Maple Hill Hop 19

Welcome back to The Maple Hill Hop.

Here we share what is happening outside our doors,

no matter the season. 

This weekend's mild temps had me starting seeds.
Supplies were gathered and we were underway!

Eggshells have been saved for a week or two,
so that they can be readied to start tiny lettuce seeds.

We're using recycled strawberry containers
as mini greenhouses to keep them covered at night
until they germinate.

 We also use toilet paper and paper towel rolls created this way.

Using empty plant pots to hold the smaller ones
keeps things tidier and makes watering easier.

We've sown two kinds of lettuce, dill, tomatoes
as well as some verbena and passionflower.

dried passionflower vine bud

A few sweet potatoes were harvested from the side of the house.

I'm so glad I found these sweet pansies on the dead rack a couple of weeks ago.
They are adding cheer to the garden as well as in pots in front of the house.
On dreary days, they warm my heart.

bicolor iris

Some dill has gone to seed, which is fine by me.
It's been planted out in the back bed for the caterpillars to enjoy.
We plan to host black swallowtails, monarchs and gulf fritillary cats again this year
and give them away on Craig's List.

star jasmine

Last week, we transplanted a few beets to make more room in the square-foot bed.
A few have made it, but we went ahead and sowed more in the same area.
Carrots were also added as a border, as we explore edible landscaping.

It's only a matter of days until we're munchin' on these sugar snap peas.

They live up to their name!

The square-foot bed is filling out with
beets, carrots, leeks, green beans, eggplant, scallions, lettuce and peas.

The beets have a little while to go, 
but my fork will be ready.
This is the first time we've grown these.

More beet, carrot and lettuce seeds were added to fill in empty spots.

Hopefully, we'll have enough green beans to share with others.
These are the Slenderette variety.

This was an unwelcome sight on the garlic stalks.
They were jarred, and taken down to the pond area in our neighborhood
to find something else to eat.
(No critters were hurt in the making of this post.)

Here's a more welcome visitor.
These anoles eat bugs that might otherwise be pests in the garden.

It's so thrilling to wake up each morning and go out to check on the newbies.
It's empowering to know that we can grow what we eat, at least in part.
Thanks to my farmer friends, Faye and Lynn,
I feel like a confident gardener.
There's always more to learn,
but I'm on my way!

What's going on in your neck of the woods?

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