Spring Like Weather on the Second Day of Winter

Today the weather was cloudy with drizzle and high temperatures in the low 60s! I took the opportunity to plant a package of Muscari (Grape Hyacinths) bulbs which I bought on clearance a few weeks ago.

The package indicates that these bulbs are deer resistant but I have not found that to be the case. Many a year the flowers have been chomped off just as they were about to bloom. Therefore, I planted this new package of bulbs inside the Hortus Conclusus at the foot of a yellow floribunda rose.

While outside, I observed ants crawling along the wood frame of one of the raised beds. A gnat flew past me as I filled the bird feeders with sunflower seeds. A few moths came to the kitchen window, attracted to the light, just before dusk. It is interesting to me that these insects do not truly hibernate. They just rest until the temperature warms up, even if it is temporary.

I also got to see a Great Blue Heron fishing in the pond today. And two pairs of mallard ducks were visiting too.

Buck Relaxing in Backyard

This is a first! A buck who has lived in this area for a few years now and who comes by to eat the daylilies, sedum and hollyhocks, was comfortable enough to take a rest from this heat and humidity in our backyard within very close proximity to our house!

It is a little taste of heaven to be able to enjoy the deer instead of chasing him off for eating our plants!

Spring Planting Underway

I've spent a few afternoons working outdoors this past week and a half. Today I planted 225 WallaWalla onion plants, a half dozen Viola tricolors, sowed two varieties each of snap and snow peas. Already planted are broccoli, lettuces, parsley and spinach seeds which haven't come up yet. Indoors are a dozen or so more vegetables in various stages of germination and growth.

I also sprinkled raw flax seeds in one of the garden beds. I had read in Sally Roth's book Backyard Bird Secrets for Every Season that she does this to provide nesting material to the birds. I do know that flax yields long fibers used to make linen fabric. It is also used to make paper. (I have purchased raw flax fiber and have cooked, beat and turned it into paper.) What I did not know was that birds like to weave it into their nests, along with the fibers from butterfly weed (another great fiber for papermaking, and which I had just gathered and stored away the day before I read Sally's note in the book!) So Sally writes that she buys raw flax seed at the grocery store (sold in the baking or cereal/grains aisle), sows it outdoors where some of it is eaten by the the birds, but most of it sprouts and grows. I decided to give it a try. Not only will the pretty blue flowers  be attractive to my eye, swaying in the breeze, but will attract native pollinators and butterflies to the garden as well. Hopefully more than enough of these seeds will sprout and grow producing usable fiber for the birds to build their nests and for me to turn into paper as well. I will keep you posted on the progress of this.

Still to do: 
- transplant the newly sprouted hollyhocks from the perennial border into the Hortus Conclusus before they
   are discovered by the deer.
- divide the bearded irises and move them to their new bed
- sow carrot, beet and turnip seeds
- mulch perennial border
- rake out and mulch beds around the house

I doubt I will get all of that done this week because there is art "work" to do as well. This and next month will be filled with much activity and I hope to get here to post regularly about it.  Let me know what gardening pursuits you are up to!