This year, we had an even larger group than in the past. Son Bill and his family, David and his family, daughter Randie, and grandson Drew, all met at Byrns Greenhouse to “buy them out.” No, not really. But we all got some nice plants. Then after we were all “full,” we headed to the local restaurant, The Wooden Table, to enjoy lunch together. It was such a nice day!
And, Mother’s Day morning, my amaryllis opened up with huge double red blooms! It was one from last year, which I’d let dry down and just stuck it in an old Angel Trumpet pot, in the living room. I had started watering it again, not expecting much. But there it was, a gorgeous bloom. That was so nice and very unexpected.
This coming Saturday, granddaughter, Ava, is showing at a small show, jumping for the first time in competition. She rides so well but is very nervous about people watching. We wanted to go to the show, but may not, if it would make her more nervous. There will always be another show, and we want her to enjoy the day.
We did get a little rain, which helped our drying soil a lot. While Randie was taking it easy and having a little afternoon nap, after hiking all over our homestead, I took the little Kubota out to the Wolf Garden. I’d seen some green (weeds) where I hadn’t tilled before, as Will was spreading manure there. It was cloudy and misting rain from time to time. I got that patch tilled up and, while I was going along, I looked to the center spot and darned, there was a green tinge over the soil there too! So after finishing up the one strip, I went ahead and tilled the rest of the garden. We like to till multiple times before planting to kill all the germinated weeds each time. It sure keeps the weed pressure down. And, no, it doesn’t damage the essential beneficial soil microbes. We always have a very productive garden!
I can’t wait to begin planting out there and in the other gardens. But we can’t do that until at least the first week in June, due to those sneaky late frosts. But the greenhouse plants look terrific and I’m pretty tickled. At least I’m having time to visit with Randie and show her some of the northland before she has to head back to Mid-Wisconsin. — Jackie
Jackie love that the Amaryllis bloomed on Mother’s Day! I’m praying and hoping all the dry areas get rain. Wildfires are horrible! We didn’t get enough snow this year, despite having a couple of wild snow storms. When the snow is going horizontal I don’t want to drive in it. We also have a 6600+ ft pass we have to go through to get to the city. It is very steep and has a high drop off. Big rigs struggle to go over it and stopping is also difficult for them. I won’t go over it in bad weather unless I absolutely have to.
My back has healed up from the two surgeries and just scheduled my knee surgery. This why I’m taking a year off from gardening. Just can’t manage to do the gardening and handle the surgeries. My joints are torn up from back packing, hard jobs, power lifting and martial arts. They were good when I was young but now I’m paying the piper for all of them.
I hope your Granddaughter does well in competition. Though I would ask her or her parents about not going. I wanted people to watch me compete when I was young and rarely had anyone there.
When do plan planting up your garden? Hope you get some rain!
On the news, it looks like you may have some wildfires nearby. Hope you are doing ok?
There are a lot of wildfires in our general area. But thank God, none are near us. I hope it stays that way. It is very dry and windy. A bad combination!
I love how you’ve brought so many of us family-focused people together. Leading by example, this blog has warmth, caring and sharing, and we’ve grown massive amounts of food for our families. Thank you for this leadership and your traditions.
After 10″ rain in April, tilled garden is black, fluffy Iowa soil and grandsons helped with planting and hoeing. I’m very fortunate to have four raised beds that are tabletop height–built by sons-in-law–so I do not bend down to weed the several hundred Clear Dawn onions I grew from my previous seeds, 40′ of Scarlet Nantes carrots, around 50 Self Blanching celery and plenty of Provider green beans. In addition, on the ground there’s 175′ of potatoes, 19 tomato plant varieties I’ve grown from your seed, and plenty of room for the vining vegetables to roam.
As numerous folks have said, the WIND is a problem. Since beds dry out quickly, I use mowed lawn grass to mulch and hope the carrots can stretch above it, as it “drifts” onto them. At least I’m able to easily care for them. I suspect the wind will continue to be an issue for gardeners this year, and other weather challenges.
Last night we received 7/10’s inch of rain and hope to make it through these next three storm-predicted nights with no hail. Tomatoes are trenched in, so only have about 9″ height, but no ice cream pails around them now.
This will be my last year of full garden, as my “youthful helping hands” are college- or working-age and can’t get to grandma’s as often. I’m hopeful for an abundance in these next three months, God Willing, and many full jars by Fall.
I’ll add my prayers to that Erin! It sounds like you’ve got a wonderful start with everything. It’s been windy and quite warm here until today. Today, it’s cloudy and we hope, going to rain. We really need it, both for the gardens and for the fire danger. We’ve got several uncontained wildfires in our general area right now but none close to us. It is very smoky though!
Dear Jackie, Talk about flowers blooming. I got a nice surprise Mother’s Day when my hibiscus bloomed 2 beautiful peach-colored blooms unexpectedly. (I have twins) The twins are grown now but it seems things come in twos all the time at my house. LOL Glad you had a good one. I have hurt my knee, and I know you can relate; but I got on my walker and canned 8 pints of lima beans! But I may have to break down and go to the doctor this time. I don’t know if it is going to heal on its own. And I can’t miss canning season!
Wow, twins are so much fun!! Flowers and children. I’m so sorry you hurt your knee. I will pray it gets better soon so you don’t have to have surgery.
I’ll bet those limas look great, all canned up.
Ava s form is quality! If she can lose the‘onlookers’ feeling and just enjoy her mount everything will work! Wonderful to enjoy your family! Amaryllis was spot on! Heading out to till in ‘the green’ before transplanting. That’s a great tip about keeping weed pressure down Thanks
I managed to till the whole North Garden yesterday, all acre plus, both ways. Then we got a little rain. Perfect! I’m sure loving the amaryllis and having daughter, Randie here for a whole week.
Sounds like you had a wonderful and memorable Mother’s Day, the picture shows that! I’ve gone back to tilling the garden also, tried no-till for 4 years. Just didn’t work for me. Yesterday planted peppers, beans and corn. Winds howling out there today, looks like the dust bowl days. Just gotta pray, trust & pray. And be grateful even when I don’t feel like it.
Peace & good weather to all!
Yep, I also tried no-till, but that sure didn’t work for me either. So, back to tilling. We’re still a couple weeks away from planting so maybe I can till the gardens again before then. I sure hope your wind dies down. I see folks all over a big spot are having that bad wind. We got it too, but today it’s better by far.
So glad you had a full house on M-Day. Randie making stops between your place, mid-WI, and if memory serves IL.
Tell Ava she needs to ignore the crowd – they aren’t there.
We’ll likely plant ‘maters, cukes, and zukes on Friday.
Randie lives in mid-Wisconsin and she tries to come up as often as she can but she doesn’t have a car right now, due to past serious health issues. Bill goes down and picks her up, as he’s halfway between her and us. We’re so glad he does that.
I hope you get your plants planted today!!
That we did except for the zuke. I was pumped to find San Marzano plants – while buying plants is not inexpensive, these were reasonably priced given the current self-inflicted (not by us worker bees) economy. The quality of the plants at the business showed they care. I considered starting plants this spring but 2 kittens and a not quite accepting established cat made me think twice.
I am a bit sad that the long term business where we could purchase plants (veggies, herbs, flowers, seasonal harvest) is no more. Better half saw the owners he was at a clinic – said neither looked to be in good shape. We patronized the business for 40 years, they were there before that. Kinda sad they had no one (they have kids/grandkids) to take over. But I hope someone will purchase the property and continue the “market”.
Tomorrow is day four of weeding the strawberry patch. I see a few of what I think are more violets coming up – seems wild violets are not just appearing at my house. Last round is clover and a few grasses. Temps are warming here and a bit of humidity. But low 70s isn’t a bad temp for weeding.
I am not sure why I thought Randie was in IL.
What a sweet surprise on Mother’s Day – your amaryllis bloomed! Talk about a crew! Wow! What a family you have!
Like a reunion every Mother’s Day! I’m so glad you had a wonderful day!
It’s cool and dry down here – brisk North wind and 74°.
I’m enjoying every minute of it! Because pretty soon it will be hot 🥵 and humid!
You take care and enjoy the flowers 🌹
We sure love getting together with at least part of the family. There are far-away grandchildren plus a daughter in Ohio and another in mid-Wisconsin, so we don’t get to see them often.
We’re having a warm spell and are sure making use of it.