Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Wanted: Rain

Rain is forecast for tonight.  Not much, but we'll be glad to take whatever Mother Nature gives us.

In the garden, the first asparagus spears are poking up through the soil.  Rain would really help them.

I completely weeded and mulched the small orchard.  Teeny-tiny buds are just now starting to appear on the trees.

Weeded the strawberry plants for the second time this spring.  Biggest problem is huge, healthy, robust dandelion plants that love to grow smack-dab in the middle of the strawberry plants.  I don't like dandelions.

Speaking of the dandelions (I don't like), this past week their blossoms made their first appearance in our (laughingly called) lawn.  They are one of the first blooms the honey bees have to work during our cold spring.

The blueberry bushes have been well weeded, given a good dose of peat moss and then mulched with old hay.  This is the first year I've mulched the whole patch, but we've suffered from not enough moisture for the past couple/few seasons so if this is another dry-ish year, the mulch will help.  If nothing else, it will keep down the weeds.

With Papa Pea's help today, I staked out the area (the old raspberry patch) where I want to plant my Red Kuri squash this year.  Way too early to think of planting any squash yet, but I'll be ready when the weather cooperates for the warmth loving squash.

Our forecast shows the temps staying above freezing starting tonight and into next week.  It's about time.

Now I must go do a rain dance so the dry-as-dust soil will be replenished and the forest fire danger will go down, down, down.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope everyone's safe and staying safe. I just read that the virus is mutating and getting much more dangerous. I don't want to alarm anyone but it's time to get right with God, cause this is getting downright scary! Stay home and stay safe, guys!

Vera said...

Just to say that for the last few weeks we have had so much rain. I wish I could send you a gallon or two! But at least you have had time to get your garden prepped for the coming growing season. I love dandelions, only because they appear as early as January here in SW France. I have made dandelion jam in the past and very nice it is too.The French call dandelions 'pissenlit' because of the tendency to make a person go to wee if eaten! Vx

Cockeyed Jo said...

No rain,but you got snow right? That's frozen rain.

Mama Pea said...

Anonymous - Our governor has just lifted the "stay-at-home" policy -- with some restrictions. I'm not sure I understand the wisdom of it. :o\

Vera - I think the very best homemade wine I ever tasted was dandelion wine the mother of a good friend of ours made. So . . . see? Those pesky dandelions aren't all bad!! ;o}

Cockeyed Jo - Ya know, that's the strange thing about this dryness and "fire danger" for us. I think I even said a couple of months ago that with our cool spring temps and enough snow this winter it wouldn't be a dry spring. But the last couple of snows we got were very light and apparently didn't give us much moisture. I've even seen (very dirty) snowbanks on the south side of some roads in the area a day or so ago. Go figure.

Mama Pea said...

Laurie - My rain dance is probably something you don't want to see first thing in the morning. BUT!! It worked! We didn't get a lot, maybe 1/2", but everything is very wet this morning. I have hesitated putting our rain gauge out yet (the tube is glass) because of our freezing temps at night, but I would really be curious to know exactly how much we did get.

wisps of words said...

Hope you get your needed rain! We have had plenty. Now wish temps would warm up a bit. More so, this morning, because our furnace decided to quit. :-(

I understand your not liking dandelions in your crops. But am so happy to hear you say, that the bees need them, in early spring.

For myself, not having crops, I am fine with them, in our front/back yards. They get cut down, with mowing, but come right back, and it's ok with us.

Good luck with getting enough rain!

Stay safe!
✨💛✨💛✨

Mama Pea said...

wisps of words - Now they're saying we got only about a quarter inch of rain, but we'll take it! Your furnace quit? Oh, no! But better now than in mid-winter.

We're not the type of folks who dig dandelions out of our lawn and I really do enjoy the color and beauty they bring to the environment. If they would just stay out of the strawberries!

linnellnickerson@gmail.com said...

We're suppose to get rain this week-end. Can always use rain. So you 've had a busy few days in your garden!! That's a great feeling of accomplishment. It was sixty-one degrees today, which felt good, with lots of sunshine. I have to say it has been a cold Spring. Stay safe and healthy xo

Mama Pea said...

linnellnickerson - Our day time temps have been hovering in the mid to high 40s which almost seems warm compared to the freezing temps at night. But our over night low last night was 41° with the rain so that was good. Sun just came out now today at 3 p.m., has been cloudy until then. Yes, a cold, cold spring for many of us. Stay well!

Tracy said...

Hope you get your rain too! It's been unseasonably dry here in NE England (UK) and in fact today I need to go and water everything which takes AGES but a girls gotta do what she's gotta do right?
I keep talking about making something with dandelions and still haven't - I'll be kicking myself if I don't get to do anything this year.
Take care and stay safe.
The lockdown is being eased a little here though we are ignoring that and staying in, which to be fair, I much prefer anyway!

Mama Pea said...

Tracy Chadfield - Despite the still cold weather, our dandelions are popping out like mad and we saw one of our honey bees this morning laden with pollen (might be from the pussy willows, too) so that's a good thing.

I think when we have a homestead/smallholding type life, it's quite easy to stay busy and happy at home. Your place is absolutely thriving as shown by your pictures. Stay happy and healthy!

wisps of words said...

May 17th...

Thank you for your comment on our awful wind and T-storm. We and family, are all safe, and that's what really counts.
💨💦 💨💦 💨💦

Mama Pea said...

wisps of words - Were you able to take any pictures during or after?

The Happy Whisk said...

lol on the rain dance.