year, probabl because of the El Nino effect.

The lates news is the seedlings have begun to come up, I noticed the first yesterday. This year I desided to start things inside, particularly the flowers.

Last years perenials who are showing themselves include, both my columbines, a blue one and two purple ones. The chocolate mint is moving out, seeking new territory. I knew when I planted it last year I may live to regret planting it in the garden, knowing its tendency to spread. But I will only be at this location for a few years, as we rent our house. So some day, it may become someone elses problem. It is moving toward the goldenseal I have desided to let it roam, because it smells so good. I will try to encourage it to grow where I want it to, but realize mint has a mind of its own. I am hoping it isn't as invasive as some of the other mint species. I have planted peppermint and bee balm in containers which then I have sunk into the ground and so far this is working well.

The goldenseal I planted last fall is making its first appearence. Head count so far is 10 out of the 20 I planted.

Both angelica plants have returned, one is significantly larger than the other, one gets more sun, and got an earlier start.

Over the winter I used hay for mulch to protect the plants, the grass seed contained with in is now sprouting, I won't use hay ever again. Its easy to remove, but more work for me, I don't want it to get established, I have enough to deal with as far as invasive weeds go.

April 23, Thursday

Man, what a beautiful day! the theromometer hit 85. It doesn't feel like it will snow again this season.

The garden is coming along nicely. Tha first batch of seeds are half up. I'm still waiting for the peas, I expected them days ago. I'm planting ta second crop today.

The goldenseal is ever so slowly expanding their leaves. They are magnificent, I can see why it takes years for their roots to develop to harvest size. So many thanks to United Plant Savers (UPS) for the gift of these plants. This time the head count is 13. My big plant has 4 stalks this year. They're purplish and curled over like a fiddlehead. It is really wonderful watching them grow.

Wow! What a beautiful spider. He's pearched on my 2nd year angelica. Looks like a jumping spider, he's actually called a Daring Jumping Spider, and its true he jumped from the top of the angelica off. I must have stirred him up with my digging.

Yesterday I planted pansies infront of my angelica. Which I am expecting to get big this year. Hopefully it will flower. So Im planting fast growing stuff around it, where I expect later to become overgrown.

The grape hyathynth is blooming, they were visited by a honey bee. Which reminded me of the honey bee's troubles. I will include a section on my cause page. First, I'll see if I can find anyone else with a site about it. If I can't find anyone then I'll do up my own thing.

My clementis came back this year even stronger. It seems to be thriving in its pot. I'm really surprised it came back. I thought the winter would kill it. I'm happy it survived.

The dandilions are starting to bloom. I went though and pulled them all out of the garden. The tree above me is beginning to bloom. And the apple trees are not far behind. Their buds are swelling in two weeks I'm guessing they'll be blooming. Maybe sooner. We'll see how good my prediction is. Our first tulip opened. They're in the shade so I think they're a bit slower than most.

The angelica seems to have a family of leaf hoppers. I'll have to read up on them.

Last year I didn't start any of this until May. Boy was I way behind. I think this years garden is going to be awesome!

April 28, 1998 Tuesday
Weed wackers are so annoying!
Anyway I planted the front flower bed, new for this year. I set out the bean vines and covered them with a cap, to protect them from the sun mostly. Now I meed to water that bed every day till those seeds germinate. Everyday. I'll do it in the morning.

The peas came up yesterday - I was starting to wonder. I'm impatient I guess.

The slugs are making their presence noticed. They've been munching on my goldenseal. To night I am going slug hunting. When they start munching on my goldenseal, thats when I feel I must take action.

The broccoi sets haven't done much sinse I put them in. Hopefully its energy is in putting some more roots out.

This year I raised the beds another level. Two landscaping timbers tall. And improved the soil some more. An d started a few weeks earlier this year. I feel like I'm planting on time, and my soil is good. Maybe not great, but its got quite a bit of org matter incoporated. I used an organic fertilizor and bone meal. I feel like a can't go wrong.

Parsley has been speaking to me today. She is an ally. I nibble on a leaf, savoring her flavors, remembering times I have used her, for cooking as well as medicinal . I call upon her when my period is a day or two late, she always works like a charm. One cup of a strong tea before bed and the next morning I begin to bleed. I feel I can count on her.

The blue phlox in the fairy corner has started to bloom. The tulips are blooming. The pink and white ones opened first. I think they are called shirley. The others are still forming. I think they are either purple or black. They should look pretty cool together.

Well I've got some more pansies to plant and some rosemary to transplant. Then I'm headed inside to work on my website some more.