It is in turbulent times like these that I really appreciate gardening as a hobby....

[NRaleighLiberal]

I turn on the laptop to check news, browse DU - and it's like the neighbors or kids or whatever are yelling and screaming and throwing things - or a knock down, drag out family spat - it is depressing, it hurts the head....

Sure, it is escaping - but I just came in from spending 4 hours working with tiny little helpless seedlings, separating them from their crowded germination conditions into nice big (relatively, anyway) 3 inch pots. There is a gentle rain falling....finally, spring is in the air - it has that fresh smell. The cherry trees are blossoming - forsythia, daffodils, quince - just lovely. There's no sound except for birds singing - pileated woodpecker calling, then bluebirds, as they explore the boxes we put up for them....a carolina wren scolds me for "relocating" the nest that they built in an old basket on some corner top shelf in the garage (about half of my chard and lettuce seedlings were mysteriously missing...I caught the wrens red handed!).

We all choose our therapeutic hobbies....for me it's been gardening - for many years now, and many to come, I hope.

Peace, all!

[FloriTexan]

1. I just said the same thing to a co-worker...

I'm at my happiest covered in dirt, even weeds. Meditation is hand-watering the yard (perhaps with a glass of wine in my hand). All the voices in my head turn off as I focus on whatever garden task is at hand. There is nothing else that does this for me. Nothing. Except maybe sitting on a beach by myself with the sun on my face. Unfortunately, I no longer live near a beach.

Thanks for your post!

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. I set up my new pea trellis today.

Although I'm still holding off til at least Monday to plant the snow peas, since we're supposed to dip below freezing Sunday night. After that it looks decent, so I'm going to give it a shot. I set it up along the north edge of the main garlic bed, which is at the north end of the garden, so it wouldn't block sunlight from the rest of the garden when the peas grow in. I finally figured out how the hinge coils were supposed to go on the cucumber frame without requiring a strong man to put them on as well - it would have helped if they hadn't taped the instructions to the frame, so that the tape tore chunks out of them when I tried to get them off.

The hugelkultur mound at the south end of the garden looks to have caved in in places over the winter, the cherry wood buried in there must be rotting faster than I thought it would. I'll have to do some fill in work with compost and manure.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I still can't get outside in the garden

but I still find refuge from the turmoil by living vicariously here in the Gardening group. Some day, I might be able to join you outside. Until then, give me a place to go when everything else is going to hell. Keep up the postings.

[alfie]

4. My thoughts, exactly

Every time I get frustrated with Repubs, corporate America or the kid down the street I add another veggie to my garden planning chart. I have never done square foot gardening, but my raised beds are looking more and more like that. I am planting parsnips in a row between where my okra will be later in the summer, carrots and beets are now going beside my tomatoes. I am raising the tomatoes up by 18 inches by planting them in 5 gal buckets with large holes cut in the bottom to allow the roots to reach further down in the ground and give some air and sunshine to what is beside them. Still haven't found a place for eggplant, but those are pretty plentiful at the local farmer's market. Building a stronger trellis for the trombetta squash. I love those 2 season squash!

btw, love the Ford ad parodying the yuppy Cadilac ad. Composting rocks!

[Aerows]

5. I can't handle GD right now, but I love my little plants!

GD has turned into an out right call-out everybody free-for-all. I'm so happy that my little peat cups are sprouting with tomatoes of two varieties and cucumber. The Tabasco peppers haven't, yet, but I didn't expect them too. I'm kind of surprised at how quickly the tomatoes are sprouting and peeking through the soil

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. here's what I've been doing the past few days....and a little color from our yard!

http://nctomatoman.weebly.com/1/post/2014/03/transplanting-progress-up-to-the-gs-in-tomatoes.html

[Aerows]

7. Nice!

And a much better use of fertilizer, if I do say so myself, my friend!

I was practically dancing in delight that my little plants are starting to sprout. I've failed at planting things a few times, but I think this time, I have a better shot at it because I prepared.

We'll see, but your garden is lovely, and I'm sure it is balm to your soul. It sure would be to mine if I grew that .