Michigan

[swampducks]

Beautiful day today but couldn't enjoy it much, a good friend and neighbor died suddenly last night and we're all still coming to grips with it. He would have loved being outside today. I was giving him a bunch of my tomato seedlings. I don't think his widow will really care one way or the other. Man this is just lousy.

 

[RustyDHart]

Beautiful day today but couldn't enjoy it much, a good friend and neighbor died suddenly last night and we're all still coming to grips with it. He would have loved being outside today. I was giving him a bunch of my tomato seedlings. I don't think his widow will really care one way or the other. Man this is just lousy.

So sorry to hear of your neighbor.....I hope things do go better. I just lost my favorite Aunt two weeks ago....I really miss her. I'm praying for rain today....so dry. Possible flurries tomorrow....oh yippy!:/ I've got a few Dahlias and Begonias started in pots...it looks like 3-4 weeks before we can plant anything outside. The lambs should start arriving later this week or early next week.....should get about 40 this year. My indoor plants have flower buds....ie: Tahitian (Tiare) Gardenias, Spanish Oleander, and Confederate Jasmine. I've had a few Pyncheon Bantams hatch this last week expecting more in a few days.....(brooding moms). Can't wait to start hunting Morel mushrooms as well. My best to all, Rusty

 

[swampducks]

The remaining family members got here today, they were in Germany, son is in the air force. Good to see them but sad for the reason. There sure were a lot of funny stories about their dad though. He was quite a character.

Much needed rain today but it only reached 65. Looks like they've pushed the cold front (well, Mother Nature I guess) till Tuesday. Predicting 70 tomorrow. Looks like a bit more rain might hit up here tonight.

Lovely tulips.

 

[Jared77]

Sorry for your loss, we had to bury my wife's uncle on Saturday.

We got a wicked dose of high winds and drizzling rain these past 48hrs. I really want to get the ground turned over and get some onions and shallots in the ground but its just too wet still. Id like a good 72hrs of reasonable temps and no rain to get things fully turned over. Oh well.

Those tulips are beautiful. We have some Home Depot specials and they do alright. Nothing nearly as pretty as those. Our hostas are just now starting to poke through the ground. The onions are still in the brown paper bags I bought a week or 2 ago.....I'm sure they've all got skinny pale leaves started since they are in the laundry room like my seed potatoes had last year. Those things went bonkers. Some had stalks 4" high on them!! Oh well first time ever growing onions or shallots so we'll give it a go. Not doing potatoes this year. I just couldn't keep up with them since I planted a whole row at once then at the end of the season I dug them all up and they were rotting faster than we could eat them. I was so exhausted after digging them up I forgot them outside. It frosted and that was the beginning of the end. They started rotting faster than we could eat them. I canned some of them, but they look so soft I haven't opened any. I think they were a lost cause. I don't have a cool place to store them as whole potatoes. When I do them again Ill have to stagger when I start them and use compost to cover them, or use mulch instead of compost and just raid them all summer long. I just can't dedicate the space to them like I want to. Just like pumpkins. They took over. I need to do a bed of just pumpkins....maybe next year. I'll miss them I liked growing them.

Oh well live and learn. Each season I try to do something different. This year its onions and shallots. Who knows for the "project plant" will be for 2013. Oh before I forget anybody growing any black tomatoes? Just wondering what varieties do good for folks in the Great Lake State.

 

[swampducks]

I'm trying the black cherry tomato for the first time this year. Since cherries are so small compared to everything else I figure those will do fine. I've tried onions and shallots and didn't have much luck so gave up on those.

Hadn't had any rain up here in weeks, finally got some last night and today. We really needed it. Unseasonably warm the last couple days, back to normal now, it's down to 37. Talking snow on and off this week.

*sigh*

 

[Dascountry]

We've had quite a few chilly days and nights up here lately. It's 36 outside right now. I've been chilled and just can't seem to warm up

My cheddar califlower that I started has come up. Started indoors of course. First year to plant them. I did onions last year and they were great. So were the potatoes but I think it's because I have so much sand here.

 

[swampducks]

I had to go to Alpena's TSC for some more electric fence supplies and headed to WM since I spent all that gas to get there and bought a bag of shallots to plant. Haven't done that in a couple of years and it's nice to have some around, I have a few recipes that call for them. It actually hit 50 today and the wind wasn't as bad as yesterday. Plus the temp forecasts have moderated, no more snow predicted anyway. I can live with that.

 

[lesa]

Hopefully, better days are coming Swampducks....Sorry to hear about your neighbor.

 

[M.sue]

Good morning Everyone,
I haven't checked in awhile, been trying to stay off the computer and get somethings done like scrap booking some photos, putting finishing touches on my new chicken tractor, crocheting a little and yard work when the weather permits. I haven't even checked in on BYC. I imagine the posts I've missed on there will be outrageous and I won't even attempt to read them....just the current ones the day I login on.
My DH got the peas planted and some onions. We had to put up a little fence to keep the chickens away from them. They love the garden!! I've had to keep my eye on them and make sure they don't go into my rock garden also for they really make a mess out of it with all the mulch.....pecking, tossing & digging. Twice I've had to de-mulch & uncover my sedums that were coming up!
My herb garden will get my attention real soon. I have come cilantro seeds from a client of mine and can't wait to plant them. He told me to stagger the planting days...this way it'll be available all through the season. I also need to get some sweet basil from the local greenhouse. There are so many herbs I'd like to plant but I tend to just stick to the few I really like. Nothing like going out in the morning and picking them fresh to use.

Good Day Everyone.....It's turned out to be pretty nice here so it's outside I go!!:tools



P.S. Sorry to hear about your neighbor Swampducks....just read the posts....how sad....good neighbors are hard to come by. Plant an herb, perennial or tree in memory of him.

 

[Jared77]

Well I got my garden turned over. The weather finally was decent enough and I got it done. Temps were in the mid 60's, but overcast with a slight breeze. Perfect day to get some work done if you ask me. Fired up the rototiller and got all 2,000 sq ft done. My shoulders are sore this AM but I'm glad its done. That was yesterday. Today I'm going to get out the clods of quack grass, other weeds, and maybe get some onions and shallots planted. If not I hope to get some in on Monday or Wed. I know my daughter is anxious to help. She's 4 and LIVES to help especially in the garden.

I normally have my FIL use his tractor to turn it over but he's been busy and I couldn't stand it any longer. I wanted to get SOMETHING growing. lol