April 2

This is the mint in the rock garden planted last spring. I started out watering it with the water from the air conditioner but it wasn't nearly enough to keep the bed watered. Most of the mint was not frozen and killed back but lots more came back from the roots. It needs a clipping so it won't bloom although the blooms are beautiful. The spearmint is doing 10 times as well this year already.

This is the only remaining Russian Olive tree to make leaves this year. Their bloom aroma is sickening to me and murder on the sinuses. The trees are extremely shallow rooted and the dead trees just fall over. The cardinals will sure miss the olives.

These are hyacinths planted almost 10 years ago. I've never done anything for them but they are triple the number of original plants. Every year I say I will have a new bed ready and dig up the bulbs. The early spring/late winter brutal North winds flatten the blooms as soon as they are open.

These are a "weed" but the yellow is beautiful and the very first in the springtime. They spread by runners and are everywhere. Does anyone know what these are called? My luck they are ragweed, something really offensive.

Does anyone know the name of this small ornamental tree? It has heart shaped leaves which open after the beautiful pink blooms fall away. The butterflies, bees and flies are all over the blooms. It only lasts for about 2 weeks but it is sure a show. I saw a picture of what looks like this and it was called "Redbud."

Periwinkles ! Lots this year for the very first time. Every year I would see one or maybe two and that was all for the season. There is no profusion of mass color but they sure have been beautiful.

All the gardening photos are in the new section called, "The Shop that Randal Built" along with a few notes. We are finally forecast for some rain and I hope to get seeds into the ground that will sprout without needing me to go water them all. The grape vines have returned to live another year and I will make a point of watering and fertilizing regularly no matter how difficult it is to reach their area.

I am so excited to have Kathy & Jack in New York writing about their Homesteading expertise. Already I have learned so much about goats that I am eager to have them on our Pharm. I have started a list of questions to ask Kathy about the day to day ordinary things. I must be able to work through the procedure in my mind before I can begin.

A rabbit had burrowed under the new garden fence and ate almost all of the first and biggest Kohlrabi. Randy is so looking forward to at least a few. Today I go back and fertilize all the newbies. They need help to get growing fast. We are forecast for rain and cooler temps so I might actually get some spinach. These 85 degree days are bad on cool weather crops. At this rate, the carrots won't even sprout. Such is our good old Texas weather.

Every early morning now we can hear Mr. Tom Turkey calling all the ladies around. It is the season for the making of a new generation. They are just a little further off than last year and not as easily seen. It will soon be time to scatter a bit of chicken scratch in the bottom of the driveway to attract them up into the yard.