furry catkins

The bees are out and about when the sun warms things up. This tiny little one was collecting pollen in the willow catkins outside my dining room window.

please vote for my cancer research company

Please vote for my company!!

When I'm not in the garden, I work at a start-up biotech company to develop new tests to help breast cancer patients. We have entered a contest, called MassChallenge, because the prize money would be allow us to bring our test to patients sooner. Start-up companies from all over the world enter this contest and the competition is fierce.

Please help us by voting for BIOARRAY.

ANYONE CAN VOTE FOR BIOARRAY. To do so, register with MassChallenge by going to https://masschallenge.org/user/register. Fill out the log-in information and select “Supporter.” You do not have to create a profile. Once you are logged in, go to BIOARRAY’s profile at http://masschallenge.org/content/bioarray-therapeutics. and vote for us by giving us 5 stars. You can also post feedback.

THANKS!!!

cold frame seedlings

I had a zoom lens on my camera, so these photos show only parts of my cold frame. Its filling fast. My dad says the orchids don't belong in a vegetable cold frame. Maybe not, but they seem to be enjoying it. They've suffered from the long dry dark winter inside and my neglect.

spring! finally - flowers in my yard

These are the flowers blooming in my yard this week. I planted 50 of the bright yellow waterlily tulips (top) in my front yard last fall and they're in full bloom now. The bright cerise Batalini tulips (bottom left) are at my community garden plot. I love early tulips! They open in the sun and close when its cloudy. I'm so happy to see them after a long and snowy winter.



I bought a tray full of bright little violas to plat in the big pots in my back yard for a cheerful view from my kitchen window.

Work Day

We had a fantastic spring Work Day at the Belmont Victory Gardens yesterday!

We must have have well over 100 gardeners shown up. All of us ready for garden work after a long winter. Ready to rake, dig and join with our old friends in the beautiful start of another season.

Once again, Bob kept my camera in action and took photos of the event. I love how good he is at photographing smiles.

Things we accomplished:

- The area in front of the new plats was cleared of rocks and debris and leveled so it can be mowed this summer.
- We designed, purchased supplies, and installed corner posts for a new set of staged compost bins.
- Two areas where garden debris has been piled in previous years were cleared to expose the layer of rich compost so gardeners can take it to their gardens.
- Two new plots were added and cleared, one by the meadow, one at the back.
- A big area of debris and dense raspberries was cleared between the plots and the meadow.
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Thanks to all who helped!!

(PS. Here is a slide show of the photos : link)

pea planting

It was a beautiful spring day yesterday. Perfect for planting peas. I cleared off a couple of my garden beds, added a few bags of compost and manure, and then put int 3 wide rows of peas.

sprouts

hellebores under snow cover

We got about 3 inches of snow in our April Fool's Day snow storm. The hellebores and snow drops are covered for now. I think it will melt fast. I'm ready for some warm summer night patio dining soon!