What did you do in the garden today?

[MROO]

There's 2 kinds of fennel. One is for seeds and the other for the bulb
Takes forever to sprout. I was growing the bulb kind. It was persnickety about cool temperature and being kept moist

Bulb fennel, aka "Florence fennel, or more appropriately, Finocchio (Fin-YAW-kee) is delicious, but a PIA to grow (apologies to Ba and the Zias.) Regular or "seed fennel" is super easy and will usually reseed if you don't disturb the bed on the fall. It's also GORGEOUS as a tall back-of-the-garden plant and as mentioned earlier, the butterflies love it, especially swallowtails!

Luckily, I have an Amish farm stand nearby that keeps me well supplied with Finocchio, so I don't have to practice the only Italian I know - cursing. Hey, What can I say? It was the only time the elders spoke it around us kids. We weren't supposed to know what it meant, so we caught on to it REALLY quickly!

 

[MROO]

Long weekend.. Had a great time riding with family and friends. Got the call yesterday that Grandpa passed away. We were out on a trail, luckily we told everyone to get back to camp before we got the call. So we stopped and took the call, we drove for a minute while I started to wind up, we stopped, I proceeded to get out of the RZR, scream and cry as hard as humanly possible for a few minutes then I was good to go.

Still feel very heavy. But I'm done crying for now.


Got home today, we've gotten over 2"of rain. Seedlings are sprouting.
View attachment 4299054View attachment 4299055View attachment 4299056View attachment 4299057
Rocket launch

I'm SO sorry. It sounds like he was very loved!

 

[Minanora]

I'm SO sorry. It sounds like he was very loved!

Thank you dear. He's very loved. I feel for my mil who has been taking care of him over the last three years. Hospice started back in November. It's been a roller coaster for everyone, especially Mom. My husband is holding it together for now. When he sees his mom I know he'll lose it. He's avoiding it for now. I can sense how heavy this is for him though. He's dealing with it in his own way. Lucky that him and his siblings were together this weekend.

 

[MROO]

Thank you dear. He's very loved. I feel for my mil who has been taking care of him over the last three years. Hospice started back in November. It's been a roller coaster for everyone, especially Mom. My husband is holding it together for now. When he sees his mom I know he'll lose it. He's avoiding it for now. I can sense how heavy this is for him though. He's dealing with it in his own way. Lucky that him and his siblings were together this weekend.

We recently lost my StepDad, who'd been declining rapidly since contracting the flu over Christmas. My Mom's in the same boat as you MIL, grieving her loss while having to totally restructuring her life after spending most of it caring for him. Make sure someone's with her for the one-month date. That was REALLY hard.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I stared longingly out the window at the garden........darn PNW winter weather

 

[Sally PB]

I love fennel! It grows tall and wispy, like cosmos and the swallowtail butterflies LOVE it. As a bonus, it tastes like anise. I use it in salads, especially potato, and can't resist breaking off a sprig to chew on while working outside.

I love anise... haven't ever grown fennel. I've read that it is NOT a good companion for nearly everything. Have you had any issues with that?

I have been eating my young Celtuce stems and leaves raw without any dressing and without having to take the skin off the stem. They kind of taste like raw asparagus and the leaves taste the same as the stem. In addition, I think they are milder and less milky than regular lettuce.

Well! Now I want to try celtuce!

 

[Sally PB]

@Minanora, I'm sorry for your loss. Sending you hugs.