Around the Garden

Peach blossoms. We've just discovered a volunteer peach (peaches will grow from pits) by the front creek, but these are in the orchard. The full size trees in the background are pears. Most large fruits in this area are some years great and some years none, or sparse. Peaches bloom so early they are especially iffy. This area is known for its apples though and it is a shame that most orchards are going to rack and ruin. Ah, well, when we do get peaches, they are so delicious eaten with the fuzz still warm from the sun.

For fruit we depend a lot on canes, and especially wild blackberries. Last year we put up 100 pints of jam. Blackberry jam that is. More of other types.



The strawberry bed. Wonderful dirt, too many weeds. We bought two day neutral varieties last year and one completely died out and one did fine -- I think it was Tristar that thrived [TRIBUTE, it was Tribute -- all the Tristar died, dead, caput]. We'll propogate more of those. So far I believe we have eaten all the strawberries we've been able to grow IN the garden -- they never make it as far as the house. Same is true of asparagus.

And speaking of asparagus, I should go look to see if the poke is coming up.



This is perhaps my favorite bed, with wormwood and horseraddish actively growing through the weed trash already. I love wormwood as a smudge.



A view of the gooseberry bush. It is called gooseberry because a hedge made of it, even geese can't get through. It has thorns as well as being so thick.



And this is a pea project (a different one than the one pictured earlier) with the peas up.

I took more photos but this is all I have time to post right now. Today potatoes are being planted, and we processed the salt ham which means we rinsed it down and sliced it up and put it in useable quantities in the freezer. After we taste tested it of course. Addictively delicious. So happy to have it.