popular What have you done today in the Garden?

Yes Sjoerd, I'm sure that's it. I read about it, but I tend to forget
a lot of stuff lately. I keep an eye out for un-fenced places the
cats may have been and scoop any feces out. We have no problem with dogs because neighbors keep them leashed. However, they
seem to think cats need to run free.
The only gardening I did today was pulling a few dead leaves
away from the Daffodils, the Tulips, and the Crocus.

 

Toni, I'm anxious too, but have to wait for garden centers to open. I am excited about the first lettuce peeping above the soil. Maybe spinach will soon pop up.

 

I have a stiff neck today, so light duty. Going to make a door frame for the green house. Something to brace the pipe frame so the wind won't blow it back and forth.

 

working in the greenhouse all day. transplanting and planting and sifting soil and watering whatever need attention...

 

Last day on creating strawberry rows. The initial setup for the berry garden is almost complete, beds and paths created. Will move some of the sun-chokes in the area to create a second bed. This will provide summer screening along a fence line. Moved some spearmint and removed some lemon balm. Still need to find a place to put the chocolate mint. Tired of tending the pots.

The in-place composting of weeds, dirt and organic is creating nice terracing in the back half lot. Am thinking these areas might make nice areas for planting pumpkins and squash. A lot more sun back there with the removal of the neighbors trees last year and our own falling down. With this temperate rainy weather and two months until planting it may just happen.

 

Thanks again for the tips GROWING and CAROLYN. I can see if the cat comes into my garden when the snow falls, but now...I have found no traces. Carolyn, those tubes are available to us, but I an hoping to keep them at bay without using the poison.
An interesting note--A garden neighbour lady found a dead rt lying on the ground in front of her garden shed and had to dispose of the beast herself. She said that it was difficult, but she managed. She described the remains and asked what it could have been. It was obvious--a little weasel-type. We have two different types on the complex, I have observed.
It is the best if nature helps us out and we don't have to resort to traps and so forth. It is all well and good to say that, but it breaks my heart when a a torenvalk picks off one of my tits. It is a pity, but that's nature for you.

 

Pruned buddleja, cut back dead ornamental grass, raked compost over the spud plot and schoffeld along the neighbour's fence.
This morning, I saw the toms and marigolds are up.

 

Don Perry, not liking your stiff neak, just the rest.
Everyone seems busier than I am. Weather does not permit yet.
Sjoerd, it isn't a joyful thing to rid our food supply of the competition.
Yet seeing the damage they do makes it easier to dispose of critters.

 

Potted on cucumbers, pricked out 60 more calendula got 160 now, pinched out the snapdragons, emptied one of the compost bins.

 

It is indeed Growing Pains.
More plantlets coming up on the windowsill.
As soon as the night-freeze warning is over the young pea plants will be planted out in the garden. It is supposed to get up to 20ºC here on sunday. I am excited.

 

Weeding and feeding strawberries and transplanting lettuces.

 

we have found that to be mission impossible. we just can't keep ahead of their destruction. all the bait is gone, but I haven't found any dead rodents.

 

Lettuce looks timid, but the sun is shining, so it will grow.
Crocus are lovely!

 

Oh dear Carolyn...what now?!!
I am sort of braced for the onslaught; however, I was able to make quite a dent in the pest population last year. My fingers are well and truly crossed with the utmost tightness.
I am also a bit worried about using poison because if a bird, weasel or some other scavenger would eat the poisoned carcass they may also die. Knowwadduhmean, Vern?