Workin' Up the Garden............and Images of Spring.....

The Man got the garden tilled on Wednesday night and I can't tell you how my heart soared at the sight of that.  I'm so ready to get in the dirt I can't stand it!  It was still wet, but by opening it up, the sun and breeze will get it dried out so he can work it down again in preparation for planting.  As breezy and warm as it's been today, it may be ready to be worked again today.  Of course it is supposed to rain on Saturday, but I can hope that perhaps it will stay dry!  I'm so ready to get onions, potatoes, beets, carrots, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and other cool weather crops in the ground! 

You can see from the pictures, we have what we call the top garden and the bottom garden.  The top garden is newly broken ground.  We opened it up for the first time last year.  This year I'll be planting my cukes, lettuce, radishes, cabbages and onions up there.  The lower garden gets more sun and has been established since we moved here.  It also stays wetter than the top garden.  It's wonderful for tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, squash, corn, green beans and whatever else we plant.  Once my top garden has been opened up for a few years, I'll start planting my carrots up there.  The soil is too tight right now for carrots.   

The area where our gardens are located is what we call "through the red gate".  We have the north side of our backyard fenced for our dogs.  To the south you go "through the red gate" into the south part of our upper property.  That is where our orchard and garden are.  The Youngun also has her trampoline and little mini swimming pool out there.  Eventually our pond will be out that way as well.  The east side of our property is "out back" where Champ and the goats live.   

All my little fruit trees are coming back.  This picture is one of my apple trees.  Last year we planted two apple trees, two peach trees, and three blueberry bushes.  This year I'm planting two nectarine trees, two pear trees and two sweet cherry trees.  We eat a lot of canned fruit and I look forward to canning from our own trees.  This year I'm going to the local orchard to get fruit to can.  I'm fortunate to live within about 20 miles of an orchard that offers apples, peaches, and nectarines.  Right now I just buy canned fruit from Aldi but I just really hate that they add high fructose corn syrup to EVERYTHING!

The quality of this picture isn't the best, but the bees were so very busy yesterday.  They love this tree out front of my house.  It was thick with bees and alive with buzzing.  The mayor of our town keeps a lot of bees and has won many prizes for his honey.  He lives around a mile from me and I'm very thankful his bees come over to visit my place!

I'm so very thankful that Spring has sprung.  I enjoy all the seasons as God in His wonderful wisdom created them, but Spring and Fall are my favorite! 

Here's hoping wherever you are, you are enjoying the blessings of nature!

Till next time...........God Bless!