Got a good 2 inches (5cm) of snow last night.



Got a good 2 inches (5cm) of snow last night.



Of course I’ve started basil and cilantro under the lights since I have them on anyway.

And I found some “living stone” cacti at the aquarium shop on Gerrard. Could not believe how much they grew just from watering, so I potted them on today and will stop watering to let them settle in for a bit.
Happy gardening!

Picked it yesterday. Something got to the other two fruit that were ripening. Here I have to pick them before they fully ripen or something else takes a bite out of them.
First attempt at succession planting. Pulled the garlic and it was a major success this year. Nice even damp spring and I kept on top of them for water and fertilizer. Planted Scots kale and Taiwan cabbage today. Fingers crossed.

First tomato

Turns out Dawn is a Don

Garlic is looking amazing this year. Lots of hen manure and pretty regular moisture

Cucumbers are coming along slowly

The culinary herbs on the balcony

Having a week of heat again. Everything is getting ready or has popped.




A week of freakishly warm weather, breaking some daytime records in the high 20s, has everything bursting. Along with a surprise visit from a rabbit, again!




Apple blossoms are starting to show on about a third of the tree. Moving two of them into more sun to see if they come alive with fruit.

Cool but sunny day. 5 feels like zero. At 16:30 it’s 12 degrees on the balcony. Signs of spring everywhere. Lilac buds are swelling, the catskins have shed most of their pollen, daffodil flower buds are showing, snow drops in bloom in paces I didn’t expect.
Moved another peony that has been trying to move out of the shade of the Sycamore by itself. Pruned the two burning bushes (I know) in preparation for my cedar backdrop.
I put up the summer compost basket to let the big one focus on finishing what’s already in it. Gave it a quarter turn. The mass of worms is impressive. And that earthy smell…

And it re-livens me.

Overall a very mild winter. Four snow storms and we were away for two of them. Actually it was a real Maritime winter, grey, rain and mild.

Started first seeds on March 19. Cabbage, basil, sesame, peppers and tomatoes of course (Premio, yellow pear, and big beef). As they say, “see above”. And started cucumber (marketmore), kale, calendula, cannabis, black-eyed Susan’s – for Ken and other pollinators.

Of course I’ve been puttering in the yard. Finally planted the raspberries I bought last year, or the year before. The larger variety had developed significant roots, so a bit of damage in the transplanting process. I can see it’s aggressive in my garden soil. Stay tuned.
So lots of bits. Prepping to move the columnar apples so the first hole meant moved a peony, digging up some ferns, digging out and disposing of day lilies, pruning dead wood on the lilac, elderberry, kiwis. I can’t believe how wonderful it makes me feel. Happy spring.

I was just talking about seeing the first daffodils in yards and almost missed this one just outside the back door. In just a day! Yay, made it through another winter.
The first buds are breaking on the hazelnuts. The catkins are still nice and tight. Started some basil seeds on Jan 5. Just had to start something!
It’s been a very mild and grey winter so far. Temps hovering around 0 with a fair amount of rain and lots of fog. The azaleas are loving it.

