Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[jvls1942]

Barb, I wish I could tell you a secret on how to raise carrots/ I don't usually have much luck with them either/ ONCE we planted them in beds,
I covered them with bales of hay in late fall.
we had carrots all winter/ only drawback was when I went to dig some, I had to shovel 2 ft of snow off of the bales, and then wrestle with the bales to get to the carrots. the ground was not frozen , but it was wet and cold, never did that again/
I put the tomatoes into the garage , didn't cover the raised beds,. 35F this morning and everything looks fine/
I have a correction to make/ the beans did not beat the peas out of the ground, it was the peas that have sprouted, they are looking good,
I will water all the beds today/
If I muster up some ambition I will take Ollie and go get the 3pt drag/

 

[Callender Girl]

Watering is the last thing I will have to do. It looks like another rainy season is underway. Rain fell all day Monday, most of yesterday and may be in the forecast for today and tomorrow.

Not that I would have gotten much done anyway. Monday I woke up with a migraine. The headache is bad, but for me the nausea is much worse. I am amazed at how the human body can continue to insist it wants to upchuck when there can't be Anything left to lose. Yesterday, I felt better but was exhausted, got overheated and woozy at Aldi and had to come home before I could even buy coffee creamer (a tragedy for me!).

Sunday I had taken out the dogs, locked up the poultry and decided to take one last peek at the veg garden -- where I was unhappily surprised to see a small rabbit INSIDE the rabbit fencing. It had dug out a radish and knocked over most of the plant markers. After I chased it off, I scrounged enough chicken wire to surround and attach to the rabbit fencing, working as darkness fell and saying many unkind words about the bunny.

Jim, did you get enough ambition to take Ollie out for a spin?

 

[jvls1942]

looks like we are in for a nicer day today.
44F at 6am and the sun is shining.
Yes, I got Ollie out and carried the 3pt drag up to the garage,. pushed the chip pile around a little.
I have to gather up the tines and drop the back blade and mount the drag onto Ollie.
back dragged the driveway,. didn't do much good though. that granite is packed down like stone.
i bought 16 strawberry roots. i will try to get them planted today.
Barb, I bet you can't wait for your baby bunnies to be old enough to eat radishes,
Lisa, it looks like hubby can cut hay in about a week if it is ready. if it grows like our lawn does you should have a good first crop.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Funny you should say that Jim. Ever optimistic husband took next week off with plans to cut hay. It's not real tall yet, but with only 2 old critters to feed we don't need Mich and it needs to be tender.

The lilacs are finally blooming, and see a hummingbird sitting on the feeder in the last few days.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hi

 

[Callender Girl]

Hope your husband is rewarded for his optimism, Lisa. My plants are surprisingly doing well. Although the week of 80-degree temps has been replaced by nights in the high 30s and low 40s, days that are in the low 60s. Still, I refuse to turn the furnace on again, and my visiting sister and I huddle near space heaters at night.

At least one of each of the three varieties of potatoes are popping up, two of the tomatoes have blooms, the green pepper has a bud, and I have the most strawberries (no color yet, just white berries) ever.

The lilacs have already bloomed and withered. The irises are looking good though and the peonies are loaded with buds.

Sounds like you and Ollie got a workout, Jim. I need to get a load of white rock for the driveway. Of course, that will disappoint the ducks and geese who enjoy bathing in the deep puddles where there's little to no rock left.

I am practically tripping over rabbits this year, but I won't have to worry about bunnies from the hay shed eating my garden. They're all gone. I thought they had probably left the nest -- until I found the head and very little else of their dead mother behind a bale. I suspect one of the cats that hangs out at my eccentric neighbor's house. After last year, when the 3 stray cats decided to live with me, I don't want Any More Cats here ever. I have been chasing hers back to her property almost daily. It's way easier than chasing coyotes

 

[jvls1942]

friday again , already.
yesterday I retrieved a couple of tines for the drag,. also the two hilling discs.
I planted 16 Ozark Beauty strawberries,. they are runners from last year. the guy told me to plant runners each year to ensure better yields,.
I was amazed when after watering them and the sun shined on them for a little while, they all stood up and spread their tiny leaves,.. I take that as a good sign.
the peas are 3" tall, the beets are just poking out of the ground, but no beans yet /;(
I can't put off staking the tomatoes much longer
44F this morning and the sun is shining.
should be a good day for the bees to pollenate the apple trees,