Apple blossoms and hedge stumps

The apple trees continue to blossom despite a late frost on the long weekend.

Meanwhile, we spent more than a week removing stumps from the hedge we cut down. This was a very difficult job.

Good thing the wife is super strong! The last stump we removed with the size of a toddler. I've now smoothed out the ground in the expectation that our fence will arrive this week. 

We've been cleaning out the freezer and I found a pail of raspberries from last year, so I made jam.

The potatoes are up and being hoed back under. We've also got spinach, radishes and lettuce up. And maybe the early carrots. Last weekend, Jess planted two types of bush beans, beets, and zucchini. We also put in the rest of the tomatoes and peppers starts.

Some friends gifted us lots of basil that they'd grown we that went into the sunny bed.

It is encouraging to see the oregano come back so strongly this year after a rough transplant last fall.

We've also got the tulips in bloom. Hopefully we can get out on the river today for a float.

 I still have one bed ready for some seeds. Maybe some more carrots.

Fence prep and irrigation experiments

This weekend, we all spent both days labouring the yard. With temperatures in the mid-20s, it was a great time to work outside.

Our major task was to remove the hedge on the south property line in anticipation of the fencing company arriving Monday morning to start the last stage of the garage renovation project from last year. We'd hoped to have everything done last fall, but construction dragged on until snow fall.

The hedge was alpine currant and ran 60 feet. It was up to six feet thick and five feet high. I started on Wednesday night to prune out sections and managed to spasm something in my back. Fortunately, there were reinforcements available. Saturday, Jenn and Jess removed most of the hedge while I hauled the branches behind the garage to dry out (we'll burn them over the summer).

Everyone was exhausted as the was a huge project. Sunday, I was back in the game and we managed to removed the strangler pieces and chop the stumps back to ground level. This very much opens up the yard!

On Monday, the fencing company arrived and set the metal poles. These will get capped with square white "posts" and the white vinyl panels will then get set in place. Today's torrential rain (with snow tonight!) has pushed that back. There was also some hand waggling about suppliers and availability. Once the new fence is up, we'll be planting raspberries and other fruit bushes on the outside of the fence, which means we need to fiddle about getting the stumps out.

I did some weeding Saturday and the Saskatoons were in full bloom.

I've been experimenting with new watering techniques. This bed is big enough that I can basically water in the valleys with a five-gallon pail filled from the water barrel behind it. I will see if I can find a hose to attach to the barrel, which would be even better.

I've also arrange the eight potatoes beds so they can be watered by bucket. There is a slight slope and a light raised edge to each bed so the water flows into the the low spots and sinks in.

While weeding, I found a $5 bill in the dirt. My assertions that weeding paid, we greeted by hoots of derision and the suggestion atet I'd just found my own $5 that fell out of my pocket last year. Which is probably true. Washed up okay, though. 

I will be short handed this year as Jess goes off to forest ranger camp in High Level for the summer. We've been slowly collecting her gear and do some basic strength and endurance training.

The snow has me a bit worried for the blossoms. Lots of apple trees are flowering. I'm hopeful the temperature does not drop too low.

I plan to put in the rest of the flowers plus some herbs and tomatoes and peppers this coming weekend. And also plant some peanuts and some second sowings of onions, carrots, beets and maybe beans and sunflowers.

Rhubarb, bulbs, bees, and onions

We've been working pretty hard in the yard weeding. It feels like we're starting to get a handling on creeping bell flower as well as the crab grass. I guess we'll see now that we've had some rain and a bit of sun! All of the disruption from the garage build has made its easier to get the roots out as the plants pop up.

The rhubarb came back out front, despite Epcor's best efforts to directional drill it into oblivion. Looks like five plants survived, which is lots.

The bees are also back, having a go at the early bulbs.

The back lawn is still slow growing (but the seed had germinated). We managed to have a fire on the part of the lawn where the grass is okay. Looking forward to getting a proper fire patio installed later this summer.

Around the side, the perennials are coming back, with both wild onion and mint up.

The peas are also coming up in the raised beds. I'm not too sure of the soil quality here but we'll see.

A few weeks back, I finally bought new garden tools from Apache Seeds. Our old collection (some 20 years old) has finally started to fail. Great tools, but the shovel is heavy duty (15 pounds!). Should last a long time.

It rained a fair bit the past few days so I got some time to organize the garage and get some stuff up off the floor. Jess than planted some pansy seeds in the bucket by the door and we put a package of California poppies in our bed at the community league.

 I'm hopeful it will be warm enough that we can put some of our bedding plants in this week.