The garden is in...

Just popping in to say all is well here. Things are growing and blooming, and I can't believe there is only one week left in May. 

The strawberries came on at least three weeks early this year, and suddenly this week, we noticed the tart cherries ripening.  We didn't get cherries last year, but looking back, I can see that they've come ripe a full month earlier than they did in 2022.  

Between some routine medical appointments this week, I've just been a pickin' and a grinnin'.  Strawberries and cherries.   Each in their own time is satisfying.  Both of them together... well, let's just say, I wasn't ready for this.  

As of today, though, I'm done picking cherries.  The birds get what's too high to reach, and we will be content with what we have.  

We have enjoyed what is becoming our traditional "first pickins' cherry cobbler".  

I expect the strawberries may only have another week or so - if they have that long.   Between you and me, I will not be disappointed when the strawberries stop producing.

The summer garden is finally (mostly) put in.  It's not a late garden, but it took nearly four weeks to get it all done.  Having said that, maybe that's not a bad plan going forward.  Just doing a little at time, however long it takes...

Here's another experiment we're trying with garden mulches:

I learned online (from several sources) that shaved pine bark makes a good garden mulch. It comes in large shrink wrapped packages, and we scored a deal on four bags that were ripped and taped closed, and discounted 50%.  This stuff is pretty cheap anyway, but at 50% off Tractor Supply was practically giving it away.  So all the tomato and pepper plants, and some other random stuff that hasn't yet sprouted has all gotten this shaved pine bark mulch treatment.  The tomato and pepper plants are looking good, by the way. Two did not survive transplanting, but I had two more waiting in the wings to take their place.

I still plan to plant some summer squash seeds - somehow I thought I had leftover seed from last year, but there was only one lonely summer squash seed in the packet when I cut it open.  Why did I save one seed and tape the package shut?!?

This narrow raised bed section of the garden finally got worked on one day this week.  Honestly, I hadn't done anything with this space since moving here:

Between the wooden sticks (above), I've planted some Lemon Cucumbers, and pickling cucumbers that I hope to train up the trellis. The walking onions, arugula and two different types of radishes are at the other end of this raised bed.  I planted some more lettuce seeds on this side of the arugula yesterday, that might just sprout next week with the cool weather that's forecasted.  I'm not really expecting lettuce to be successful planting it this late, but reports said this seed (Little Gem) does better in the heat.  We'll see!  

About half of this raised bed spends some time in shade in the summer, so I'm not sure what else I'll plant in here.  If you've had success with any shade tolerating/heat loving veggies (or even flowers - though not impatiens) I'd be interested in hearing about it.

With all the strawberry and cherry picking there has also been some preserving going on.  That will be another post, and hopefully by the time I post about it, I'll have figured out how to make beautiful low (or no) sugar jam.  My first batch tastes good, but it doesn't look quite like I want it to.  I may have cooked it too long.  Making good jam is a process, I'm learning..

I hope your spring is looking beautiful where you are!