Spring is Coming!

Tulips blooming

After the coldest January in years and two ice storms, I believe our winter is over and spring is on its way. The temperatures are warming up with most days in the mid-60s now. And with the warmer temperatures, the trees are starting to throw pollen. (My blue car is looking rather green.) My asparagus bed has several spears sticking through the soil, and my tulips are in bloom. This is my first year with tulips, and it’s a joy to come home to these beauties every day. Because many of you readers are still buried under a foot of snow or more (sorry, Mom & Dad), I thought I’d share my small piece of spring with you.

Sanctuary Gardener Update ~ 2/17/14

Kindling gathered ~ thanks to Winter Storm Pax!

What an eventful week! Winter Storm Pax visited us for a couple of days, and the entire area was covered in ice. (For pictures, click here.) I was very blessed in that my property had no damage. My yard was full of small branches, though, which I gathered up as kindling for my fireplace. After the last ice storm (Winter Storm Leon), I was surprised that my seedlings had survived. I thought for sure they wouldn’t make it through this ice storm, but they did!

Sanctuary Gardener Update ~ 2/10/14

Yesterday was a big day in the garden. It’s the most time I’ve spent in the garden in a long time. The temperature was 67 degrees, and I loved it! I planted 38 potato plants – red, purple, and fingerlings. Then I trimmed the ice-caused dead leaves off my garlic and added fertilizer and Azomite to the bed. Next, I weeded the asparagus and added Azomite to that bed, as well. Finally, I fertilized the apple trees. (I’m a few weeks late with that, but it’s an organic fertlizer; so I should be okay.) After the gardening chores, I examined my seedlings and was amazed.

Sanctuary Gardener Update ~ 1/13/14

It’s winter planting season, and the weather has changed like a roller coaster this week in the Charleston, SC area. From a low of 17 during the Polar Vortex (which dipped this far south) to a high of 73 only three days later! Walking through my garden this weekend, I felt like Goldilocks.