February Ramblings

I decided to combine the greenhouse and yard ramblings all together here, as February tends to be a pretty not so happening month on the island....

Things are beginning to awaken....

Garlic

Strawberries

Columbines

The back yard is starting to wake up... blueberry berm on the right, still kind of snow covered but full of buds, fruit trees are waking up and in the back is my lovely Birch Corner. Three birches and a bench for contemplation.

Hey! My two girls.

Dahlias

Onions...

As you can see, this post was started well before my darling Little 'Lilah got sick...
Have decided to leave those pics up and just continue, as they do show what the early part of the month was like...

A very sick darling Delilah 

In the greenhouse this month as of Feb 18th and onward ...

I was planning to build a cute little fancy 'shop' to house the early spring goods such as the seeds and seed potatoes, some spring planters and such...

However, as Lilah became more and more ill, and went from the vet to the emerg to the specialist, those plans were kyboshed due to the cost of her sky high medical bills ...  and thus a lack of funds ; )

However....  Is all good though, I have come up with another idea....

The new shop... name ideas anyone?

 



This is the new shop... hmmm, it still needs a name ... it is up and ready to be filled with goodies.

Is not as fancy as I had planned or hoped, but is very roomy and will, I think, also be great for the workshops I have in mind, as well as the shop itself.

I sure am hoping that you all like it and agree with me, that Lilah being here to greet you is much more important in the long run than a fancy ole shop anyway, eh?

I am eagerly awaiting the seed potatoes and seeds from Renee's Garden Seeds, as well as other spring bloomers, to fill up the space.
That combined with soil testing for you and lots of information to start your season right, I look forward to seeing you all very soon!

The cuttings and seedlings are coming along fine in the greenhouse...
If you have not done so already, this month in the greenhouse, you will want to start all kinds of herbs, peppers, and perennials such as echinacea, rudbeckia, and gaillardia.



In the yard and potager...

All three garlic types are emerging... if you feel that your soil is lacking in nutrients, this is a good time to side dress the garlic with some compost or manure.

Strawberries are awakening... clean up any dead foliage and top dress around the plants with compost.

Roses are being cleaned up and cut back severely ... this is due mostly to the snow damage they received up here on the mountain, but also because it is good to cut them back annually to a height of 12"- 18".Pruning promotes lots of new growth and loads of flowers for the year ahead.

Here are some jobs to start pretty soon here on the west coast....

- Is pretty much time to start thinking about your lawn, if you have one ... is time to get it aerated, raked and top seeded.

- Top dress your trees, shrubs and perennials with compost or manure.

- Spray your roses, fruit trees, shrubs, hedges, etc.. with a dormant oil and sulfer mix to kill any over wintering fungal diseases or pests.

- Clean up any perennial weeds before they begin to grow and take hold, plus top up your mulch.

- Test your garden soil and top up with manure, compost, and any other amendments according to the soil test ( things like bloodmeal, bonemeal, alfalfa meal, greensand, etc... )

Till then ...

Lilah has come down with an auto-immune disease at just under 4 years of age, however, she is being treated, is home and feeling much better, so will hopefully be back to her old self again in no time.

Little 'Lilah comes home after being poked, prodded, tested, shaved, etc... for nearly two weeks....

 

Little 'Lilah is on the mend and her new sister is growing like a weed.....

 

Not a great pic, but both girls home and in the greenhouse with me, helping mom with the planting, moving, and seeding.