To The Surbiton Manor Born

Steepmeadow is changing. Spring has, I think we can say with some measure of certitude, sprung.  We were shocked this week to see the fritillaria that we thought had been devoured by squirrels last fall immediately after we panted them spring from the mulch around the lamppost in the front yard. Tiny little delicate and amazing things these are. We had a nasty, nasty cold snap last week. We had to concentrate on hardscape. One thing that's worried me is that our garbage cans were basically on display on a concrete slab at the side of our garage. The slab was pretty obviously poured there for the purpose. However, in perusing the city rules concerning front yard gardening restrictions (there aren't too many) and solar panel installation restrictions (there aren't any), I did discover that your garbage cans need to be hidden from sight. With the city inspectors likely to be nosing around soon to inspect the solar panel installation, I figured we'd want to be in compliance

It's April 21. That's roughly a month before we will be able to plant peppers and tomatoes (the majority of the greenhouse residents) outside. I'd deluded myself into thinking that this might be moved up this year, but Minnesota weather being what it is (little white flakes of snow are sifting down from the sky as I write), there's been a change of plans.  Fortunately or unfortunately, I planted a lot of things early. It's fortunate, because the plants will be bigger, stronger, and closer to harvest when we do  put them out. It's unfortunate, because we ran out of space in Greenhouse 1, and had to purchase another one. It was the work of an hour or so to spread out the grow lights, run the wiring, and assemble the new one. It will probably take a while to transplant the 140 plants that need it from their little 10 square seedling trays into 3" pots this weekend.  Meanwhile, my home office is beginning to look a little bit like Dr. Harrison Chase's mansi

  At least we hope it is the final one. It's a little cruel. Last week, while it started cold, warmed up toward the end, and by yesterday (Saturday) it was comfortable to go for a nice 15 mile run. I even contracted a little bit of sunburn on my neck. But little else could be done on the garden, because the forecast grew more ominous as the week progressed. Thus, I was condemned to only buying gardening supplies, and not putting them to use. Instead, I engaged in the necessary, but totally unpleasant, task of trying to fill asphalt driveway cracks with some horrible latex fluid. It's unpleasant, because it is really too late. After some reaearch, I discovered that we have what is known in the parlance of those who know asphalt as "alligator" cracks. This is something that can only be resolved by digging up the asphalt, fixing the underlayment, and re-paving. For those who don't have, oh, say $4K laying around for this type of project, there are ways to hedge it. T

  We were spoiled by the early spring warm-snap. April is the cruelest time, it is said. It is also said that sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you. Well, this morning we can definitely feel the icy claws of winter failing to let go. It is a balmy 58 degrees (according to my thermometer) where my feet sit under my desk on the concrete slab. (I turned out the space heater I keep there.) The arugula, spinach, and kale are supposedly cold-hardy. They are under the uber-cloche. I believe they'll make it. The thus-far un-germinated beets and carrots and peas...I'm a little less optimistic about. The carrots are under a cloth, which is now under snow, but the beats & peas are exposed. That said, they were just seeds, and it is early, and they can be replaced if the worst comes to pass.  It is a setback.  On the positive side, the soil temperature in the raised beds was up to 50 degrees over the weekend, and as I prepared the beds by raking last fall's shredd

  When I have a four day weekend, and I'm on a mission, a lot tends to get done. The biggest news is that we signed the contract to install a solar power system on our roof that will produce 120% of our electricity. The mechanics of it are a bit tedious, but we are doing it for zero down and will be getting tax credits that will allow us to make some nice improvements on Surbiton Manor. We also installed our first rain barrel, and, with rain predicted tonight, we'll soon know how it works.  It appears that we are going to get an early spring. We have not had a hard freeze in a while. Today topped out at 80 degrees. While the ten day forecast does show things cooling off, the coldest night is 39 degrees.  We started planting in the ground. Early, cold-resistant plants that are now in are: Carrots Kale Rocket (Arugula) Spinach Snap peas We've marked off the beds into 1' squares in anticipation of the arrival of our bare root strawberries. No berries until next year, but t

What a lovely day! Minnesota does not usually experience upper 70s this early in April. This is even hard to come by in May. Come to think of it...June can be a little chilly too. I will take it. I was greedily adding up how many months of temperate weather we may end up with this year...if this holds then we are talking SIX MONTHS. With two months of not so awful on either side. March was okay by our standards and I am going on the assumption that October will be a similar situation. So EIGHT MONTHS WITHOUT SNOW?! I have ruined it by writing it down. Polar vortex probably heard and is on its way as I type. But if you need some proof that spring is here in Minnesota. Enjoy our crocus population. I planted about 50 corms last fall and by some small stroke of luck, the squirrels didn't find them all. We have two kinds and I could just stare at them all day. But then I might miss the tulips that have just poked their fleshy snouts through the surface. I will be keeping a close eye o