Gardening Has Begun

I was planning on planting some seeds this morning, but once again, I forgot to pick up the ones I like in town. However, Mr. Postman brought my bare root strawberry plants in the mail today, and since Knut had the garden already tilled, I thought I’d bring the boys out there and plant some strawberries!

I was surprised to see the 3 plants I put in the ground (and the deer ate every single leaf last year) actually came up again this year! Yeah! What a good start. I planted the huge bunch that came from Park Seed Co. in a little patch formation. Since Knut saw the strawberry plants coming up from last year, he didn’t till that part of the garden, so it needed a bit of work.

David was a huge help, and Elias squealed and clapped as we worked on the weeds already coming up. The asparagus that we planted 2 years ago is coming up, and with the 2 year wait, we actually get to harvest some this spring! I only picked 5 long stalks that were still tender for supper tonight, and left the rest to go to more seed. There are so many baby stalks still coming up!

I know it’s still too early to plant the tomatoes, but as soon as I get back to town (probably tomorrow, since I forgot to go to the post office today too. Where is my head?) I’ll soon have the peas, green beans, beets, pumpkins, lettuce, spinach, and whatever else looks good in the ground. I’m wondering if I should venture on broccoli this year. Hmmmm.

I’ve been working a tiny bit in the flower garden, thinning out some things that should have been thinned out last fall. The way-too-expensive hydrangeas that I planted last year are coming up this year, and I’m so relived that they made it through the winter!

The peony bushes are coming up nicely, and so are the lilies on the side of the house. I was so so worried because I’ve been dreading gardening season this year, but I’ll tell ya–now that I’ve got dirt under my fingernails, I’ve been bitten by the gardening bug again! I can’t wait to get out there more! I’m certain that my new plans this year will make a much more successful year than last, but I suppose only time will tell.

The lettuce and other leafy vegies might have to go in a pot on my porch this year, as last year the deer ate it all! I’m trying to figure out how to battle the deer this year, as Knut doesn’t want to put a fence up. Believe me, if you google this gardening question, you’ll find quite an array of answers from which plants will deter them to the outright gross. Knut says I need a gun, but I haven’t shot a gun since I was a little girl on the shooting range with my dad. Who knows…maybe it’s just like riding a bike. I was a pretty good shot when I was 7 with the little 22. However, if I actually shot a deer, and it landed and smushed my strawberries, I know Knut would be excited…but I think I’d be upset it smushed my strawberries. Strawberries are way better than deer meat, in my opinion!