Not about sewing at all

I keep meaning to get out side with the camera and show off the garden, but it's just not happening. Meanwhile, the garden isn't slowing down. It's a real spring this year, and things are off to a good start.

In the backyard, the peas are close to 10 inches tall. The potatoes are in and sprouting; it's actually almost time to add some more soil around the new plants (more soil depth now equals more potatoes later). So far, I've remembered to keep the carrot seedlings watered. The basil and squashes I started in the sunroom last month are hardening off and should move into the veggie beds this weekend, which will probably require another round of kale harvesting, since the kale is in the bed destined for this summer's beans and squash. Tomatoes will arrive early next month.

The cherry tree is loaded with green cherries, the pear tree with tiny pears. I'll need to remember to thin the pears this year since I didn't last year and lost a significant branch due to the weight. The apple tree and blueberry bushes have finished blooming, the strawberries are just getting started and the raspberries haven't quite gotten there yet. The lawn is full of tiny daisies and alyssum that I can't bring myself to mow down, the columbine and shasta daisies are approaching hip-high, and the clematis by the garage door is so covered with blossoms that not only can't you see the plant, it's pulling down the trellis.

Out in the p-patch plot, I've got more potatoes and two varieties of onions. The asparagus looks great - next year, I get to eat it! I'll add a couple squashes out there, but that's probably it, with the exception of a single tomato plant for the Urban Pollination Project.

Last year, I kept our p-patch plot to low maintenance things so that I could come out and water and weed as the weather required but mostly just let the plants do their own thing. This works well for me since one of the requirements for keeping your plot is that you have to "actively garden" it. Plants that need frequent harvesting, like peas or tomatoes, easily show off how infrequently I "actively garden" there, so I keep the plants that need more attention closer to the house, where they can remind me of their needs. Onions, potatoes and winter squash need water and then a thorough round of harvesting and that's it. I'm actively gardening with a minimum of activity!