Spring Is Here!!!

Gurney's catalog completes the spring theme!!



Even the Kindle is in bloom!

Spring is here!  Even though we had 14” of now 1 ½ weeks ago, and it WILL probably freeze/snow at least once more before it’s over, today I felt spring for the first time. And because of it, when I got home from work, I planted 4 rows of Chioggia beets, 2 rows of Detroit Red beets,  2 rows of yellow onions (in between the rows of beets to protect them from bugs), along with more garlic in the garlic bed from last year, and a small batch of spinach in the bed where the Rainbow Chard, Swiss Chard, and Collard Greens have returned without further planting.  Right now the 35 gallons of rain water left in our 55 gallon drum from the snow storm is watering in the new garlic plants as we are trying to drain it so we can make the stand higher so it will run better into our elevated/raised garden beds.

Not only did I feel it, I saw it.  Sunday Darla and Jeff stopped by to see our Lil Guy Teardrop trailer we purchased for the Retirement Road  Trip. While here we took a little garden look-see as not nearly in its glory yet, but the garlic and red onions I planted 2 weeks ago are up; mums have come back; Chinese Greens, thyme, rosemary, lemon balm, tarragon, and oregano, spearmint, and French sorrel made it through the winter; and while pulling weeds out of the little triangular bed at the end of the garden---ASPARAGUS! There they were, hiding among the weed growth, poking their heads through the ground growing long and tall on their slender little stems. Having planted them last year, not seen any evidence they were growing, and having dug out at least 80% of them to plant peppers and cilantro, I was overjoyed to see them. I will be VERY careful and put more roots in the bed, but Darla says they will divide and multiply, so to be patient.

So tonight I took our 7 spears along with a handful received in our Bountiful Basket 2 weeks ago (and still fresh!) and lightly bathed them in roasted garlic & cilantro olive oil, some lemon pepper, and a scant grinding of pink Hawaiian salt.  There is nothing more fabulous, more spring time, than Roasted Asparagus!  Put together with some sea salt & roasted garlic mahi mahi (fresh frozen from Costo with a tiny bit of Tony Charcheur’s Louisianna season sprinkled on it), fresh cherry tomatoes halved and sprinkled with dill and feta, and Rice Pilaf--saute celery, onion, fresh green beans diced into small pieces, and pumpkin seeds until celery and onion are limp. Add cooked rice, some salt & pepper and lemon juice adn stir well to incorporate. I sometimes put in some Lemon Pepper also...great addition. This turned out to be a delicious and beautiful dinner for the Roy Boy.  He just finished and is filled with nothing but praise for the entire meal…makes me so happy when I get great reviews!

While planting, I also poured a packet of cosmos into a planter, transplanted a lonely mum into a large pot with 2 others, and cleaned out the two pots of columbine which are returning, planted some radishes in one of the window boxes on the front rails, and delphinium and marigolds in another.  The rhubarb (5 plants) are all growing their tyrannosaurus sized leaves, the little daffodils and hyacinths have shown their colorful little faces, and the apple tree is about to burst into it’s gorgeous pink & white blossoms. Soon it will be time to put in lots of basil, a few tomatoes, bush beans, pumpkins, delicate squash, sweet baby squash, cucumbers,  and perennial flowers for joy. Life is abundant in Prescott—and life is good!