We’ve had the most delightful unseasonal weather for the President’s Day weekend. I took advantage of it to spend some time in the garden both days.

Lucky for me, my garlic plants were growing snug under some oak leaves all winter.
I was pleased to see that the garlic I planted last fall and thought had not come up, was thriving and at a very good stage for late February. The blue kale, on the other hand, was full of whitefly, so I removed it in short order. I was also pleased to see that the cutting celery had reseeded itself and come back.

Spinach seeds under the chicken wire, beets and scallions under the small tent, and carrots under the row cover. Turnips are in between the chicken wire and the tent. I haven’t cleaned up beyond the row cover.
I took a gamble that we might continue to have weather not much colder than the low forties and decided to plant some early crops. They are under shelters not necessarily to keep them warm, but to keep rabbits away from the tender shoots if they come up.

I dare the rabbits to get at these pea shoots!!!!
Last fall I was so disgusted, I didn’t do much in the way of planting for salad greens or root vegetables. I did have some nice greens through fall and up to now, including flat-leaf parsley and lettuce in the cold frame.

I should have planted these turnips in August, so I didn’t get to eat them this winter, but I’ll have them quite early this spring.
Yesterday I spent a few pleasurable hours in the small Plot Against Hunger garden. I weeded it and planted peas, lettuce, carrots and turnips for early crops. We’ll see if the rabbits get into it. Sometimes they’re oblivious to this garden, perhaps because they have to hop into it.

The stick structure is for the peas to climb. Hope springs eternal.
I turned over management of the large Plot garden that is outside the fence to my fabulous volunteer Jane, whom you’ve seen in other posts. Because of the extensive damage done by utility work in the garden last year, she decided to delineate paths and beds for planting. So far it’s looking fabulous. Sometimes putting another head to work on a problem provides the perfect solution.

This is why you talk with other people! I’d never have dealt with the utility worker incursions this way. Brava!!
I’ve also been sewing sea creatures, in the form of baby sea turtles and sand dollars. I just cut the turtles freehand, but thought better of that once I’d pinned them together, plopped one on the copier in pieces, and–voila!–had a pattern to use again.

Here’s the start of it…
The turtles are going to my little great nephews, who were in town late this week with their father. The sand dollars will be wending their way soon to Jan at Snail of Happiness, who kindly offered to make me a pussy hat that wasn’t pink. I think I’m making out like a bandit on the deal.
Good to see new beginnings and surprises sprouting from the ground 🙂
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Spring is always a nice surprise…
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Seeing that you and Dr Snail are involved in a swap made me smile – good work! Those turtles are looking great! I hope your garden grows well and the pesky rabbits stay away. Are you walking regularly yet?
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Well, I walk a lot most days. What I need to do is get to the gym, which I did last week. Now if I can do it THIS week and start a pattern… Yes, I was very excited about the fabulous offer from the Snail. As for the rabbits, I think there was a nest in the small garden, under the thyme. Grrrr….
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Poor Bunnies – you always put me in mind of Peter Rabbit and Mr McGregor 🙂 Do you know those Beatrix Potter books?
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Oh, yes! I loved them, especially the garden drawings. Now, Of course, I’ve gone over the McGregor side, though frankly, they don’t look worth trying to cook up to me…
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Lucky for the bunnies then 😀
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Yes, nobody really goes after them, which is why they’re so brazen!
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Your garden looks promising this year. So many threasons : weather, rabbits, insects, it ‘s a miracle we eat veggies!
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I’m told we eat a lot of insects unknowingly and some people eat rabbits. Can’t eat the weather, though, so I hope it gives me a break this year.
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Just wow. As someone who tries to grow veg but is rather incompetent, I applaud your success!
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I bet your garden yielded more than mine last year, which was a disaster for a variety of reasons. I’m trying various things in hopes that this year I’ll actually get something to eat!
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You have been working hard!! But than again, garden work is always nicest in Srping, right? Your felt work is so lovely, The Snail will be very happy indeed!! xo Johanna
ps I love the wire basket over the spinach!
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Thanks, Johanna! I do love working in the garden. Usually everything comes right there. But it comes right with sewing, as well, especially when I’ve drawn the pattern myself. Let’s hope gardening is pleasant this year for all!
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Congratulations on the gardens and the felt. I like the wordplay in the title. For what it’s worth, our son Mat sinks wire netting down quite deep because rabbits burrow
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The bean enclosure was dug in like that. I may have to do that with several areas.
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Seems odd to read of garden work when we are buried beneath so much snow here. But spring will come to Maine, too. Love those turtles and sand dollars. How fun to think of them going across the ocean. My, those sand dollars are travelers!
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I wonder how far the actual sand dollars travel…that’s a research question!
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Yes, indeed!
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Ah, I love those little turtles!
And I wish my garden looked as productive as yours😄
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The turtles are really fun to sew. I’m exploring different shapes and sizes. As for the garden, it always looks so full of potential in the spring. Though spring it is not, by the calendar…
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We’ve had a few days here where it really felt like spring- I even sat outside with a book in the sunshine! But today the wind is howling and the temperatures have dipped right down again😕
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It’s just tempting us with a preview. It is a bit early for weather like this, but…
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You really did get to do some gardening this weekend! I’m starting to get the itch to dig in the dirt, but will have to be satisfied with planting seedlings indoors for now. I hope you have better luck this year with your veggies (especially with critter incursions).
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Thanks! I hope so too. It must be fun to start the seeds inside and watch them come up–a cure for cabin fever. I hope spring arrives in good time in your neck of the woods. of course, we could still have a snowstorm here, but it wouldn’t last long…
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You’re watching little plants get bigger and I’m watching big snow drifts get smaller! Both make me happy–spring really is coming, it seems. If you filled your little sea creatures with ground walnut shells, they’d be perfect pin cushions!
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Pin cushions! I had not thought of that. But I might feel bad sticking them!!! I AM beginning to look forward to planting this year, hoping that it will be better than last. If it’s worse than last, I’ll have to figure out why I’m gardening…
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I love your sand dollars and turtles. You need a few hawks to sit around and guard the garden from the rabbits. Do those fake birds scare rabbits away? I have a plastic owl here, if you’re interested. We used to have it guarding the garden, but it scared off the herons who visit the pond. I don’t know if you remember him from my blog — Prince Owlbert. He needs a good home since we’re not using him anymore.
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What a hoot! No pun intended. We do have a hawk, which has eaten rats and voles, but not so much the rabbits. I think the rabbits need a resident fox. I will have to look for Prince Owlbert on your blog. I can’t believe he scared the herons!!!
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OK, the garden’s back!! Bet that feels good, eh? It’s hard to kill something like garlic, it kills vampires, you know.
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I was afraid it hadn’t come up, which would have been the crown on last year’s disaster garden, but I have at least 6 of them. Can’t imagine cooking without it, and as you say, it keeps away vampires and maybe even zombies…
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Lisa, I’m glad you’ve had a taste of spring weather. It helps lift the spirits immeasurably. I love your little turtles! And what a great idea placing the felt on the printer to make a pattern. I don’t know if I would have thought of that, but now I’m tucking it away for future use. Thank you!
It takes renewed optimism to continue gardening. I find insect infestations the most discouraging because once established, I feel it’s a lost cause for the season, or at least for that plant. I hope you have a better season.
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Thanks! We had some more beautiful weather this morning before a front came though with rain and more seasonal temperatures. Got some work done in the large Plot garden!
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By going backwards, I can see the before and after of the paths in the Plot Against Hunger garden. I’m hoping that if I keep coming back here, I’ll be inspired!
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Do you have garden space? I’m not a bed person, but Jane figured out paths and measured and bought the wood. Pretty impressive. I think it will work much better, especially with the incursions of utility workers…
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I do have some space that might work in terms of sun, but in that I am essentially in the woods, or next to the woods, I doubt the garden would survive the deer, rabbits, groundhogs, skunks, racoons, etc.
I’ve only been able to find a few flowers that survive the critters.
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Eeeek. And those animals all have enough of their own food…
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The felt work is beautiful, and it is good to see your garden in progress!
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Thanks Lavinia. I do enjoy the felt, and it was awfully good to get back in the garden.
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