I am sitting here at home just having spent some time cleaning up a bit of the backyard. Who thought that removing all the grass was a good idea was confused, well I am sure I was young and delirious. But there is something about welcoming back the perennials each spring. Some can surprise me like a long lost friend from college finding me on the internet.
My workers at the school garden came back this week. Their vacation time is excessive if you ask me. They were away from school for 11 days this spring break. They will get 2-3 weeks off at the end of June and another couple weeks of at the end of August. This is one of the limiting factors to the size of the gardens which we can maintain at the school. During vacations, I am seen at the school keeping an eye on things. While I do agree students and teachers need vacations... my whole view of this has changed since I began the horticulture program. In the past, 11 days or 25 days would seem just about right. But now with so much to do, I am joyful to see them back in my classroom.
some of things which we did this short week of three days...
- potted up tomato plants out of 6-packs. (many more to do)
- planted some of the onion sets that came in the mail, which of course arrived just after the students left for their homes. I used to grow onions by seed, but have much better results these days with sets. My favored onion has become Ailsa Craig, which I bought from Johnny's this year... here is their description. Basically it is a great option for those of us who don't have the right growing season for sweet Spanish onions. (many more to do)
- tried to show some weeds who is boss (many more to boss around)
- cut some daffodils for the good women who work in the education office. (sadly, not many more)
- divided three yarrow in half and moved half of each to make a new threesome.
- and greeted the first tulips ...
