Thread: In the Garden 2016

I live in a neighborhood too , so not going to happen but my daughter lives in the country and has all the honey we could want, but if I could I would too, Tc

I never thought the BeeKeeping would happen up here with the wife

But we were at Big R the other day and as I walked out the door I found her looking at the Bee Kits in the entryway, reading the whole thing..
I didn't want to get to pushy so I just looked mildly interested hehehe

The first garden I put in years ago at my first place here in the city of Walla Walla had plenty of pollination as the neighbor had a colony living in an old unused chimney.

Every once in awhile the main colony would put out a swarm that would gather on nearby shrubs. We'd just call a local bee keeper and he'd come and collect them.

There's a colony somewhere near the Boars Nest as once things start to bloom they are busy as bees.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I never thought the BeeKeeping would happen up here with the wife

But we were at Big R the other day and as I walked out the door I found her looking at the Bee Kits in the entryway, reading the whole thing..
I didn't want to get to pushy so I just looked mildly interested hehehe

When my daughter started doing this she was concerned but their pretty tame, she doesn't wear any protection except the hood most times , now if she's allergic it might be a concern and always have an epi pen around, it's a little bit of work but not bad,mand the payoff is super sweet!!! Tc

I read there is a problem with the bees these days. As we know they are a must have. Doing our part for bee friendly home and garden. I have a bird bath that the bees dominate in the summer. Their numbers have been increasing the last three years. Hope that's a good sign. There were like 100 at a time all day last year. On watching them I see four main corridors (almost on compass) they come and go on. Got a couple Mason Bee houses and butterfly houses (teardrop shape on fence) around the garden that should be seasoned for occupancy this year.

There's been a lot of talk about bees up here. Everybody is recommending planting flowering plants that flower at different stages in the warm months. This way the bees have food for longer than a few weeks.

The seeds are in the pots under a grow light. Tomato, jalapenos, a small sweet pepper, cherry tomato. Will plant radish and cuke seed outside soon.

We have various seeds sprouting indoors this past week. I will try to get a picture in the next couple of days.
This weekend we plan to add more dirt to our three, 3' x 3' raised beds.

Lettuce and spinach sprouting in the front center. Peas are on the right in back row.

Wooohooo

58° and sunny on "Garden Day"
Getting the garden soil all turned in today,
Seeds started out in the Mini Green house
Out on the tractor gathering up all the winter deadfall wood for a burn pile

Seems like my plan is coming together, the tilling is going slow right now, I have the first pass ATG about done one more pass WTG as soon as I can feel my hands again should have it ready to go for the year...
The straw is slowing the tiller down of course but I seem to be getting it all mixed in pretty good, between the Manure, Leaves, Charcoal, and Compost all mixed in over the winter I should have a good healthy soil mix...

It would be even healthier without the tiller. I am a no-till advocate as you can tell.