Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – March 2008

Galanthus nivalis

Text and photos ©Nancy J. Ondra

Woo hoo! Things sure have changed here in southeastern Pennsylvania since last month. It won’t do to get too complacent about the milder weather, because we’ve gotten some serious snows even after mid-March in the past. It’s not looking very likely that that will happen this year, however. On the plus side, I have two reasons to be thankful for the rain today: 1) It should get the seeds off to a good start before the starlings eat them, and 2) I’m too tired to do any more outside work anyway. And on that note, I’ll show my offerings for Bloom Day, and then I’m off to visit the rest of you.

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Published in: on March 15, 2008 at 5:43 am  Comments (24)  
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Wordless Thursday – Sunrise

Sunrise at Hayefield

Published in: on March 13, 2008 at 6:48 am  Comments (6)  
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The Population Explosion

Seedlings under lights

Text and photos ©Nancy J. Ondra

It’s a funny thing about seeds: First you worry that they’re not going to sprout; then you worry how you’re going to deal with all of the seedlings. It’s so easy to sow a dozen pots, plunk them onto a heating mat, and fit them neatly onto a shelf under a single fluorescent light fixture. It may take a few days for the first leaflets to appear, but before you know it, the pots are filled with forests of study little seedlings. The next step is to transplant those seedlings into individual pots. And then, my friends, is when reality sets in.

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Published in: on March 11, 2008 at 3:40 pm  Comments (11)  
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Peas Please Me

Pea ‘Blauwschokkers’ (blue-podded)

Text and photos ©Nancy J. Ondra

Novelty-seeking veggie gardeners have plenty of exciting options to choose from with trendy crops, such as gourmet greens and tomatoes. But peas? Hardly trendy, and hardly a plethora of options to choose from, at least in most catalogs: a few snap peas, a couple of snow peas, and maybe a few varieties of shelling types. I suppose it’s not really necessary for peas to be exciting, appearance-wise; once you experience the flavor of fresh-picked peas straight from (or, even better, right in) the garden, you hardly care what they look like. But if you enjoy trying something different, there are two out-of-the-ordinary varieties worth tracking down.

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Gone to the Dogs

Dog topiary at Philly Flower Show

Text and photos ©Nancy J. Ondra

Last night, thanks to a very generous friend, I had an opportunity to see the Philadelphia Flower Show. I can’t even remember how long it’s been since my last visit, but I’m sure it’s the first time I’ve seen it in its “new” venue.

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Published in: on March 6, 2008 at 8:02 pm  Comments (4)  
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