05-19-2016 back to the 60s!

Not the years, even though they were great ones for me and some others, but the 60s temperature wise. I do not recall having a whole week of such low temps so late in the year (I know, I know! Some will tell you that those who do remember the 60s did not really live them!)

No complaint on my part; I'd rather take this cool weather than an early hot/muggy spring any time. Next week will be a shock.
Interestingly enough, heat loving plants like tomatoes, eggplants and cucumbers seem to thrive in that cool, light rain Oregon weather.

I almost forgot that I have been eating home grown strawberries while my wife enjoyed the sugar peas:

Right now, things are going well, I am almost caught up with my spring weeding (No illusion here; you're never totally done with weeding but , at least, I can see my vegetables which I consider a good sign!)

After spending so many hours bending up and down, trying to ignore my knees screaming at me for excess wear/tear/pain, I am slowly focusing on the need to start some raised beds, something about 3 to 4 feet high that will allow me to keep taking care of my plants when my knees and my back get in full rebellion. Since my garden is in the front yard, I cannot just settle for cinder blocks out of respect for my neighbors.
 I have seen some models on line that have not fully convinced me. I have my own prototype rushing through my head at the most inopportune moments but I'll need to get a fully harvested bed before I can experiment, try the first one and see how it works out before getting full scale.

For the last two weeks I now have some new bees again, two hives that are acclimating to their new place, rain and cold but they seem to do fine for now. Not a good day to take a picture of them so here is an old one:

04-07-2016 Hot/cold!

I take advantage of the last clouds rolling in to catch up on my blog.

We've had some hot days, some great days and, 24 hours ago some frost that cause some, mainly esthetic, damage on my figs, bananas, canna lilies and pineapple sage.

Of this beautiful promise, only black leaves and fruit are now left. Heartbreaking but survivable!

This one, closer to the house and, therefore, better protected suffered absolutely no damage. They are about 20' apart.

We have one more frost to worry about and the should be out of danger and start planting warmer weather crops like my bush beans. I'll wait another couple of weeks before moving out my tomatoes, cukes and other melons.

Foxglove.

Who knew a simple onion could produce such a pretty and elaborate flower?

The last of my "alien" flowers a.k.a. epimedium or fairy wings.

Calanthe hardy orchid.

03-20-2016 First day of spring!

I figured today would be the perfect time to get us some fresh pictures to celebrate spring.

Well, it may be spring on the calendar but our usual weather roller coaster is diving again and it feels more like winter out here with a bare 40°, heavy clouds and no trace of the sun to be seen.

Fortunately, my plants are tougher than I am and don't let minor details get in their way. Here they are:

This one was taken  earlier as you can tell by the blue sky. I couldn't wrap up my post w/o a little sun.

03-14-2016 Spring?????

The last few days have been perfect to spend time outside, including eating dinner on the terrace without feeding the mosquitoes...yet.

Once I cleaned up the weeds and trimmed some items gone wild, the garden changed from day to day. Within less than a week it went from the drab winter look to the ever changing spring excitement.

As my roses, magnolia and blackberries are leafing out, the neighborhood is disappearing fast.

01-10-2016 The odd winter!

I usually do not post anything at this time of year since we're normally dealing with some frozen plants or others under the protection of row covers. Nothing sexy!
 

This year is a little different: my quince has been in bloom for a month already, instead of waiting till February and, yesterday, I discovered my April/May blooming honeysuckle in early bloom.

What this will all mean for our spring crops is now totally in the open.

10-18-2015 The last hurrah!

While we usually get a couple of miserable, rainy days during the fair, this year we're dealing with early serious cold, possibly going to frost by morning.

That's about two weeks earlier than normal.

Based on El Niño's location West of California, we can expect a wetter and colder winter. I just hope it's not any colder than last winter!

On the bad news front, my bees have been under constant attack for the last three days by other starving bees intent on robbing them. By the time I could finally open my hive safely, half of its vibrant population had perished and their food storage still plentiful just two weeks ago was all gone.
The inside looked like total devastation. I did some cleanup and restarted feeding but their chance of winter survival will have to be miraculous. Sad! they looked so good just a few days ago...before the invasion.

Tomatoes did not survive the 12 day rain but the rest of the garden is very happy after several weeks of drought. I still have some peppers and eggplants and that's it for summer crops! On the winter front, I lost some lettuce to the excessive heat earlier this month but the next batch is on its way and the winter crops look pretty good at this point in time.

Here are a few pictures of plants that will soon freeze. last chance, for a while to see nice, colorful blooms!

Wild bee! I am lucky to have lots of different kinds around. I have no idea where they lodge but am happy to see them.

The only banana flower this year! bananas don't like drought.