This is the first year since we purchased our Humble Little Cottage that Anne and I are attempting a serious garden. It’s also the first year that one or both of us hasn’t had to spend the planting period cruising up and down I-81 to the DC area for family or professional reasons. Add to that fact that practically everything we’re attempting from remodeling the house to managing the land, we’re having to learn as we do it.

Last night taught us the importance of understanding microclimates. We live in a “holler” which is defined as a small valley between mountains. Because of the topography, we have a half dozen or more microclimates. Last night we experienced what I hope was our last frost of the growing season. In some parts of our 3.25 acre mini-farm the frost was heavier than others. One part received no frost at all. After consulting the various weather services, which can only give general information, a few long term residents, and our weejee board, we covered what we could and hoped for the best. We’ll know in a day or two the effect the frost had on things like the tender iris blooms and our strawberry patch.

With rain predicted off and on for the rest of the week, the question we face today is whether or not it’s safe to start planting the dozens of vegetable and flower seedlings we’ve got stacked around inside the house and on the front porch. We’ve decided to cross our fingers and go for it. If we’re wrong, expect another profanity-laced post on the benefits a good cussin’ can have on stress relief.

strawberry blooms

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Elena Kagan, British Petroleum, and the Gulf Coast. What do these have to do with today’s post? Nothing except they’re 3 of the most popular google searches today. Big city folks aren’t the only ones who know how to manipulate the media.

Y’all have a good one.

Our largest sunflower, which we have dubbed Audrey II after the man-eating plant in Little Shop of Horrors, seems to be taking forever to bloom. We’ve been waiting and waiting………

Ok. Good winter or bad winter? I haven’t a clue. And despite everything the Ol’ Wives and the various almanacs have to say, I don’t think this guy does either. Nice coat though.

This morning after sawing a 2 x 12 for a raised bed of lettuce, I flipped over one of the pieces and this guy jumped out of the hole at me. I didn’t make the hole; I think he did. After a few minutes of trying to shake him out, he finally left of his own volition. Whereby, I squashed him.