March 2017 - Spring has (sort of) sprung

I decided to plant some of my tomatoes early. I've been looking for temperatures around 75-80 degrees during the day and temps above 55 at night. Nighttime temperatures are the really kicker... and our weather doesn't like to be nailed down. It's been lovely and cool... I would savor it even more if I didn't care about growing tomatoes.

Fifteen tomato plants went into the ground last Tuesday, and I promptly lost 4 or 5. Those that survived the first transition are now covered in buckets and pots while winter breaths its last and hail threatens. With hope that the weather continues to warm as predicted, I'll be putting out all kinds of spring plantings by the end of this week. Tomatoes, peppers, more herbs, flowers, corn, greens, and so on.

In the meantime, my family has enjoyed the early harvests of February. Peas, asparagus, swiss chard, arugula, green onions. Daily harvests are small but sweet.

I have observed my awakening garden with quiet wonder. The grapevines, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries. The potatoes. My "Little Miss Figgy" dwarf fig tree. The herbs.



The oregano in particular has held my attention. It's a little embarrassing - admitting fondness for a plant you can buy at the store for $3. But this one is mine and it's back from the dead. I have such little experience with pruning, and last fall I cut the spent plant down to bare little twigs with no clue if it could come back. In January, soft green leaves winked at me from the base of skeletal branches, and by February they fluffed out into an aromatic pillow. I can't help but give it a pat every time I walk by.




The asparagus. It's pretty fulfilling to see it coming back. I cried when I saw the first spear. 

We can cut as much as we want this year. It takes a few days to get a handful right now. 

But we're not complaining. The harvest is sweet.