Mckr's (Claire's) Update

Man-o-man where does the time go???? Now that I'm back from WI, and when I'm not driving my Gson all over creation, I'm working like crazy in the yard trying to finish mixing Mel's Mix for our new 4x4 and digging out garlic (I think it's garlic) from the spot where the 4x4 will go! Plus much more yard work here and at my son's house.

My peas are up. Carrots, radishes calendula, arugula, broccoli, spinach, mesculin and onions all seem to be doing okay. Broccoli is waiting for the 4x4 so I can transplant it from it's "holding pot". Tomato transplants are awaiting construction of trellis before planting.

A bunch of flowers are blooming.

I brought home a container full of chicken manure from my son-in-law's chickens in Wisconsin!!! Can you believe we drove that all the way from WI! Some is fresh; some already composted. It was all bagged and wrapped well -- the car did not stink!

Now I have to get going on a new batch of compost! Must shred tons of leaves and half composted stuff from the neighbor's last year's garden and add the chicken poop.

Tomorrow is supposed to rain AGAIN! Weekend should be good.

As your Regional Host I have been negligent. For this I apologize (again). As a fellow SFGer I have been as busy in the garden as many of you have. Please know that I am so glad you all are here on the Forums. There is so much information here and so many, many wonderful contributors. Thank you all for being here and taking part.

A great big warm to everyone! Keep posting. I'll jump in as time allows this week.

Claire

The rainy weather is holding me back as well; not just in my SFG but in the rest of the yard work as well. I am harvesting the final radishes this weekend and the lettuces and spinach are almost ready to begin harvesting. Hope to plant peppers, tomatoes, and herbs in the next week or so. Peas are growing but no flowers yet.

Herblover, you are sooo way ahead of me! My radishes are supposed to be ready tomorrow. That's what the package said -- but I-don't-think-so! Many more days, for sure. One thing, though, they haven't lacked for water!

We harvested a ton of spring garlic on Wednesday. My hardscape garlic is growing where I want to put our new 4x4 so we have to dig it all out. I sure can't use this much early garlic so I let a few of our restaurants know. Tomorrow I will take a bunch of it over to a nearby restaurant whose chef said he might be interested.

Since I'm not much of a cook and my DH isn't interested in anything that calls for a recipe, I'm hoping someone will rescue these beautifully smelling plants. I sure don't want to see them go to the compost bin!

Today I planted pole beans, cucumbers and three tomato plants. That rounds out the back six squares of my 2x6. Peas are already up. Trellis goes up this weekend -- well, that's what's planned! Who knows.

I planted in a gentle rain today!

Claire

I took a bunch of this spring garlic to the restaurant owner this morning and he was delighted! My grandson and I had a nice lunch there today -- on the house! I hope he wants more. I won't "sell" it but gladly will take a good-will offering. Here's a pic of the yummy gormet delicacy.



Claire

Donating to a local restaurant was brilliant!
Welcome back!

Thank you, LW!

wouldn't you like to move to live close to me???

Claire, I can vouch for the chicken manure, its organic! Hopefully its not too fresh. The disadvantage of the chickens is when I let them roam free they love to each my freshly planted flowers! I have also had to replant flower seeds due to their inquizative behavior.

I finally finished planting my garden, but I feel like I need to do more! I am on the search for more containers.

Happy spring gardening to all.

Mike

Hi Mike!!! I was just going to say that my daughter and her family had a dog named Baloo so I will remember you when I see your posts!

Since I'm the official greeter on this Northern & Central Midwest Forum, let me be the first to welcome you to the SFG Forums and especially to the N&CM forum.
As far as more containers goes, might I suggest a 4'x4'x6".

We finished building our trellis today. Watch for pictures.

Claire

Martha, I can send you a care package! The mailman might question the contents thought!

Claire

Claire, those spring garlics look very yummy!

That is an excellent idea to donate it to the restaurant. It definitaley would have been a shame to send it to the compost bin.