I assume you put a nice thick layer of straw mulch on. I lay my soaker hoses down underneath the mulch but I rarely need to water. We had two months of no rain last summer and I barely watered. It’s definitely worth the money to lock in soil moisture. Saves on watering time and cost as well.

A day spent off island which was frustrating as the garden task list seems endless right now. I did treat myself to some lovely Etain violas and a new dress to salve my soul. Once I was home it was out in the garden to get my onion starts, potatoes, and carrots planted and mulched. Garlic is fine!

It was another crisp day out. The bugloss begins to bloom, the hellebores begin to fade, the snowflakes get going, and the apricot blooms on the coldest day in a while. Fortunately it’s not going below freezing so the flowers should make it. I do enjoy fresh apricots picked from the tree.

I’m home, it was definitely a Monday. Cooler temps creep in bringing a nip to the breeze. Ended up doing straw deliveries after work for all the clients veg gardens. Checked my ranunculus corms in the shed and they’re just coming up. Seth had dinner waiting for me when I wandered in, tacos, boo!

Went back to NY to finish the last 10 miles on the AT I missed in 2025 because of the storm. My friend Rali came with me and we had a great, if hot and sweaty time. We stopped for lunch at DC Malaysian food truck. Now just relaxing at the shelter taking in the beauty of nature.

From cloudy and cool to hotter than heLL. We were dragging out there today it’s too hot too soon. I was planning to get weeding and edging done today at my largest property but it didn’t happen. Got a headache, felt nauseous, and just so hot. Gave up at 2, it’s not worth getting heat stroke.

Good evening, my flash is red and filled with thorns but the roses are done! Finished early to get into my hive to put the super on. Ended up doing a deep dive and reorganizing the deeps. Found my queen but she’s laying all drones and there’s a supercedure afoot. Weed/edge, and mulch tomorrow.

I spent the morning in the greenhouse potting up my starts. It was in the 60s and I almost passed out pushing mulch. Too much, too soon for me.

After all the mulching I took a break to cool off and get the plants out of my truck. I stopped to grab some composted horse manure on the way to the neck garden. I was going to turn it in and plant onions but I just ran out of steam. Home to scrub the greenhouse down and water the Heuchera.

I had the day off and I maxed it out. Up at 6:30, in the garden by 7 potting up peppers in the greenhouse and planting tomatoes. Then planting out lettuce starts and rows of spinach. To the boat freight yard to pick up plants. Then mulch, so much mulching and weeding.

It’s been a busy few days. Weeded and edged all the prickly things yesterday and got them mulched. Finished off the shrubs at the largest property but it was a stagger to the finish. Today at the station until one and then I dragged everything out of the greenhouse and cleaned it. So tired.

I spent the day finishing up pruning roses and fruit trees for all my clients. Admired the daffodils in full bloom in their yards and mine. Then it was home to load the truck for the following day. I managed to wring out another hour of pruning my own roses 2 climbers, 6 shrubs, and 1 rambler.

Yesterday was a bit of a tease. The sun looked warm but there was a heavy frost to start the day. Worked at the station and got colors sorted for the bee box designs. I started out too dark but I got it fixed. A bit of unloading and it was a beach fire/bbq with friends for a birthday for sunset.

After hydrating and aerating my ranunculus corms, I potted them. I will be pre sprouting the corms before planting them out as soon as possible. After work picked up my organic fertilizer order for the clients. Almost 700 pounds worth to make the gardens grow. Tomorrow more weeding and mulch.

Great, they don’t do well with wind but otherwise are a lovely choice.

Height and width max?

Growing zone 4? Evergreen or deciduous? Soil type? Any specific characteristics, fragrant, fall color, hedging, specimen?

Good evening, I am worn down my friends. I put in a good weight/calisthenics workout in between customers. Then got home to the mulch pile in my parking spot. Managed to get enough mulch moved that I could park the truck. The floral aroma of hundreds of bulbs perfumed the air. More tomorrow.

Big Bald on my AT hike

I forgot to post yesterday. I had to go to the endodontist and it depleted my funds. However, I still got to shop for the business so I stopped at all the nurseries to see what was in. Still a bit bare out there but got some lovely lettuce starts to bring home with me on the boat.

Happy Easter! Up early to sing in the ecumenical Easter concert. My solo went well and I arrived home with just enough time to change into my running gear. A quick 3.5 mile trail jog and home just as it started to rain. Cooked a ham, scallop taters, and biscuits for dinner. Mulchercise awaits.

It was a gorgeous start to the day! No wind, sunny, and I stripped down to a t shirt. I put my onions seedlings out on the diesel pump to get some light and air, to begin the hardening off process. The wind kicked up just before 11 and a chill set in. A rainy holiday tomorrow good for cooking.

Yes, but early to bed. I was nodding off on the couch way too soon.

It was a long day of gardening. Edged and weeded around shrubs and then mulched them. Cleaned up winter storm damage and staked two junipers that had tipped over. Then onwards to cleaning the last of the hydrangeas. We finished at 3:30 because we got chilly. Managed to squeeze weights in after.

Woke up and it was raining out so we delayed gardening start until 10. Checked the radar at 9:30 and the rain had been extended to noon so I called it. It was raw and gusting 20mph so not sad to miss it. Pulled a lazy potato day except 8 bluff stair reps. Watch says 50 hours recovery, it’s crazy.

Yeah, no thanks on the AI front. It has its uses but this isn’t one of them.

It was a good day off. I dropped off the recycling first thing after coffee. Ran some errands and then got into another garden bed. I gardened until 2 and then inside to clean. So much laundry and scrubbing later it was out for a trail run, finally. First daffodils are under way, happy spring!

Trail run shots under overcast and occasionally sprinkling skies.

I was away to the green mountains of my home state Vermont! It was still cold there and flurried every day. I enjoyed watching the snow flakes dance. Had a great time with my college girlfriends and had a delicious chicken pot pie at the seasoned skillet. Home today to daffodils and warmth.

3, that gray seal ate.