Are you READY for some gardening?

It is definitely that time of year!  Hasn't the weather been absolutely gorgeous the last couple of days?  Well, we are still in that spring/summer/winter time of year and next week is supposed to be a little fickle, BUT not as cold as it has been the last few weeks.  As a matter of fact, we are hardening off our tomatoes so that they will be ready to plant mid-May.  They are looking great, but we do need to get them in the garden soon or else they will need more fertilizer.  You should see some of them -- they are HUGE!  As a matter of fact, I will post some pictures here so you can see where they have progressed from seeds that you planted to the beautiful plants that they are today.  We have had some casualties along the way (way too many to take care of and so I couldn't pay tender loving care to each and every one), but for the most part, they are BEAUTIFUL!

Hardening off the veggies during the day

A great big THANK YOU to the Hougaards who offered to take about 20 flats home with them -- I hope it hasn't been too much of an imposition on their family.  Also thank you to Brother and Sister Ken Clark who also took some home and are caring for them.

To be honest, NEXT YEAR we need to get more of you involved in this part.  I feel like we were really blessed again this year that they are doing as well as they are, but seriously -- way too many for just a couple of families to take care of.  We need for you to consider taking a few trays home with you next spring if you are in the garden and caring for them.  I can help you know what you need -- about an investment of $20 or so and after that, all they need is your love and attention.

Beautiful!!!!

I have to tell you a funny story -- it was cool, actually -- yesterday, we had all of the tomatoes outside for about an hour (enjoying the sunshine and the wind -- wow, was it windy for these sweet seedlings; side note -- it is good for them to get some wind because it makes them stronger)....anyway, when we hauled the tables back in with all of the tomatoes on them, we noticed that they were not happy campers.  I spent the next hour babying them and standing them back up and giving some of them drinks of water.  They still looked very droopy and like, "Mom, why did you take us outside?  It was too hot!  We like the comfort of inside!"  Well, I was wondering what else I could do to help them bounce back.  I was the only one home and I had heard before that plants like music just like babies do (and some of us adults) and so I put on some classical music and you should have seen them bounce back.  I'M SERIOUS!  It was amazing!  So, I have learned something new and that is going to be a new thing that I will remember.

A panoramic view of our back deck with all the tomatoes that were at the Wheatley home -- notice the huge ones on the right that I had to transplant into larger containers!

Peppers

Anyway, back to the garden -- I thought I would tell you that we planted about 13 flats of broccoli, cabbage, kale and marigolds on Saturday, April 26th.  Unfortunately, it was pouring rain and it wasn't very much fun for those who came, but THANK YOU for coming anyway.  It IS your garden and we need/want you to participate.  Well, the next week it froze outside.  We covered everything -- and I mean EVERYTHING, but it was just too much of a shock for all of those little guys and, except for the broccoli which had hot caps on them, all the rest faded away and died.  You can imagine my sadness!  Well, Kim went out and purchased some more marigolds and cabbage and kale (and we hope our broccoli starts growing more) and now we have our garden complete again.

Peppers -- aren't they beautiful - AND BIG!

Hopefully, we won't have any problems with the tomatoes and the peppers (speaking of peppers, you should see them!!!!!!).  They are HUGE!

Well, I just wanted to give all of you an update on where we are with the garden.  Kim said she is ready to start our weekly schedule, so I am sure you will be hearing from her this week.  So, put on your garden shoes and get ready to rock and roll!  Can't wait for the harvest!

Susan