Garden update for April

Obviously the photo above is from last years crop...  (I love eggplants.  They are so beautiful)

So far-so good with my deck and 'postage-stamp' garden plantings.  I've not been without my failures though.  I bought a little pack of 10 strawberry plants, and they have been in their pot for over 2 weeks with nary a sign of green.  I would call that 100% crop failure.   There was a little green growth on at least one of the plants when I put them in, but I think I either I kept them in the package too long before planting, or a cold snap right afterwards got 'em.   

I have green onions (scallions) ready to pull, and other onions I am going to try to grow to full size.  New onion sets will go in each hole as I pull one out.  Garlic I planted in the fall grew very vigorous tops, and may be getting ready to harvest, since the foliage is beginning to dry and brown at the tips. 

I did find snap peas after all, and they went in a few days ago, as did 2 kinds of seed potatoes, both in containers.  Late, but we'll see.  Butterhead Lettuce is coming up, and the radishes are growing like crazy in the cool weather we've been having. The blueberry plant looks great, and I also planted a container of  shallots.   Beets and chard are loving this cool weather too, but if I don't get turnips in soon, it will be too late.

I'm on my 3rd try at growing some things from seed.  At first they didn't germinate, or did then died.  The 2nd batch were OK, and I had been putting them out to harden them off, but then forgot to bring them in one night when it frosted. :(   I broke down and bought a couple of plants - a yellow pear tomato, some brocolli and brussell sprouts.   I'm still trying to get the seeds going on the eggplant - because it is a long finger-type Japanese variety I haven't seen, and the Principe Borgese paste-drying tomato.  

When warmer weather comes, in will go beans, more tomatoes and pattypan squash.   It sounds like a lot, but consider in many cases it's just one or two plants.  Still, it just shows it's possible to grow a lot of food in a small space.

  

Wildlife in Town

And even though it was seen on the edge of UK campus, it wasn't THAT kind of wildlife!   On my way home yesterday, I was stuck in traffic (for those who are familar)  on Maxwell St., next to the Rupp Arena parking lot.   I glanced to my right, and there in a vacant lot, spotted what I thought was a squirrel digging in the grass.  When it raised up, it wasn't a squirrel at all, but a groundhog!  Then I saw another one following it.  It seemed to be a young pair, or maybe siblings.  They seemed very unconcerned by the noise and smells of two lanes of traffic just yards from them. 

I shouldn't be surprised, with all manner of wildlife being seen in town, but I was.  

So THAT's what it is....

When I bought my townhouse, I wanted the popular English-style perennial garden, so I planted roses - lots of roses.  Some were grown on their own roots, but most were David Austin English roses.  Most are gone now.  Some died quickly, some lingered on several seasons before dying.  I thought it was just a 'brown thumb.'  Several of the plants had these weird 'growths' on them - a cane would take off and grow much faster than normal, but would break off at a slight touch.  If  it got to the bloom stage, the flowers would be deformed.  I searched the internet and my plant and rose books, but had no idea what it was.

I linked to a link from a blog (the way I have found some of my most interesting and favorite blogs) and found this:  http://www.rosegeek.com/index.htm.   There is no question this is the problem, but it was shocking to read it is so bad it is expected to wipe out the multiflora rose species!  Apparently the rose is to go the way of the Elm or the Chestnut. 

planting

The chard, 2 kinds of radishes, and onion sets for green onions have been planted.  The blueberry plant is potted up, and if the rain squall that came through this morning clears off, I will plant the small package of strawberry plants I bought. I know I have some lettuce seed around here somewhere, but I can't find the packet. I really wanted some sugar snap peas, but the man at the seed store said there was a crop failure and there is no seed to be had this year. That about does it for the early planting, although I could probably put broccolli out.   

Gardeners really are the most optimistic people.  Every Spring, seed is planted with the hope that the harvest will be beautiful, pest-free, and abundant.  Though that is not always the case, our memories are short, and we give it a go again the next Spring.

Someone else's misfortune became my gain this week.  My next door neighbor rented out his townhouse when he got married. I'll spare you the horror story of how badly the inside of the place was damaged (they were quiet though, and never bothered me) and in the end he had to have them evicted. They left all their stuff inside, despite his many attempts to accommodate them to come and get it.   He let me buy - for only a couple of dollars - 2 wrought-iron chairs for my deck.  That will give me a nice place to sit and enjoy all my greenery as it grows this summer!

Another one of the kitties....

This is Ciaran (KEER-an), Celtic for 'little dark one.'  He has been here the second-longest of my cats.  Two years ago this month, I suddenly got the urge to get a (then) second kitty.  I went to the Lexington Humane Society, and although my heart went out to all the cats, just didn't see one that spoke to me.  I was just about to leave empty-handed when I heard a cat meowing loudly.  I looked up at the upper row of cages, and there was a black cat 'hollering' at me, with his arm up to the shoulder out the bars, waving and trying to get my attention.  I didn't really want another black cat or a male.  My 'Max,' a black male, had died about 2 years before that, at age 17.   But this one was persistent, and though I didn't sense a bond, I found myself taking him home with me......and I have never regretted it.  SUCH a LOVER!!! 

It was St. Patrick's day week, so he ended up with a Celtic name, to go along with the girl kitty I already had, Fiona.   Ciaran was the only "male" (neutered, of course) in the house until last weekend, but is the 'nanny' of the bunch.  He takes care of everyone's appearance and grooms faces if they will let him, and loves to cuddle with the littlest one, Yoshi. He was the first one to check out the bunnies, including the new one - although Niko doesn't quite know what to make of him.    

      

He is a real sweetheart.  He is the only climber, but doesn't do that too often. I think he has Burmese or Siamese behind him, because he is VERY talkative, and is very sleek and slim (not skinny) even though he feels heavy, and his coat feels like silk ('a brick wrapped in silk' - the way they describe Burmese).  He looks black at first glance, but as you can see in the top picture, is really dark seal brown.  In strong light, you can see tabby stripes too.  

I took some pictures more of the new bunny, Niko. I think these might still be darker than he is, but the photo distorts if I try to change it too much.  His 'points' are really pale.  He is learning to like to have his head and ears stroked as much as 'the girls.'

 

The one above looks pretty accurate.  Isn't he cute!?!  

Holly and Ivy wanted new pictures taken too!

Holly - clipped about a month or 6 weeks ago, with her coat growing in. 

  

Ivy (also growing in new coat) nibbling on her piece of cardboard. They both LOVED their cardboard, but Holly was so enthusiastic about digging and chewing hers apart and eating it, that I was afraid it would effect her digestion, and took what was left away from her after a few days.  

OK, now that I have played 'proud parent,' and forced you to look at baby pictures, I'll stop.....until next time. 

Here he is....

Meet Angora Eden Niko

I drove to Indiana this morning to meet a very nice young man, Dustin Maschino, who is selling several French Angora juniors for his friend who is ill. Her rabbitry is where the 'Angora Eden' prefix comes from. I wasn't sure what his name would be, but when I saw him, none of the ones I had considered seemed to fit.  On the drive home, it came to me....Niko.  (Nee-koh)

He is the result of a brother/sister mating ( ! ), so I thought about Caligula  (ha - ha),  but decided not to do that to the little guy, besides not wanting such a gruesome name here.   Although that would be too close in most other species, I'm told that is done sometimes, but rarely, in rabbits for the same reason anyone would line-breed, to try to imprint good qualities on future generations. 

His color is a mystery.  Dad was a smoke pearl, Mom a lilac. In this photo from Dustin's blog, Niko's face and paws look very 'taupe,' but really he is quite a bit lighter.  His face and front paws are a light beigey/fawn shade.  He does have some gray mixed in on his nose, but lighter than the photo.  His back paws are barely colored, and his tail is the same as his body color.   His pedigree says 'lilac tort,' but Dustin says he is definitely a chocolate pearl.  The irises of his eyes are dark for sure, but I haven't gotten a good enough look in strong light to make out the color, and his pupils definitely are a red/pink.   His body color is a lovely creamy/white, and baby soft.  He is still a 'baby,' at four months old, even though he is every bit as big as my other rabbits.  (It's amazing how fast they grow)

He's a sweet little guy, who doesn't seem to mind being picked up - unlike 'the girls,' who still hate that - and seemed to take the car ride and new surroundings in stride.  He is very inquisitive, sniffing everything, and sitting up on his back legs to look around.  As  before, the cats took a look, but were otherwise unperturbed, and he doesn't seem to mind them either .  Niko is resting in his brand new cage now, getting used to his new home.  No, I'm not planning to breed him to one of my girls.  He will be a fiber producer.  But now the next one ........

Something's coming, something good.....

But I'll say no more just yet.  Suffice it to say I am spending this weekend assembling cages......

Most of my seeds have started, but because the only place I have for them isn't the best for direct sun, they are are already very leggy.  That's OK for tomatoes, because you can bury the stem when you transplant.  I'm not sure about the rest.   I am going to try to grow a little of a lot of things.  I have Japanese-style eggplant, patty pan squash, beets (I hate beets, but they say when they are pulled up as babies and roasted, they are completely different), bush beans, a few different tomatoes, potatoes (in buckets) and as usual, lots of herbs.   I yanked out clumps of lambs ear yesterday to make room for them.  I left a few small clumps, and it spreads so fast, there is no danger of not having any left.  I have not been able to find sugar snap pea 'seeds,' but I would like to grow some of those too.

There were lots of signs of life in the garden yesterday.  Crocus and early daffodils up, Dutch Iris and daylilies sprouting, the few roses I have left are budding, along with Alpine strawberries and artemesia putting forth new growth.  (My garden is both ornamental and food crops)  As beautiful and warm as it was yesterday, it is hard to resist the temptation to start putting things in the ground, BUT....... we are far away from our last frost date, so only cold-loving plants need apply at this point.

I bought a blueberry plant ("Duke" variety) which is supposed to be able to be grown in containers, so I am going to give it a shot.   I bought a bunch of 5-gallon buckets at Lowe's - less expensive and sturdier than plastic pots - and will be growing some things in those.     I don't think I am the only one more interested in growing some of my own food this season. At Lowe's, they had LOTS of food plants for sale - potatoes, asparagus, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and many more.  Much more than I have seen in the past.  It's a good trend.