A Room with a View

We had a little shower of rain today, and it was cloudy all day.  I haven't raised the shades in the west bedrooms for several days, so that the sun would not shine in and fade the quilts on the beds, the carpets, etc.

Today when I raised the shades, I looked out the window to the north and was taken by the view of the flowering shrubs and plants.  Here are a few images.

Fruit and vegetables are progressing nicely.  We've had three meals with asparagus so far, one of them tonight.  It tastes so different when it's only minutes cut to table!  The fruit trees are making fruit, and the blueberry bushes are covered in bloom.  No shortage of work for the new honey bees!

Dwarf blueberry blooming like mad!

The rhubarb is huge!

Sweet and tender asparagus for dinner tonight.

Sweet cherries are filling out.

Rhubarb from one plant.  I'll cook this down in to sauce and then can it tomorrow.

And, to my surprise, a rose is blooming, in April!  This is one that I didn't prune last month when I was working on that project.  Everything is so far ahead....except me!

A very happy and healthy rugosa rose

I've never had a rose bloom in April before!

I managed to get the garden rototilled today, first time over.  I'll do it again, to smooth out the soil, before I plant.  It was time to get that chicken manure worked in.  It had a distinct odor!

The garden before rototilling

and after.....

I'll go over this one more time to even out the soil, before planting.

I'll close with a few photos of our new scarecrow.  Her name is Helen and I think she's just darling!

Spokane Public Radio

This morning I had the privilege to spend an hour with Verne Windham, asking folks to donate to Spokane Public Radio, during their spring pledge drive.

I got off to a bit of a rocky start, but soon found my sea legs, or should I say, pledge drive legs, and soon I was off, babbling as if no one was listening but Verne!

It's great fun and I'm so happy to get to do it again tomorrow morning, from 7 to 10 am.  Tune in and see what I, and my pledge drive partners, have to say, to try and entice you to part with some of your hard earned cash and pledge to SPR.

This is Jennifer.  She is the happiest, most pleasant person to greet folks that walk through the front door!

Her'e s Verne doing radio stuff.....I have no idea how these folks keep all this straight.

Those of us that were guests on the shows had the opportunity to write a statement about why we liked SPR, which will be posted on the website!  

I love this photo of me and Verne!

The number to call is;  328-5729, or 1-800-328-5729 or you can always make that secure, on-line pledge at KPBX.org!  (K, this last paragraph was supposed to be kind of a joke!  Once you get in to the groove, it's hard to step out!!)

birthdays, blossoms, and blooms

It's been SO warm all week.  Everything in the yard has erupted in bloom, or has expired!  The daffodils are all finished, as are most of the tulips.

The wisteria and lilac are competing for "most fragrant".

The fruit trees are bursting and the bees are frantically working to gather as much pollen as they can possibly squeeze in.

And, today is not only the Queen's 90th birthday, but it's my birthday as well!

It's been a super good day.  Aging is a privilege!

Lawn Boy

The weather has turned warm again.  We took advantage of a beautiful afternoon and spent some time on the yard.  My lawn boy showed up with his great big truck!  He used up some of the left over fertilizer from spring seeding and applied it to the lawn!

I was able to spend some time picking up the piles of rose trimmings, and did a few other tasks to tidy up the yard.  It was a good day.

We also brought out the picnic table and benches, the star gazing chairs, and the frog water feature.  Kinda feels like summer!

Mother Nature rewarded us with a spectacular evening, which we took advantage of on the porch with a glass of wine and a very relaxed cat and dog!

Spring is busting out!

We had a full week of mid to upper 70 degree weather.  So pretty out, but much too warm for this time of the year.  The plants, including the wheat, is far advanced.  I have been trying to steal an hour here and there to work in the yard.  Here's what I have been looking at as I go about the usual spring chores.  First the orchard.....

The sweet cherry trees just exploded in bloom a couple days ago.

Just look at how thick the clusters of blossoms are.

My sad little peach tree.  One branch at a time has been dying over the years.

But the branch that remains is blooming with all it's might!

Peach blossoms are the most beautiful color, especially against the blue sky.

Even the plum tree is blooming.  It has a much more delicate blossom than the other trees in the orcahrd.  

The pear trees are also beginning.  They have a more globular blossom.

And the apple trees are showing color too.  This is very early.   

And now the yard.....

Grape hyacinths are the prettiest week in my yard!

I love the way the sun was shining through this foliage.  

Bleeding heart.

The lilac is almost ready to bloom.  This is a full month ahead of schedule.  

Fern leaf peony showing loads of color.

And only one thing in the garden so far.......

I planted garlic the end of February and it is growing vigorously.  

And finally, the beautiful field of wheat, right outside our front door!!

The wheat is now as tall as the top of Baxter's head.  When he goes out in to the field, he has to jump to see over the top!