Opening Day

Months of patience have paid off.  

The day has finally arrived!  Yesterday was "opening day" for planting in the garden.

 Though it is a little later than I would have liked (due to weather situations), I was able to work in the garden all day yesterday.  

Now sown in the ground, awaiting germination, are: sugar peas, three types of radishes, arugula, hull peas, spinach, lettuces, yellow onions, red onions, and a couple of new-to-me vegetables that were freebie seeds when I ordered my flower seeds.

This wasabi radish is new...

as well as this Mizuna.  

Mizuna is a nutrient-dense, Japanese variety of mustard greens that is in the brassica family.  In Japan, it is typically pickled or stir-fried - but the tender young greens can also be eaten raw in salads.

The garden is weeded and ready for future planting.  All of what I planted yesterday are cold-tolerant vegetables that can stand a frost.  The rest of our vegetables will be planted after any potential for frost has passed... sometime in May.

Gardening is never a solitary task. 

 I always have plenty of company.  

Sometimes more than I need... this one tends to like to be right where I am working!

The day was partly sunny and cool... a jacket still necessary.  We walked the horses to the upper pastures at sun-up, 

then I remained outside for several hours doing some flower bed clean-up.  While inspecting my gardens, I came upon the following...

It's so wonderful to once again be enjoying color!

So many little surprises awaited me.

One after the other...

I took a late morning break so that Jack and I could bring the horses back to the barn.  Such good boys - everyone came running when we called... forelocks blowing in the wind.

After brunch (we typically don't eat until much later in the morning) I headed back out to the vegetable garden and got busy planting... as above. 

 After months of rest and rejuvenation, it's time to tackle the Spring chore list.   It's so satisfying to finally be back in the soil again.   There's nothing better than being able to enjoy the fruits of our labor in the months to come.  It's going to be a bountiful summer!

If the weather cooperates, I might try to weed the asparagus patch today.  It won't be long before those tender shoots start to reach for the sun!

I received another surprise... a book that I had ordered arrived yesterday:

Don't worry... I take no chances with mushrooms!  I do love the title, however!