The Spring Garden

The spring garden is alive and well, and we are enjoying its bounty daily. 

I am still learning what can grow when in this new environment, so the picture represents both fall and spring plantings.  The carrots on the left were sown in October, and made it through our strange winter very well.  We have been eating the carrots from March on.  On the other hand, the beets sown at the same time did not make it through the winter, and the beets on the right were sown in March.  The Swiss chard in the pots at the rear were planted from seedlings in October, but they appeared dead as winter yielded to spring in February.  Then they started growing again!

The roses and clematis in the back of the picture (the front of the garden) came through the winter perfectly, and the climbing roses have already produced one profusion of fragrant flowers, and are now forming buds for the second bloom.  The big surprise was the Lady Banks rose:

 This profusion of blossoms was a wonderful surprise!  We planted an identical rose near the house which has to date produced one or two puny yellow flowers.  This plant--only a year old--was a riot of blossoms for several weeks.  How ironic that it is safe (from the deer) inside our fenced compound, since this is the one rose that deer will not nibble on!

The peach tree had many blossoms that are now tiny fruits.  The challenge this year will be to harvest the bounty before some critter does (as happened last year).  

The nectarine tree (planted bare root last year) had several blossoms which are now tiny fruits, but the apricot tree is still in its youth, and not yet producing.  I have big hopes for next year!

The pole beans are growing vigorously, and the peas began producing tender little pea pods almost as soon as the plants were out of the ground.

Hot weather is beginning to set in, so the spring harvest will take place over the next couple of weeks, and tomatoes and peppers will soon take their places.