These last few days have been THE sweet spot of spring for me. Last chance to drive around and see my favorite trees naked; tiny leaves coming in all chartreuse and reddish; lawns and fields fully greened up and loaded with dandelions. The Bobolinks have arrived to complete the perfect RWB/Tree swallow/Bobolink sonic trio. A couple of male RTH's spotted in the last few days; no Orioles yet.
Of course it rains quite a bit and that presents a problem for people who neglected to do much soil prep last fall. This is the time of year where timing is so, so important. Seed potatoes are chitting in the kitchen. Onion sets, shallots, fava and pea seeds are ready to go. However, I am stymied by garden soil that is the consistency of uncooked brownie batter.
On May 3rd I dared to loosen up a potato area and the two new raised beds with the broadfork. This past weekend, I stared at the muddy clay and decided that my best bet was to mulch the heck out of it, to avoid ceding it to weeds. The plan is to transplant my tomatoes and chiles into the mulched area later, and make hills of compost for squash and cukes. Though I haven't yet gotten the chance to dig at all, I had a grand time yesterday dismantling a couple of round bales and hauling rotten hay around.
The garlic looks great. I hit it with seaweed/fish and mulched it too. My strategy for the potatoes and favas and everything else I should be doing right now is to wait and hope that things dry out enough in time.
Woodchucks live under my house. They cavort openly in the yard, even up on the terrace. I am fortunate to know people who are qualified and eager to help me with this problem. This spring, three separate hunting parties have convened in my kitchen during brunch hours, without getting even a glimpse of a woodchuck. Brunch is fun, yet somehow woodchucks sense the danger. Does this mean when I finally borrow Madre's .22 that they will just stay away?
Started tomatoes, eggplant and chiles very late this year. The coop is clean; egg production is WAY down from last year; Handsome Dan continues to behave like a gentleman.
Perrin and Sharon and Dmitri arrive today, hooray!
