Spring Has Sprung

April 10, 2005 Spring has Sprung In the past week I have watched spring burst into life right before my eyes. I have been so ready for spring. I am still learning to adjust to the seasons here in Virginia. I have yet to acclimatize although I have been living in Virginia for the past year. The cold is a very different cold to that of Georgia. It is more of a wet cold not to mention all of the ice and snow. This year will be a true test of my gardening skills. I have to learn when and where to plant as well as what will grow well here. Being in the new house now I have to learn the soil and figure out what I need to feed it. The soil in most places has a lot of clay but it is rich and seems fertile. It is a far different clay than that of the rich red Georgia clay I know. We have added a mild fertilizer to the garden patches. Steven tilled it in when he plowed. We bought an organic fertilizer made of sterilized chicken poop. A vendor at Lowes convinced me to try it. Cockadoodle Doo is the brand name. Read about it here. Normally I only trust my tried and true methods but being in Virginia everything is new, nothing yet has been tried, well not by me. I have a learning curve that may take several years to develop a feel for the agriculture of this area. However I am willing to take a risk. I have been told the locals have an unwritten competition to see who can produce the first fully vine ripe tomato BEFORE July 4th. Back in Georgia I usally planted and had ripe tomatoes by the end of May or early June. Stay tuned for more of the play-by on the competition. This photo is one of my favorites. The japanese magnolias are in full bloom. I love the white with the hints of purpley pink. I didn't think this photo would turn out clear. The wind was blowing and the branch was shaking. I am surprised I captured a clear view. The trees make me happy when I look out and see them fully dressed in their best spring fashions. There are a couple more near the koi pond and they too are blooming to beat the band. The orchard has burst into life. At first I wasn't sure they were doing anything and then as if over night there are apple blossoms and damsons readying themselves for fruit production. I had never seen a damson tree until we bought this house. I am excited to see what developes. I have been told it is a prestigious thing to have a damson orchard in these parts. I can hardly wait until harvest time. I have read that damsons smell like roses when being prepared for jam. I do hope we have a nice crop. I want to try my hand at damson jam and slow gin. I am not sure what is in these containers on the front porch but they are blooming in great shades of purple. I love the contrast with the deep dark green of the leaves. I have never seen wild pansies until now. Back in Georgia we have lots of clover and wild sweet pea. These are a pleasant surprise. Steven cut the grass yesterday but some have managed to miss the blades of the mower. A few miles from our house the open fields are just gorgeous wearing a sheen of purple. I wish I had had the forethought to bring the camera with us yesterday. Fields and fields of purple lay on either side of the road. They appear to be filled with wild purple clover and the same little wild pansies. This is my tomato patch, just getting started, but soon I know in the heat of the sun it will take off. In the back is another patch we will plow under and plant more vegetables. In the area beside the gardening house we plan to clear this week I am planning an asparagus patch. I want to try the Mary Washington variety. I don't know where yet, but somewhere, I want to put in a patch of artichokes also. Both crops will need to grow for at least 2 years before we harvest. I know they will be worth the wait! Asparagus and artichokes are two of our most favorites. Asparagus is so expensive in the markets it will be almost sinful to have a patch of our own. I am sure you can't see the blossoms on this tomato plant. The sun was so bright I think it washed out the color. I assure you, I have tomato blossoms. I can't wait for that first red ripe tomato of summer. I have planted better bush, roma, cherry, better boy and beefstake tomatoes. We also have added a few sweet bell peppers, a red, green and a yellow. Gardening will produce a lot more work around here and weeding is not one of my favorite tasks. I don't know anyone who likes weeding. Some of the little projects around the house will have to be put off at times to work in the gardens, a sacrifice I am willing make in order to have fresh summer vegetables on the table. I think the tending and harvesting will be good lessons for the kids, too. Besides when it comes to weeding, it is a good chore for the kids! lol Posted by Angie at 05:16 AM | Comments (4)