Out of the cold and dark

Today marks the beginning of a stretch of mild, sunny weather following a week of cold and wet. The frosts were severe enough to kill most of the leaves on the young black walnut, catalpa and tulip trees. Surprisingly, the apple trees were unaffected. This morning, I liberated the kale and broccoli plants that were set out under covers April 14. A couple of them were beginning to grow through the hole at the top of the protective cover. They should be large and strong enough to survive attacks by slugs or cutworms at this point.

A couple nights ago, I had some fun planting amaranth, sunflower and comfrey plants in a circular arrangement. Many years ago, I had a solitary amaranth plant that provided a dignified presence in the garden. Remembering that plant, I picked up some amaranth seeds at the grocery store and started them inside a week ago. The seedlings are so tiny, I planted four clusters of them in the center of my patch and will thin them as they become more substantial. Surrounding the amaranth are about 30 sunflower plants from which I am hoping to harvest seeds for sprouting. Forming a second band around the sunflowers are 15 comfrey plants. The comfrey will be used for making potent compost and compost tea.

Did I mention that overwintering kale is probably not a great idea unless you want to save seeds? The kale that was left in the garden from last season bolted pretty quickly once it became re-established. I pulled all of the plants last week.

Greater celandine, dame's rocket and oriental poppies are blooming this weekend, honeysuckle and cornflowers are in full bloom, ants are crawling on peony buds (must be sweet), iris color showing through sheath, quince fading, daffodil faded a week or two ago.