Rainy days

A puddle. Summer was here for a few days, but now it is spring again, with rain and cooler temperatures. The plants are happy and so am I. Everything is green.On Monday we set up the wall-o-waters and I planted the rest of the potatoes under straw.
Carrots finally came up in the box. The other plants in the box are doing ok, but something is eating stuff and walking in it. I need to cover it up with a floating row cover or a plastic hoop thing. I'll have to order it because I haven't found any around here.

http://www.gardencityseeds.net/ and http://www.seedsofchange.com/ have row covers plus lots of other good stuff, like those wall-o-waters. The Co-op Country Store is advertising that they now sell Irish Eyes heirloom seeds. Maybe it's worth the trip up north to see what else they have. A row cover is the low-tech way of protecting the crops, but around here most people use the plastic hoop house. I might try setting one up if I can figure out how.

The bluebirds were out this morning, I think they may stay this year...I hope!
Crabapple blossoms and others are getting ready to open.


The tulips too, which means it is time for hot pepper spray. Deer beware, these tulips are hot.
Recipe
2-5 Tablespoons Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper or any hot pepper substance you have.
1 gallon of water
1 Tablespoon oil
Mix it up, strain through cheesecloth, and spray on your tulips.
Note: It's hot! Not responsible for eye injury, property or other damage resulting from misuse of pepper spray. Spray on test area first before spraying the whole garden.

Speaking of pests, the cats left another remnant on the doormat this morning. The whole scene was perplexing. There were two bunches of grass and one mouse foot on the mat, placed just so. Then there were various entrails scattered about, surrounding the mat. What does it mean? Is it a cat luck charm? They're probably shaking their heads at me for cleaning it up and yelling at them. Poor human, doesn't understand, we're only trying to help.

One of my favorite wildflowers, Arrowleaf balsamroot, is blooming. Every year we are here, there are more of them.

I saw a very interesting book yesterday. It's called The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell. I'll have to read more, but it was clear from a brief look that it talks about the connection between consumption of animal protein and diseases like cancer. Plant proteins, according to the study, do not promote disease. You're way ahead of us, Slammy. Lentil stew for dinner.