A Little early Gardening...

 "What you plant now, you will harvest later..."
                                                  -Og Mandino (1923-1996)
 Spencer is too big for the plant pot. Once it's full of begonias he won't be able to sit in it.  But for now the hummingbirds can scold him from up above.

 In the greenhouse, I've been gathering lettuce plants, broccoli and cabbage. And a few flats of geraniums, etc. Just can't help myself! When I walk by all those displays of green growing things in the store.......

 Snow is still in the mountains. Grey and sticky down below. Wet and  boggy. Perfect spring weather for here in Campbell River.

 I soaked sweet pea seeds for a few hours. Good not to do it beyond 8 hours. Just enough to get them  going. I split up the Climbing Sweet Peas and the Knee-Hi Sweet peas. Time to get them in the boxes, or the ground.

 "Yes, I am a CAT person. NO I am NOT socially awkward or lonely. And NO , you are not invited to the cat's birthday party....."- Yesbutno.com

 When I'm working outside, the neighbouring cats tend to come and hang out. Spencer likes one pot or the other to tuck himself into, while I'm fussing with seeds.  And the hummer is ever vigilant. As is the mud and rain and wind. Gardening on North Vancouver Island is  all of these at this time of year.

 First bloom of the season. Evergreen Clematis. Inside the greenhouse.  It is very very late. About six weeks later than usual. My greenhouse is starting to get stuffed once more, with  finds. The scent, once the vines fill out, will be incredible. Like an expensive perfume.

 Early planting: Lily of the Valley. Blooms in partial shade. This is the flower that was used in Kate Middleton's wedding bouquet.  The plant is deer resistant. It started to show blossoms inside its box. I'm worried that since it has already begun to bloom that it make have a harder time in the soil.  I found a nice section and plopped in about  9 tubers. If they survive, and they should, hoping they will spread.

  Rufous Hummer keeps  teetering on his branch. The whole time I'm out stuffing seeds into the ground.

 "Look around for a place to sow a few seeds..." 
                                                     -Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

 While Spencer snoozes in his pot of dirt.....

 "The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never goes away...." -Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) ( horticulturalist)

 2017 photographs M.McConachie Woods

Spring. Six weeks early.....

 Six weeks early. The Evergreen Clematis, in the greenhouse,  is blooming. Usually it blooms in April. The East Coast of Canada is deep in snow. But here on on the west coast we are suddenly finding ourselves head over heels into spring. It's coming fast and furious, whether we are ready or not.

 Clematis is from the Ranunculaceae  ( buttercup) family.  A greek word that means " vine". No kidding. SO much vine, that it hasn't stopped growing, I think, all winter. Well, winter for us.

 There are about 250 species. Some are evergreen. Like this one. As you can see, Smokey was very impressed with the vines growing all over the greenhouse. He stood guard while I rifled within the innards, hauling out things like the rusted out chair I love so much. One leg missing. It has character.

 Looks right at home again, tied to its tree. Cordelia was hiding behind the fence. She was not too impressed with the Garden Guys cutting, pruning, chopping, weeding.  But the results were great.The garden is ready. The dirt is loamy and warm during the day. Cool at night.

 Clematis are very tough. Kind of like stewing hens. Clematis can survive for over 25 years. I keep two evergreen ones in the  greenhouse. They are about 4 years old. It's said they are difficult to grow.....

  I don't really do anything to help then survive. Just water. Some fertilizer. Some pruning when they need it.

                                     And they grow pods every spring. Like aliens ready to pop.

                                         Pods that fail to impress Spencer.  He just stares.The cats from the hill are around more these days. These warmer Spring like days.

        At the same time, just outside the greenhouse, the bleeding heart is starting. Also 6 weeks early.

       And the sunsets are warming up. Cordelia, from the hill, sits on her fence and watches the sun going down. Or maybe it's Spencer and Smokey that she's watching.
                      The sky changes from  butter coloured clouds to orange zest. It feels wonderful.
        Like a sundae melting with hot fudge dripping down the sides of the glass.
"It is spring again. The earth is like  a child that knows poems by heart. "(Rainer Maria Rilke)