Might you have thought that
Winter's woe was past;
So fair the sky was and so soft the air."
- William Morris
February was a very warm and pleasant month albiet a bit short of necessary rainfall for all the emerging plants. In the orchard my white-fleshed peach , nectarine and asian pears are blooming.
I added a pollinator blueberry and a dwarf fig to the vegetable garden. Also planted a tomato, green pepper and green leaf lettuce. I sowed okra and cantaloupe seeds as well. Sowed the Hibiscus and Hyacinth Bean seeds I purchased at Monticello. A freeze is predicted for this week so I have the row covers standing by.
'Little Miss Figgy ' dwarf fig.
The weather has been so delightful I was able to create my second rockery, a chore indeed. Planting was the easy part but hauling in all the topsoil to create it was not.
Planted primulas, phlox, bergenia, pinks and sandwort in my newly formed berm of topsoil mixed with compost and manure. This berm's main function was to stop the overflow of rainwater from my uphill neighbor.
I had my heart set on a Fuji apple tree which needs a pollinator so I had to find room for two trees. I couldn't find one so I ordered a special grafted apple tree that has 3 different apples -Fuji, golden delicious and early summer red so it pollinates itself . It will arrive in mid-March.
I love the many daffodils that are showing their cheery heads around town and plan to plant a lot more this Fall. I see many are naturalizing in the woodlands as well.
February was a very busy and productive month in the garden. I re-seeded my lawn and it emerged in 5 days ! Grass takes consistently warm temperatures to sprout and my timing was perfect. An accident I'm sure but glad it worked out.
Farewell February, hope March will try to best you.
