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| I love the brief period each Spring when forested landscapes look a bit like pointillistic paintings. |
Things start happening fast at this time of year, even when the weather is all over the place. It was 32F this morning but when I visited the terrace garden to ponder a redesign, I discovered that the raspberry canes which had appeared completely dormant a few days ago are now sprouting leaves in lush abundance. Since part of the garden redesign directly involves the raspberry plants, I'd better get on it right away. Like yesterday.
A couple of years ago, I decided to level a section of the very sloped terrace garden. The project began with creating a retaining barrier at the downslope end, about 18 feet long and a couple of feet high, just above the raspberry plants. I built it using salvaged saplings dragged across the paddocks and pinned into place with metal fenceposts. Then I moved some of the soil from the uphill end of the plot to the downhill end, and spread a barn's-worth of used goat bedding over the whole thing. The result was a thrillingly level plot of about 18 feet by 12 feet.
This part of the terrace garden is where I usually grow lots of pole beans, and last year I reduced the bean rows from three to two so I could plant tomatoes and Turkish peppers there as well. And of course, zinnias, planted in a single row just above the raspberries, at the very edge of the retaining barrier. I may have been a bit unrealistic about the amount of space required by some of these plants; getting in amongst the tomatoes without treading on any stems - or tomatoes - was quite a trick by August. And the poor zinnias were growing in all sorts of leggy directions to access the bits of sunlight not already occupied by either the waving stems of raspberries to the West or the shrubby jungle of tomatoes to the East. They tried so hard!
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| Revisiting the glorious zinnias of 2019 |
I really missed having a wide row of colorful zinnias last summer, and will plan better this year. But I'm also hoping to level out more of the terrace area, because it's so much more relaxing to work in the garden when I'm not at frequent risk of tumbling over.
Speaking of which, has anyone else noticed that doctors have started asking, "have you had any falls recently?" The first time, I was startled that a doctor could tell how clumsy I am just from the way I walked into the exam room! But when the same question came up again at my next annual physical, I decided it's one of those "age" things. I always answer honestly, of course, and the answer is always the same: "Yes, but not for no reason."
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Yes, it's after you pass a certain age, I think, that the falling questions begin. Along with the do you have family nearby? Friends in the neighborhood? How's your mood? At that point my mood tends to be irritates!
ReplyDeleteAmen! And when they asked if I had area rugs in my house, I said none of your business. Sheesh. So invasive.
DeleteWow, no one has asked about my rugs yet!
DeleteIrritated, dangit..
ReplyDeleteOh that 'certain' age when suddenly we are expected to do all sorts of things unheard of before.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite time is the spring when all the amazing greens are so prominent. The allergy part of the equation...not so much.
I hear you on the allergies!
DeleteZinnias - I plan to plant a bunch this year. The trees down by the river are very green. They're just starting to bud in my yard. I'm looking forward to the dogwood blooming!
ReplyDeleteThe year of the zinnia extravaganza was an eye-opener for me! So easy, so pretty, so long-lasting, and SO popular with butterflies and other critters! There was one tiny white spider who lived in a zinnia flower and I used to see it every day :)
DeleteHa! I always underestimate the amount of space mature plants will need. Or maybe I'm hopeful they can somehow adapt and make good use of the space. Your retaining wall sounds excellent! A great way to claim growing space.
ReplyDeleteIt's always exciting when dormant plants start to wake up and sprout a new year's growth of leaves. It's a joy to be witnessing the cycle of life.
The tomato plants were a jungle! I think for ease of access I'm going to put individual tomato plants here and there this year, instead of having a row.
DeleteWow, a level garden! Actually, the longer we use our gardens the more level they become, thankfully.
ReplyDeleteMine seem to become steeper! :)
DeleteWe have way too many of those 'get on it yesterday' projects. Spring arrived a week ago here, and the last six weeks of non-spring seem to have compressed themselves into this one week. I always set out our mason bee cocoons in mid-March when the first flowers appear. They went out three days ago - and emerged today into the full glory of plum blossoms.
ReplyDeleteYour leveled plot was an an ambitious project. Now, if the space only fit everything you'd like to grow there!
Screech owl report: first egg laid March 26, last of four on April 4. Any guesses on hatch day(s)?
Chris from Boise
We've entered what is forecast as an entire week of rainy days, so that's going to upset the project applecart in a big way. If I was a stronger person, I would use this time to thoroughly clean my house.
DeleteSo exciting about the owls! I look forward to reports and - maybe? - video :)