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!

Gardens and Cats go together. This is Sophia.