The Straw, put it on...take it off...put it on...take it off

The last thing that gets done in Nov., and one of the first projects of early spring. The straw! It's an endless job. We cover our iris beds every year with about 200 bales. Many of our plants are moved, divided or new stock purchased etc. every year. Winter mulching will help ensure their survival. Established beds in your garden shouldn't NEED winter mulch, but if you can, why not then? The fall of 2005, I decided not to mulch about 1/2 acre of iris, of course, no snow accumulatd there, lost about every one. Lesson learned. If you would like some early spring exercise, bring your rake or pitchfork to Earthworks Gardens. No annual fee to join this work-out center.

The new "farm equipment."

Hmmmm. No I am not going to blend soil with it! This is a 20 quart mixer I plan to mix all kinds of tasy breads in for you! I already ground one gear out of my largest home unit, the Hobart Pro 6 quart, but lucky for me my grease monkey son was able to replace the gear. I am anxious to get this 225# mixer in my kitchen and put it in production. I have some of my recipes listed at my baking blog, but not all....a girl has to keep some secret! The mixer I used for 4 years when I ran a bakery in Rochester was 6 ft. tall, so even this monster is small to me! Plan on stopping by the Mankato Farmer's Market and trying out our bakery line, only 5+ weeks away, starts May 7th!

One day soon, it will warm up!

Spring blossoms are the best! I love tulips & lilacs & apple blossoms. Tulips are about the only plant that I can say for sure the 'nightly deer herd' has eaten. Last year was my first for tulips in the field, and they got about 1/2 of them. Most of my tulips bloomed too early for me to use in bouquets. If that's the case this year, they will get plowed under, space is precious, flowers can't just be there looking pretty, they must be of use. =( Rabbits are also lovers of tulips. If you have them planted close to the house, they will be one of the first green things growing (because of the sheltered location), of course they want to eat them! Plant your next tulip garden away from the house, so it starts later, when other things are green. Tulips should be fall planted only. Do not buy tulips at the store from the close-out rack, left over from last fall. They will not have had a cold dormant period, and will not grow for more than 1 season, if that! Planting dish gardens of bulbs or Easter lilies outside can be tricky. Often unsuccessful. These bulbs are 'forced' through human means to bloom at a certain time, under artificial conditions. Typically, it zaps so much energy from the bulb that they will never bloom again. You can try, and I know there are successes out there, but not usually. First flower gardening class started last night. Still time to sign up for the rest of the classes. Growing berries & fruit trees is Thursday night. Check out the link on the right hand column.