Gardening

Signs of Spring at Lost Valley Gardens

By ⋅ February 27, 2007 ⋅ Email This Post Email This Post ⋅ Print This Post Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

We had a high of 89 degrees yesterday, and just a few short weeks ago we were covered with ice. The transition to spring has been swift this year. I look forward to spring, but I also dread it because I know what will follow – a very long, hot, dry summer. According to Jim Spencer on KXAN, our long range forcast for this spring is warmer than normal, and drier than normal. So I am bracing for the worst by installing more drip irrigation, and stocking up on plenty of mulch.

I took a few pictures of the raised bed gardens on the south side of our yard which show how well the cold hardy plants are doing, the emergence of voluntary annuals and the re-emergence of perennial flowers and herbs.

Herbs in Raised Beds

Rosemary, Maximillion Sunflowers, Parsley, Thyme, Plains Coreopsis, Lindheimer Daisy

Herbs in Raised Beds

Korean Licorice Mint, Calendula, Lemon Balm, Yarrow, Valerian, Rudbeckia, Coreopsis

Herbs in Raised Beds

Collards, Kale, Swiss Chard

Herbs in Raised Beds

Spinach, Rudbeckia, Chinese Cabbage, Kale, Broccoli

Herbs in Raised Beds

Bees on Broccoli Blooms

I have lots of seedlings potted up in the greenhouse. Pictures to follow soon.

Carol

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Discussion

  1. We sure do get hot fast! Haven’t even put the gloves away yet and we’re in shorts.
    Carol, I notice that you have a lot of herbs, but don’t see that one Tagetes variety called Mexican Mint Marigold, the one sold as a substitute for Tarragon. Mine made it through other winters, but looks dead now. Have you had any experience with it?

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

    Posted by Annie in Austin | February 27, 2007, 5:01 pm

  2. Hi Annie,
    Yes. I grow that plant – tagetes lucida. I have some information on it on my plant catalog page – http://lifeisanongoingprocess.com/plantcat.html (scroll down about two thirds of the page to get to that plant).

    I have one that has survived the past six winters, and it is just now starting to send up new shoots. I also started several from seed last spring and planted them in the fall. I don’t know yet if those survived or not (only my mature ones are sprouting so far). If yours did not survive, I would attribute it possibly to lack of water during the winter. They are pretty hardy here, and should survive as long as they don’t get bone dry either in summer or winter. I had one die for that reason several years ago – let it get too dry in the summer.

    Take care,
    Carol

    Posted by carol | February 27, 2007, 6:15 pm

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