Thurs. May 23, 2019: Trying to Catch Up in the Garden

Thursday, May 23, 2019
Third Quarter Waning Moon in Capricorn
Jupiter Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn
Don’t know the weather — this is scheduled to post

This was a week of rolling up my sleeves to dig in the dirt.

I’m behind on the mowing, as usual, although I don’t hate it as much with the push mower as I did with the gas mower. I really need to see if I can sell the gas mower for a few bucks. I just want it gone.

I did the first treatment for ticks on the deck and I’ll do another one this weekend.

I started transplanting the tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. I have more tomatoes to repot this week, but I wanted the seedlings to get a little stronger before I moved them. Repotted some herbs (parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, lemon balm, chocolate mint). Did some trimming with the clippers, and cut back some stuff in pots that I hope comes back. The clematis looks good.

The lilac is blooming, and scents every breeze, which is a delight.

I planted some nasturtium seeds, all my morning glory and moonflower seeds, and about a third of my kale, mesculun, and spinach.

The chipmunk family under the bush is gearing up for the season. One little guy scampers onto the deck and gives little chipmunk speeches.

I was reading on the deck last weekend, recovering from the day’s work, and heard a noise. I looked up to see three young wild turkeys taking a stroll through the yard. Not in the least worried that I was on the deck. They took their time. Stopped for a snack here and there. It was pretty funny.

A young woodpecker got caught under the skylights of the covered deck. I managed to coax him out. Our bratty bluejay stopped by to give me the neighborhood gossip.

My murder of crows hasn’t been around much lately (I miss them). I saw a pair of bunnies down the street, but none yet in our yard. The coyotes have been quiet lately. I hope they weren’t shot. I actually feel safer when they’re around.

I’m hoping the weather will be warm enough these coming days to finish transplanting the tomatoes, and to start the cucumbers, beans, and peas. Maybe even the zinnias and the monarda.

I’ve been taking the plants out for the day and bringing them back in at night. I don’t want to lose any more.

I’ve never lived anywhere before where so much is dependent on the weather. Living in New York, weather was just another obstacle. Here, it dictates the rhythm of the day and the week.

Have a terrific Memorial Day weekend. I intend to spend as much time as possible in the garden. The rest, reading and writing. Online as little as possible.

 

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Thursday, May 16, 2019
2nd Quarter Waxing Moon in Libra
Jupiter Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn
Sunny and pleasant

It’s rained almost every day since my last post. It was sunny last Saturday; I got a bit of mowing done, but that was it.

I’m going to do some more mowing today, and trim some edges in the front and the back terrace area. I’ll mow the side front and No Man’s Land. Pretty soon, I’ll have to mow the terraced back area.

I hope to get some more planting done today and tomorrow (which are planting days).

The photo on the top of the post is the potted lilac on the deck that’s blooming. The photo on the bottom is our large, old-fashioned lilac tree, which is starting to bloom.

I adore lilacs. Someday, I want to live in a place where I have hedges and hedges of lilac.

I’ve had a rough couple of weeks with the car issues. Working in the yard, whenever there was a bit of sun, helped manage the stress.

It took me less time to use the large hand clippers to trim the front beds than it would have to set up the weed whacker.

I hope we have some warmth and light, so I can get the rest of the planting done.

How is your garden growing?

Thurs. May 9, 2019: Lost Lettuce

Thursday, May 9, 2019
Waxing Moon First Quarter Cancer
Jupiter Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Celtic Tree Month of Willow
Sunny and cool

We finally have some decent weather, although it’s still cool.

Unfortunately, the six packs of lettuce all died (the romaine is hanging on, but fading) and the parsley died. They were too early, and too wet. I’m sad, especially since a major, unexpected car repair means I won’t be able to put money into anything, including the garden for awhile. It was a blow, and I had to start a Go Fund Me to get immediate money to do the series of repairs necessary. If you could share the link and spread the word, I’d appreciate it. I hate asking for help, but there’s no other choice.

Anyway, the first mow of the season happened, in the terraced back area. I still have to clean up a bit with the clippers, but the grass looks good. This afternoon, I will do the first mow for the front.

I have to clean up a lot of sticks and debris from the meadow, and that’s next.

I’m so much happier with my little push mower. It doesn’t try to kill me every time I want to use it. It’s a big help.

It’s supposed to rain again tomorrow, but we might have decent weather over the weekend, and I can get more done in the yard.

We brought some of the big pots out of the garage. Our little lilac already started blooming in there. I did some pruning. There’s still a lot to do before we transform it into our Enchanted Garden for the summer.

But we still have frost warnings at night, and it’s too cold to get the outdoor planting done.

One day at a time. One plant at a time. That’s all I can handle right now.

Thurs. May 2, 2019: Unhappy Lettuce

Thursday, May 2, 2019
4th Quarter Moon in Aries
Jupiter Retrograde
Pluto Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde
Celtic Tree Month of Willow
Cloudy and cold

The weather is not cooperating. Rain and chill means that I can’t go much yard work. There’s a lot to do. Dry stretches aren’t coordinating with times I have off to do the work.

Most of the lettuce and the parsley isn’t doing well after being transplanted from the flats in which they came. This is the first time we’ve had trouble with lettuce or parsley transplants. The Romaine is holding its own, at least so far.

This weekend, I have to transplant a lot of tomatoes. I have a feeling I’ll be doing a run to the garden center for more pots and more dirt. But it’s still much too cold to put them outside. I’m worried about the lack of sunlight, too, stunting their growth.

Hopefully, we’ll have a bit of spring in May, and not just move directly into summer!