Needing new beds

Things are coming up, things are opening, things are growing green and tall and happy in the Spirit Gardens. We have such plans! We're on board to be a Tomato Trial garden for Turkey Hill Farms this spring, so plan on seeing no less than 24 tomato plants in a whopping 8 different varieties beginning mid March. We have started many of the flower seeds; I just noticed this morning that the Bishop's Children Dahlias and the Moss Roses have sprouted. And of course there is the steady supply of hodge-podge plants that we get from the Tallahassee Garden Club's plant exchange each month. In fact, we have so much we want to get in the ground that we are scrambling to start new beds. We finished two on Saturday and started a big third one. And this Saturday we'll be creating our compost pile. After that, our garden will know NO BOUNDS!!!

Calendula

I stopped by the garden yesterday after two weeks away, and I was so pleased to find that one of the calendulas had bloomed! I had never planted calendula, and just following the directions on the back of the seed packet, plunked a few seeds in the ground in November. They weren't a bit bothered by the frosts, and steadily grew taller and bushier until finally, some time in the last 11 or 12 days, one showed its pretty yellow face. I read an article online about how to save their seeds: You wait until the flower is wilted and a little dry, then you pluck it and gently shake it out and separate the seed from the chaff. That's good to know since I promptly lost the seed packet after planting just those five.

Two more irises bloomed. They are the same ghostly white-lavender as the first one. The collards, beets, and swiss chard are thriving, as are the garlic chives and society garlic. Paty and Bonnie came by last weekend and planted two rows of onions. I think we're going to do the Turkey Hill tomatoes just behind them (onions and tomatoes are good companion plants).

And, perhaps a little late, I'm going to start a garden journal for the Spirit Gardens. It will probably be just notes and facts -- dates things were planted, how they look, sketches of the beds, etc. I feel like that information would be out of place here in the blog, but is important to keep track of for subsequent years. The book can be kept at WeMoon as a reference.

We're planning on putting out a few of the more hearty plants this Saturday -- sages, a mock organe tree, hydrangea, and others.

"Just Because" festival and Work Day

What fun it was this weekend in Madison! Several Spirit Gardeners made their way out there -- me, Anna, Paty, Bonnie -- as well as some of our local organic gardening gurus such as Herman and Louise Holley of Turkey Hill Farm and Cynthia Connelly of LadyBird Organics. Cynthia gave an outstanding talk on the wonders of wheatgrass, and Herman shared some good growing tips. We also caught presentations on organic pest management and planning a spring garden. Of course, walking around B's greenhouse, we got an armload of good ideas (and some plants).

Don't forget to come out for the "WeMoon-ifestation" work party on Saturday, February 12, from about 9 to about 2. We needs lots of help getting the house, grounds, and garden ready for spring!

Spring Seeds

The seeds came in! In what must have been a fit of gloominess on some lonely, dark day a couple of weeks ago, I ordered (too many) seeds for the Spirit Gardens. They are all spring flowers (not a respectable vegetable among them) and they are all Very Bright. I was obviously trying to cheer myself up when I placed the order; I don't really remember what I was thinking, but whatever it was, I'm glad, because if these guys come up HALF as boisterous as they look in the pictures, we will have nary a frown among us come June. Or maybe May. I didn't exactly plan for staggered blooming, so we'll just have to see what comes up when it comes up. I ordered them from www.seedsavers.org, which has the most wonderful ideas about saving the diversity of the earth's flora, and therby saving the future of humankind.

In addition to the sunny flowers, I have several seeds that I got from a seed saving workshop last year at New Leaf Market. The farmer who gave the workshop was named Tommy Simms, and his farm is called Bellevue Gardens. He shared a variety of cucumber called "Alabama Rambler," his famous "Scarlet Sweet" watermelon, okra, tangerines (that grow north of Gainesville), cataloupe, a special kind of butternut-like squash, and several kinds of sunflowers from his patch. (I'll put his information on the webpage -- you will want to get some seeds from him for sure.)

So that should give us quiet a good little start. Our last frost is usually around March 15, so we're planning our before- and after-plantings now. If you find yourself with an extra seedling or two come March, bring it by on some Saturday morning -- we'll find a place for it!