Warm Weather Has Arrived

Finally, the warmth has arrived and we have passed our last frost/freeze earlier this week. The tulips are still showing off and the alliums and roses are preparing to bloom.

The end of April/beginning of May is always a busy time of the year as the semester is wrapping up, gardening is in full swing, and everything else. Last weekend, we added a decorative gate around the garden area in the backyard. (I guess this is Zoe's way of saying don't make it any bigger than this.) You can see it in the second picture, but for the most part think it looks good. Obviously it isn't for anything but decoration because it isn't keeping rabbits, birds, or any other critters from getting in if they want.

However, as I have said before, I don't mind at all the critters and all the birds coming into the yard. For the most part, I have found that they don't eat a lot in my garden because there is enough of what they like in the yard like dandelions, clover, and others that just grow and come up because I don't spray or put anything in my yard that kills all that stuff or is putting me and my family at risk for cancer or other diseases. I love to watch some of the little birds pick at the spent dandelions for their seeds or the rabbits feast on them. Biodiversity is much more important to me and the earth than having a perfectly manicured boring yard full of green grass that doesn't do anything.

With that being said, I am looking forward to the native plant sale at the local state park in a couple of weeks to add to my yard. This year I want to add some to the front yard along the driveway and more to the back to continue to create a more natural, wild, but beautiful place for all!

I almost forgot, but back to the garden area, I have already put four tomato plants and five ground cherry plants in the ground. They were getting too big for their small spaces and have been outside a little, so although I would have preferred them to be a bit bigger and stronger, they are doing okay. I was worried, but the tomatoes survived the first 24 hours, which is a good sign and the ground cherries look good too. I have more tomato and ground cherry plants to put in the ground yet, but they need some more time to get bigger and stronger. This is a good two weeks earlier than last year.

I am not sure if I mentioned before, but I planted some potato microtubers a few weeks ago, but I don't think they are going to come up. I dug the trenches too deep and with all the rain we have gotten, they were basically underwater for days, so maybe not. I have lettuce, Chinese Broccoli, and some onion plants that are doing well. And let's not forget, I have five lemon balm plants doing very well and of course speariment that is trying to take over the places that it is growing in. So, yeah, it's a busy time for gardening.

I do not really have time for all of it or for updating this blog right now with everything else that I need to do, but sometimes you have to do things that spark joy. And with not being able to write at all lately, this seems joyful! Yes, I have said the semester is ending, which is a good thing because it does free up a little time, but with other projects that have found me and are necessary to do, it feels like I have had little time to myself to think, reflect, write, read; things that are important to me. The weekend does provide a little respite, but not really. I should have a bit more time though after another week or so, and can then start to find more time to exercise and run again, which I desperately need and want because I can feel my fitness level slipping.

The middle school track season is starting to wind down too. This week is the big school district meet and then after that we have another two weeks before the state meet if we go. I have been helping to coach the distance runners. This has been a new experience, but I must say that I have enjoyed coaching immensely, a lot more than I thought. I enjoy getting to know some of the kids, running with them, pushing them, and want to see everyone do well. Yena is still chasing the state time for the state meet for the 800 meters (she's a second off) and is about three seconds off from the 8th grade school record. We are hoping that she get's the state cut this week, but she's still having an impressive season as the top girl's distance runner on the team again. I am hoping that this isn't my only year coaching because even though Yena goes to high school next year, I wouldn't mind staying with the middle schoolers.

Okay, I'm going to wrap it up here because I probably should get some grading done in these early morning hours while I am not occupied with other important matters that demand my full attention.

I hope y'all continue to take care of yourselves and those that you love!