New Discoveries

As Spring moves along on it's way to summer every day that I go out and ramble around out in the garden I find something new. A lot of the property has been allowed to run wild, so there are some meadow wildflowers here and there, buckthorn of course , and weedy trees like box elder and silver maples. But also there are some things that will be interesting to watch develop- gooseberry bushes, apple trees, berry brambles and who knows what else.

There's tons of Garlic mustard out there- I'll be putting that Garlic Mustard cookbook to good use! I've tried just sauteing it, and it is really pretty tasty, so I'll try to find the book and check out a few recipes- there's plenty out there. I've never tried gooseberry anything, so I'm looking forward to testing out a couple of new recipe's there too.

Finally the weather and my schedule worked out so that I had the opportunity to spend some quality time prepping my little planting areas for seeds, finishing the removal of a few square feet of lawn for a flower garden, and actually planting some seeds this past Saturday. I opted for some really easy to grow annuals- Cosmos, Sweet Alyssum, annual Forget me not's, Johnny Jump ups, and some scented Nicotiana along with Morning Glories and Moonflowers in the trellised pots. If I get a few divisions of perennials, I'll put them in the new garden, but I think this year it will be mostly annuals, herbs and a few veggies here and there. Along the driveway, which faces south, I will have a small herb garden, the tomato's, cinnamon basil and nasturtiums for both color and to add to salads. I'll also try to grow some broccoli and lettuce- but the bunnies may find it tasty, so it may not make it to my plate.

The usual Phlox of Sheep, light blue trailing lobelia, and my special variety of Impatiens are growing well under the grow lights, so there will be some continuity in my new garden. As usual, I started way too many plants for my own use, so some will be looking for adoptive homes, along with a few tomato plants as well. I only have room for 4 different plants, but of course I have to plant a few seeds to ensure having a good plant to keep for me in each variety. The portable greenhouse is filling up with plants picked up at the MGAWC plant sale, and with those that I'm hardening off before planting.

My garden may not be large enough for a garden walk this year, but it will be pretty later on in the summer, so if you are out in the Plymouth area be sure to stop by, enjoy a glass of iced tea or lemonade and sit a spell on the deck in the shade. I may even offer you a piece of gooseberry pie!

See you in the garden!