Spring in the Garden!
There never seems to be enough time to get everything accomplished when getting the garden ready for planting season. To-do lists grow as quickly as weeds; when you think you are ahead of the game, a week full of rainy days can wash those feelings away. Though big plans may be placed on hold, dreary days allow for more planning and time to work on those not-so-fun tasks such as cleaning and sharpening tools, organizing the potting shed, and cleaning the greenhouse. They also give me a chance to upload some photos of the Inn at Honey Run Garden so far. Below are a few images of what is growing!
Purple Passion Asparagus: I planted Purple Passion and Jersey Knight Asparagus two years ago. This delicious vegetable takes some time before you can harvest its spears. Recently, I took the first bundle to Tarragon to use with their pan-roasted half chicken.
Red Russian Kale: This Red Russian Kale’s original purpose was to be part of an early spring floral display around the Inn. After a change in plans, it was planted into a few raised beds for future use in Tarragon.
Spring Pea: Spring Pea likes the cool temperatures this time of year offers and will begin to grow rapidly within the next few weeks. This variety will climb almost three feet which is why it is trellised using cattle panels.
Candy Onions: These Candy Onions were planted in early April and will be ready mid-summer. I used onion sets instead of seeds for a quicker harvest.
Jonathan Apple: We have three Jonathan Apple trees in the garden. They were started from bare-root plants three years ago and will hopefully bear fruit this fall. Due to the frost we had last week, many of the blooms were damaged by the cold temperatures. Fortunately, new buds are popping every day!
Garden Helper: Vegetables are not the only things growing in the garden. We have three nestlings in a bluebird box stationed by the grape trellis with two very devoted parents. Whenever I pass the nest, the two adult bluebirds are either nearby watching or flying in with a mouth full of insects for their young.
– Jordan M. Calame, Horticulturalist at The Inn at Honey Run
Love your refreshing enthusiasm, Jordan. And may I say with some experience that there is no better apple than Jonathan for an old fashioned apple pie.