It's all about the lilies.

This weekend, "gardening" has consisted mostly of pulling dandelions and grass from the main lily bed out front. It's my own fault, I kind of let it go last fall, when I thought we were re-doing the whole front yard. We didn't, and suddenly it's an all weekend project... The lilies are going to be amazing, though. A couple years ago, I gave into one of those deals you just can't pass up--125 or so mixed asiatic and oriental lily bulbs... The first year, there were a few lilies...they went in a little late...



The second year, there were more....

If the little green shoots popping up EVERYWHERE are predicting anything, it's that there are going to be A LOT of lilies out there.



I'm going to remove the rest of (the last of!!) the grass out there, and install a couple small raised beds for tomatoes and squash--they'll get more direct sunshine out front than in back. But still, the front yard is all about the lilies.

Happy Spring!!!

Spring has sprung! Hooray!

Despite the threat of rain today, it turned out to be

a great day for working outside, once I got my rear off the couch (Hey, I was watching Cisco, that counts for good intentions, right?) and into my garden clogs.

For years, I've been gardening Square Foot Garden-ish....but I'd never taken the step of actually dividing my bed into squares. I estimated, I guessed, I planted things kind of where ever I wanted to....This year, I vowed I'd really do it. So....ta-da!

My grid is made with contractor twine--it should last for the season. I'm really toying with using copper refrigerator piping, but unfortunately, I think we're going to have to rebuild the beds after this year. These were built, nearly 10 years ago, with untreated fir, and have long outlasted their 4-5 year estimated lifetime...

So far, I've planted two different types of sugar snap peas--they'll use the trellis at the far end of the bed. Up front, leaf lettuce, and red and yellow shallots. I just haven't had the heart to pull that overwintered kale yet. It's a gorgeous purple shot of color. There's also some chard that's wintered over...it's already been yummy in stir fry!

It was a lovely way to welcome spring...

Master Gardener Training 2010!

It's sad, but it's coming to an end.
But it's happy, because a new flock of interns is about to be unleased on the world!

I've thoroughly enjoyed being a mentor for the training class this spring. I hope they've had as much fun as I have.
The WSU Extension Master Gardener program began in 1972 right here in King County, Washington. The program now exists in all 50 states and many other countries. The Master Gardener program in King County is one of the largest in the world.

Mark your calendar now for the Master Gardener Plant Sale, May 1-2 at the Center for Urban Horticulture on the UW Campus. I'll be there! (and if you want to buy raffle tickets for fabulous, garden related prizes or $100 cold hard cash, let me know!!)

Digging Makes You Know You're Alive...

Or at least, digging makes you realize you have muscles that you rarely use, except when you're digging.

Yesterday was a glorious day--not too hot, not too cold, and dry. Perfect weather for finishing the digging on the raised beds, transplanting garlic, and seeing if my newest method (bright pink string and eye hooks) would work for setting up my Square Foot Garden dividers. (so far, so good--I may try braiding it for a little more substance...)

After 5 years, the soil in the raised beds is so pretty--it's loose, with great tilth and after some compost is mixed in, it's perfect and ready for planting. I rescued the garlic from where it was volunteering, and replanted it with room to grow and expand. Everything else is plotted out (check out the www.gardeners.com website for a nice square foot garden planning tool), and dividers, seeds and plants are ready to start flowing in!

I love this time of year--even with the time change, which made it possible to play in the dirt until almost 7 last night!

So...it's been a while...

but reading garden blogs inspires me to be back out here in the community of gardeners, more than just a lurker...

So, what's going on in my garden? It feels like spring, despite the threat of snow earlier this week. The perennials are starting to wake up, and I'm itching to be out digging in the dirt.

But for now, here's just a glimpse of what's popping up out there.

I'm also spending my Saturdays being a Mentor for the newest class of Master Gardeners in King County. It's great fun going back through the training, and I have to admit, the group of trainees that I'm working with are absolutely awesome!

Another couple weeks, though, and I can devote a lot more time to the yard. This working for a living just gets in the way of gardening.

Here's hoping for bright shiny spring weather!