Flowering/New Leaves Time 2026

Apple blossoms

Spring moves forward with the end of Flowering and New Leaves Time. Isn't it amazing how quickly the leaves grow from tiny, pale and fragile things to full size and darkening green?

We've had some lovely flowers this month.

Early Clematis

This is the earliest of our three Clematis vines. From this point, it has gone on to be covered with blooms.

Not to be outdone, our woods have also put on quite a display.

Forget Me Nots

White Form Forget Me Nots

Jack in the Pulpit

A new Trillium!

Wild Geranium

It has been a challenging month for us. The weather continues to be primarily cold and wet. We are still having many nights in the 40 degree range so the weather has been a struggle. The upcoming week appears to be improving.

Personally, both Bob and I are dealing with health issues which are greatly affecting our endurance. 

Bob is being treated for digestive issues which are causing fatigue as well as discomfort.

I mentioned in the last update that I was dealing with a sore back. Further testing revealed that I suffered a spinal compression fracture. No surgery is needed, just time to heal. I'm currently very limited in what I can do. No walks or yoga and I miss them both. There's only so much pain management that can be done. I find the best approach is to lie flat on my back and rest two or three times a day.

With both of us ailing, it has been difficult keeping the house clean and preparing the garden for the season.

Early planting

We finally got the cool weather crops planted.

Bob and friend planting

Bob's learning how to plant the starts. The cat is on hand to offer guidance. Bob has never actually done the planting. He has always been busy with other tasks. This is the year to learn.

We plan to plant the warm weather plants today and tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will stay more seasonal from now on.

Last month I mentioned the new strawberry bed. It's all done now. Here's the foundation.

Strawberry bed foundation

 

I helped a little by setting bricks in place.

Setting bricks in place

 
Then I showed Bob how to plant the strawberries. He did all of the center plants to save me the reaching.

Planting the berries

All of the materials used for this project were repurposed from other projects around the place.

Bob has done quite a bit of work on his mushroom garden.

He brought the inoculated logs out of the cellar and buried them in the soil/woodchip bed. (Inoculated with Chicken of the Woods spawn.)

Inoculated log segment

Setting them in place.

Placing the log segment

Finished placement.

All in place

After they were all buried, he got some free wood chips from Ithaca to place around the logs.

Gathering wood chips

This is how urbanites and suburbanites transport the woodchips.

Loaded up

Since we sold the van and trailer last year, we have joined their ranks.

Shiitake logs fruiting

Last year's Shiitake logs have given us over two pounds of mushrooms. We thought the logs were all spent.

A nice harvest

 Most of these have gone into the freezer.

Because of our health, we haven't done much to get away this month (not counting doctor's visits). However, we did go to a free concert near Ithaca.

Young Artists Concert

This group of young musicians was very good, and the female vocalist was phenomenal!

Of course, we had to go to the big book sale in Ithaca. (Just loaded up on the pain meds!)

Early visit

We went the first weekend and got four books.

The larger haul

Then we went again on Senior's Day when the prices are much lower. That time we got 14 books, 17 CDs and four DVDs.

I focused on CDs of original cast recordings of Broadway musicals. I grew up listening to these, borrowed from the public library. They are like old friends to me, and at fifty cents each, who could resist. While I am lying flat on my back, I have been reading. So far, I have finished six books. It's a good thing we got new ones at the sale.

We certainly hope to have better weather and be in better health by the next update.

We hope that your season is less problematic than ours has been. 

Enjoy and we'll be in touch next time,

Kathleen and Bob

Bouquet of fresh herbs