In the Garden, Talking 'bout the garden.... #4

This week I wasn't feeling the best. Thankfully mother earth doesn't require my daily participation in order to do what she needs to do.  While I was out of commission many beautiful things continued to happen in my garden. 

On Monday I noticed that something in one of my hanging baskets is coming back.  While I'm not positive of what it is, I think it might be orange & pink lantanta.  Tuesday while retrieving my mail, I observed several things just starting to bloom - candy tuft, pink phlox and my beloved bearded irises.  Everyday, they've offered a little more to my landscape and I am delighted!

Wednesday I noticed a significant increase in my garden with several sprouts of spinach, arugula, beets, carrots and turnips on display.  I came to the conclusion that my cauliflower seeds must have been too old as nothing has happened in that area.  The peas are struggling a bit with some sprouting while others have been completely plucked from the ground.  The grapes and strawberries are looking great and at some point soon will need protection from squirrels and birds.

On Thursday morning I went out hoping to get a picture of the baby birds born in the nest above my porch.  Instead, I witnessed a rabbit sprinting for her life with Queen hot on her trail.  Luckily for the rabbit, she had about a 1 - 2 second lead on Queen and was able to dash through a hole in the fence.  I believe it's the same rabbit who birthed her babies in my liriope last year. I'm wondering now if there are little bunnies hiding somewhere in the yard. 
 

Friday, a single tulip (that I just planted five days ago) bloomed.  What a surprise! It is absolutely gorgeous and now I feel the need to plant multiple bulbs in the fall for 2013.  Tulips might be my new obsession!!

Today (Saturday) I got off to a slow but early start.   I put together a fruit salad before heading to a meeting on Urban Renewal at Woodville Elementary School.  Since my mom attended Woodville, it was very cool being there this morning. The dialog was rich and very interesting.  Consequently, I  stayed later than anticipated. 

Realizing I was 15 minutes behind schedule, I literally ran to my car (also partly due to the rain) and sped over to the North Avenue library for the final free garden class offered in conjunction with Richmond Grows Gardens and Duron Chavis aka Brother Manifest of Happily Natural Day.   I was totally ecstatic to find Vanessa Nixon maker of Taste of the Caribbean hot sauce & other delicious condiments in the audience! She offered me great advice when I first started my garden and has been extremely supportive ever since. 

Ras Kofi Da Farmah from HABESHA, Inc (Atlanta, GA) graciously spoke with the class about a variety of subjects related to growing and eating healthy food.  His main points for growing food were to survey the sun, feed/nurture the soil and water properly.  He also talked about paying attention to the moon in order to determine optimal planting times.  I have a few Atlanta trips on my schedule this spring and hope that I can find my way over to HABESHA to see their farm in person.  I was so inspired by what Ras Kofi shared with us and also loved that he and his fiance worked as a team.  In the midst of any journey, it's always better with the support of those you love.

As I type this blog entry, I'm sitting in my grandmother's room.  She's sleeping peacefully in the chair beside me.  Since her bed is available, I think I'll follow her lead and take a nap. 

For more information, please visit the following links:

RICHMOND GROWS GARDENS
http://www.richmondgov.com/CommunityGarden/index.aspx

HAPPILY NATURAL DAY
http://happilynaturalday.com/

TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Taste-of-the-Caribbean-fresh-herbs-hot-sauce-condiments/146842845396902?ref=ts

HABESHA INC
http://www.habeshainc.org/

RAS KOFI DA FARMAH
http://www.ondafarm.com/#