How Dry I Am!

While the mild winter has made it easy to get around town and such, it sure has me worried about the coming spring and summer. Last year we had record rain in the spring and early summer which was great for the wheat farmers but not so great for my home garden. As I have heard the old timers say "Hope for the best and prepare for the worst." I guess I'll just enjoy what we have and hope the apricot tree has some fruit this year! In the mean time I've enjoyed many beautiful sunrises. Every morning brings the promise to a wonderful day.

Unable to reply to your comments

For some reason I am unable to post replies to comments on my blog page, so guess I'll do that here!... I really need to take some cuttings of the thyme this fall so that I have some to place in other spots in the walk, next spring. As for cots... well that would be Apricots. You might try shading your garden next year if it looks like it's going to be as hot as this summer was. Tomatoes are supposed to love the red shade cloth and produce extra well when it's used. Not sure how the other plants will feel about it.

Creeping plants in the walk

After many attempts to get a variety of creepers for the walk way there are a few that have survived and thrive with little care. Creeping thyme is one of my very favorites with it's dainty, purple blooms in the spring and it's habit of surviving in spite of me! Another is a little fern like plant that has taken over one end of the walk. It has a very strange, exotic looking bloom. Irish moss, both light and dark green, are doing well, as long as I can keep another creeping plant (name unknown.. well I have called it a few choice ones) in bounds. It has taken over parts of the walk and choked out the moss in those areas. Now that I have pulled up a large area of the little "creep" the moss is much happier. Then there is the Trumpet Vine (sigh). Well we will just leave it at that. Some day I hope to post pictures of the finished walk; it's been under construction for two summer's now.

Enjoying the summer's bounty.

We have had such a mild summer with only a couple of days in the 90's and in spite of the long, cool spring many gardeners are enjoying a bounty from their gardens. Our meals have included tasty additions of beans, zuchini, tomatoes and beets from my mother-in-law's garden. Farmer's Market has provided us with several types of sweet peppers, sweet onions, fresh eggs, local honey and much more. My neice was sweet enough to bring me some cots, which were shared with my mother-in-law. This is the second summer our plums, prunes and apricots haven't done well. Guess I'll try some severe pruning and see if it will jump start them.

Mt Harris Mushroom trip

After going to Hog Wild Days, Sat. afternoon, we decided to take a trip up Mt. Harris, in hopes of finding a nice patch or two of mushrooms. Well, we did find a few and had them with dinner tonight. Lots of other folks out doing the same thing...hunting the elusive Morel! It was a great trip up and around the mountain along with a stroll down memory lane.... the first time we went out on the rock face and saw where pioneers to our valley had cut their names and the date, into the stone; the first rattle snake I had ever seen here (although I knew they were about, had never seen one in all the years we've trekked around these mountains!); the many trips with family and friends for picnics and weekend drives and many more memories, too numerous to tell.

Mt Emily Mushroom Hunt

We could not have asked for a nicer day to trek around the mountains in search of the illusive Morels and Snow Mushrooms (also called calf brain mushrooms). Elvira had her day cut out for her keeping track of her humans! Her nose worked over time on all the new smells the woods offered her. After a successful hunt we headed home for some fried goodness... Morels, pan fried. Yum!

When is it Spring?

Well it may be that Spring is officially here, by the calendar, but the weather is still saying winter. It really does not want to let go! On the bright side... The spring flowers are hanging on much longer than usual and are so very pretty! The little seed tulips are making a big show of it this year as they have spread along the fence and over into the neighbors driveway. The daffodils and grape hyacinth are also quite showy. I am planning to put some white tulips along the fence/pathway for next spring. We still have some work to do on the pathway but that will come along as it warms up a bit! I am really enjoying the longer days as they allow me to get out into the yard for a little bit after I get home from work.