Mulch, a time saver

I find hay to be a good mulch. A bale separates nicely into layers and can then be laid on the soil between rows, around the plants or as a path so there are no muddy shoes every time you walk the garden. It helps to cut down weeds and if any do sprout, turning the hay over usually dislodges them or a quick pull for the occasional stubborn one. If it is getting thin adding more will usually smother new weed shoots. Mulch is a barrier to water evaporation, always check under the mulch before watering, it may not need it even on those long hot days. When the hay used on a path is well worn by the end of a season more can be added or it can be dug into the garden soil in the fall and new laid down in the spring. Roughage in the soil, like hay, will encourage worms in your garden. In my garden nothing is more important than worms, they aerate the soil and their castings fertilize. The more worms the better and healthier growth of all the plants.
There is an old raspberry patch here that was severely overgrown and not productive. I spent a lot of time the first two hot summers weeding between the tall thorny canes and found many dead twigs and plants. Three years ago half of the canes were cut down to about 12” and the dead material weeded out. I did not want to cut all the canes incase I did it wrong and damaged them, losing the whole patch. The next summer brought a lot of growth and some good berries, but the second summer, last year, was so abundant I actually gave up picking them and left the berries for the bears. This fall the rest of the canes will be cut down and mulched with hay. Mulching the berries helps me gain access to the 10’ x 20’ tight patch, when weeds and grass sprout amongst the canes it can be inaccessible. The year I don’t find the time in the spring to mulch the patch I end up spending long hot days weeding. I have thought of placing a stone path down the middle but am still not sure, since, to really work it may take up too much space.
The second autumn here a bed was prepared for my first planting of garlic; it worked so well I now plant garlic every fall. One year, after the cloves were in, long grass from the field was gathered, the top seed head was cut off, and placed on top 2-3” deep, it gave my best crop ever that spring. The ground warmed fast encouraging growth while protecting the young shoots and no weeds came up even though I used wild grasses. This fall I will cover with hay, then, once the garlic is harvested the hay will be turned into the soil ready for the next planting.
After Halloween there should be bales around and no longer at a premium price. If you do a big yard display for Halloween or have a neighbour or friend who does, ask if you can take the hay bales off their hands!
My problem is remembering to pick up hay in the early fall or I won’t have any for winter protection and spring planting. At least I can always fall back on the field grasses!
Another idea I want to try with hay is to make a nice sized pile, 2 or 3 bales, and plant potatoes in it. It is easy to reach in and check the size of the tuber and only pick the larger ones, leaving the little spuds to grow bigger undisturbed. I’ll let you know how that goes; right now it is in the thinking/planning stage.

Woodcock

American Woodcock

The dusk/nighttime, beezping, trilling, warbling, plumiting, impressive bird.

Gardening is...

Gardening is an amazing experience. I am always amazed when the seeds of an endangered plant break the surface with a tiny touch of tender green.
The rare and endangered plants tend to be very slow to germinate and abundant sowing compensates for a low germination rate. Once the first struggle is successful and the soil parts with a little band of light green they seek to grow within their own personal eco-system preference. Not a lot of information is available or easy to find on individual endangered plant needs, old-time gardeners are my best source. Some gardeners plant in a variety of growing mediums under a variety of growing conditions and document everything.
When I went to a dog breeder to pick a puppy, I sat down amongst them. 21 puppies from 5 weeks to 2 weeks wobbled and waddled and tumbled about. I was enchanted by the mass of furry bodies, all on the move. I saw a variety of size and colour and playfulness, but as soon as I had sat down, one little 3 week old struggled up to me, though I did not see her until I felt her lying on my shoe, she happily kept me company. When I visited the next week the same thing happened. Amongst the bustle and activity of 21 puppies one came up to my shoe and stayed until I picked her up again, then she was happy in my lap. My Ella chose me from the very first moment; she was waiting patiently for me.
I garden the same way. I try not to over analyze, I do not go through great feats to create an environment of utter perfection before each seed is placed to germinate, though I do plan and document what worked and what didn’t. I watch closely and am rarely disappointed. These wonderful rare and endangered seeds peep through to my excited amazement that these plants “chose me” to grow and flourish for.
Gardening is a perplexing experience. I plant some varieties, especially tomatoes, year after year and I have my favourite recipes ready for preserves even before they germinate. Then, along comes a spring when the reliable standards struggle and sometimes are completely unsuccessful; right beside a tray full of healthy endangered seedlings.
Gardening is a humbling experience. As much as I plan, document and prepare, some parts of the environment will not be compatible. An unexpected drop in temperature, electrical outage cutting the essential lights out or simple miscalculations and the garden I plant outside is far different than the garden I expected.
Sometimes in life we choose and plan our path with great thought and attention, sometimes it chooses us and sometimes the most unexpected plan or opportunity emerges to leave us amazed, perplexed and humbled.

Spring, is just the beginning

Spring is emerging, pixie cups are growing amongst the green mosses, pussy willows are starting to bud, Junco’s are back along with the Sandhill Cranes. The frogs grew from two lone spring peepers three nights ago, to dozens last night. All these new sounds are confusing my pup Ella. Born May 10th 2008 the days and nights are all filled with new sounds and experiences for her and she is realizing she is not as alone, way out here, as she thought.
The return of the wildlife is always heartily anticipated. Woodcocks arrived March 31st and I then noticed moths the next night. Foxes that cruised through the backyard a couple times a day, have not been seen for about three weeks. I guess their territory has expanded as the snow has receded. Ella had a very nervous reaction last evening, I think a bear may be sleepily stumbling out back already. Late last summer and early fall she reacted like this when a bear was about. She barks and charges forward to beat a very hasty retreat and always looking at me for assurance. The next rain free day I am going to wander over the rocks and through the trees and see if I can find any tell-tale signs.
Seasons change, wildlife cycles through our yards, plants wake-up, grow, then sleep a long cold dreamless hibernation. When we change with the seasons, different activities, different foods, different plans and goals, we cycle through movement, great growth and times of deep rest. Each cycle dependent on the one before. Each cycle dependent on moving into the one arriving on the doorstep. Without this flow we stagnate with life and energy blocked. Even in times of deep rest there is movement towards the wakening and growth. Hands in the dirt, planting a seed, a little seed filled with Pure Potential, we aid in releasing the energy allowing the seed to become everything it was meant to be.
Earth Day is a once a year celebration to rejoice in the movement, growth and restfulness of nature and life, every day. When a good thought and deed is born through the Earth Day celebration it has the Pure Potential to take root, rush for the sunlight, and cycle through our lives, every day.

the beginning

this blog space is about nature, plants, and all things dirt.