Rick's Garden – Mid-April Sowing Frenzy

It was a fine Spring morning last Saturday at Rick's with a light, crisp cool breeze to keep things lively. My big excitement was to see the Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) – not a great photo – coming up strong through the grass mulch, and in true Mint Family fashion, has spread its roots out and is coming up around his neighbor buddy, Oregano (Origanum vulgare).  We'll see how that goes as things warm up and really get growing...

The Angelica (Angelica archangelica) has tripled in size since my last post. And the Lovage (Levisticum officinale) is coming back strong.

I planted California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) and St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) in this sunny corner with the Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor) and Sorrel (Rumex acetoca). Cross fingers that they love it here.

Rick has Hops (Humulus lupulus) vines growing all along his fence. It makes such a nice place for birds and bugs to explore, while softening the space. Not to mention the lovely bitter and aromatic strobiles. This summer, I'll make a nice bitters formula with them.

Last Fall, Rick cleared out his side yard so I could try to grow Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and Purslane (Portulaca oleracea).  This was an unused area in his backyard, so we have nothing to lose. Crossing more fingers that the seeds will germinate. All of the seeds I planted this day can be sown in the Fall or well ahead of the last frost in the Spring. Many seeds need the cold, freezing weather to germinate. We've had a nice, yet erratic, Spring with the weather shape-shifting by the hour. This one is not going out like a lamb. More like an upset teenager that doesn't want to get up in the morning.

Spring can be a bit frustrating, as I would love to just go crazy with planting. At home on my lanai, I have already put in pansies, watercress, kale, peas, and some daffodils. And sowed some Nettles (Urtica dioica) and Calendula (Calendula officinalis) seeds – some of which are coming up already.  But I can't resist going to the Flower Bin in Longmont to do some planning and take photos to satisfy my need for all things green and growing.