As the sun sets and the clouds shine pink here in Lake Cowichan, we sing good-bye to King Winter and welcome Lady Spring. Mrs. Thaw is sweeping all the snow away. King Winter is working very hard trying to stay! But pussy willows are out blooming along with the hazel nut catkins. The Balm of Gilead buds we can already take whiffs of…soon to pick. The nettles we continue to eat and had some today in our lasagna. We are tapping the maple for sweet maple water. Each week we add additional seeds to soil in pots, crates, boxes, whatever, we can find. Many herbs, flowers, and vegetable seeds have sprouted and are growing well. Some we have transplanted into larger pots. Crocus and Snowdrop blossoms are shining bright in the garden. Our minor’s lettuce seedlings are waiting to go out into the ground.
With longer daylight our work outdoors has increased. Cleaning the property of broom and unwanted black berry bushes. Planting out the potted pine, fir, and maple trees. The curly willow, and other flowering bushes we have been collecting are out of their pots and into the ground. A new row of raspberry canes with the boysenberry, lingonberry and elderberry bushes have been transplanted outside of the fenced garden. We are hoping that the Elk and Deer will keep away from them. Next year we will move the tayberry out of the garden. Our red and black currant bushes, kiwi, passion fruit, grapes remain in the fenced garden area.