Delivery

HG is going to take some of his tomato plants to his sister.  He likes to plant many different kinds of seeds, and of course ends up with hundreds of seedlings...more than we could ever use.  So, he distributes them, like lovingly raised pets, wherever they will find a good home: family members, neighbors, co-workers.  

HG and his brother planted more than 100 leeks and onions about 2 weeks ago; apparently they are hardier than the tomatoes.  (I meant the plants, but the same applies to my husband and brother-in-law: they are the kind of people who make this country great - kind, generous, loving, stubborn...)  My BIL's garden is more accurately known as a "truck patch."  It covers about 1/4 acre.  The garden in our yard began 29 years ago when we moved into this house.  It started in the southern corner of the yard, probably 12x20 ft, and has increased over the years, spreading like crab grass, until it now occupies the southern half of the yard and is at least 20x60.  This is not counting the containers that dot the sidewalks, porch deck and railing, and the hanging containers which depend from the roof and the deck!

Entry #1

Good morning! I'm the gardener's wife, and because he really is a humble gardener, I'll be logging his progress with his garden this year.  He began weeks ago planting seeds of all kinds, nurturing them along each day after work:  watering, feeding, transplanting, hardening...and now that it's (almost) May they are ready to plant.  The weather has been glorious here in Northeastern PA this spring.  The ground is ready, and so is the humble gardener!  

Yesterday, he planted the first of his tomatoes in a strange-looking contraption called a Topsy-Turvy, in which the plant grows out of the bottom of the device which hangs from - something.  In our case, they are hung from the eaves of our house next to the back porch.  He tried this for the first time last year and was so pleased it's back for an encore.  The flowers planted beneath didn't fare so well: the tomatoes growing down from above completely overshadowed them!  

He's been collecting unwanted boxes from work to place over the tender plants in case of frost.  I'll make sure I get pictures of him covering in the evening, then uncovering before we leave for work in the early morning!

His fruit trees are blooming well, some are grown in containers, and others traditionally in the yard.  He has high hopes for a variety of apple tree planted in September '08 called Liberty.  Some other new varieties for us this year are Sundance, Pixie, and Goldrush.  A pear tree highly anticipated and currently en route from the company is called Collette, an everbearing tree.  I can't imagine how this is possible, sounds like Heaven!!