Happy Easter Eggs

The Easter Bunny didn't come to our house this year, but the chickens make sure we have "easter eggs" every day! What an array of natural colors ...

Spring is on the way!

New lettuces and tatsoi have germinated and sprouted. Arugula is showing reluctance. No sign of sugar snap peas. I planted a second row just in case. Mustard is bolting, but kales and collards are still delicious and we continue to enjoy the fall-planted salad greens. We'll be cutting some broccoli this week. Big bumblebees are bobbing in and out of the fava bean blossoms. 60 degrees today and rain expected overnight. Life is good in the garden!

Feels Like Spring

The nesting boxes are full

The Bush Cherries are in bloom

Green Anole enjoying the sun midst the cherry blossoms

Broccoli bouquet

Fava Beans are blooming

76 Degree Day Demands Outdoor Activity

The weekend has arrived, and with it, some gorgeous spring weather. Yesterday, we enjoyed temps in the mid-60's. Today, my outdoor thermometer reads 76 degrees! The sun is shining and the sky is blue. It would be a shame to waste such a pleasant time indoors.  Yesterday and today I spent a lot of time in the garden.

Of course, there are always chicken chores. Yesterday, I filled the waterers, checked the feed, and collected eggs. The little red hens are laying impressive eggs. We collected one the other day that weighed 3.25-ounces. Compare that to the typical 2-ounce Dominique egg. The difference is significant!

Satisfied that the chickens were cared for and content, I headed into the garden. First, the bolting and faded winter greens had to be removed. I weeded the beds and fluffed the soil as I moved from bed to bed. Then I planted seeds into that good soil and watered them in. Now we wait for Mother Nature to do her magic.  Here's what's newly in the ground:

• 10' row of Sugar Ann snap peas
• 10' row of Tatsoi, an Asian green
• 8' row of Waldmann's dark green lettuce
• 8' row of Black-seeded Simpson lettuce
• Filled half of one square bed with Classic Mesclun Mix
• Tore out the bolting Arugula and planted more in its place

The chickens enjoyed the arugula feast!

Miscellania

Andrew reports that the seedlings are doing well in their temporary greenhouse home. Everything has sprouted ...  except for the pepper plants. They are late to germinate.

We heard yapping of coyotes in the middle of last night. That is a creepy, surreal sound. They seemed to be right outside the hen house. Rouse said, "It's a good thing I remembered to close the chickens up tonight." This morning, I found the chickens roaming about the greater yard. What?! Turns out the coop was closed, but one of the gates to the "safe zone" had been left ajar. No fatalities. We are lucky.

A cold wind is blowing tonight. Winter is reluctant to give up its hold. But temps are expected to be in the 70's by Saturday! Hard to believe. Better get my peas planted.

Third Hen Lost This Year

We lost one of our Dominiques to hawk attack this afternoon. This time Rouse the Spouse got a positive ID on the perpetrator. It was the Cooper's Hawk. The birds of prey have been rough on the flock this winter.