Hanami

Throughout April, nearly every day I spent a few moments enjoying the cherry blossoms. Here's what I looked at and photographed this morning for .... at least 20 minutes, according to the camera time stamp:

Viewing sakura (hanami) is always sweet but especially this tree because it's in a very strategic location: in front of my workplace so I walk by it coming and going. A bit of beauty, grace and resilience to begin and end days that are "messy" (unpredictable at best) in the middle.

Balcony garden progress report

Growing and/or blooming this past week:

The tulips have peaked and are waning but white Lewisia (seen in background) is still blooming strongly with many buds yet to open.

Lettuce is getting lush. I nibble on a few leaves every time I water it.

'Sungold', 'Sweetgold' and 'Supersweet' cherry tomatoes have been soaking up the sun.

And Piper has been keeping watch over all.

So what's up in your garden? Please share surprises, successes, disappointments and/or lessons learned.  Like sharing a meal with family and friends, sowing and growing together is more fun than gardening alone.

Are white flowers like vanilla ice cream...?

White blossoms: 'Mount Tacoma' tulips & Anemone blanda

...A classic favourite that people return to even though they may try other flavours or colours? Tonight I'm going to commit to white -- yes, even though I love to see and eat a bright rainbow in the edible garden, I prefer white blossoms on ornamental plants. (But I may change my mind to sunny yellow if we have a lot of dull, rainy days later this spring. And of course I love the pink of sakura & 'Angelique' tulips...ok, so much for decisiveness at 10 pm.)

Although a gradual succession of bloom would be ideal -- and 365 days of spring would also be lovely --  ALL the white blossoms decided to fully open today. So of course I had to take a several gardening work-breaks to enjoy the show.

Anemone blanda weaves its way through tulip leaves.

'Mount Tacoma' tulip. The snow-white flowers are like double paeonies.

The rock star, Lewisia cotyledon forma alba.

I'd love to know -- do you have a favourite white flower?

What's up on the balcony? (Part 1)

My little garden & indoor seedlings have been keeping me busy all week so I haven't had time to write a formal Earth Day post or read many of the thoughtful ones that have been published so far this week. (I feel a bit embarrassed to confess this -- though I also believe we should live with the same earth-consciousness every day, not just on April 22nd).

Here's a record of what's up on the balcony. (The kale is growing steadily, too, but the true leaves are still too tiny for an in-focus photo with my camera.)

The dates show time of sowing/germination/photo. All information is from Renee's Garden seed packages & web site.

LEAFY GREENS

Broccoli Rabb, 'Super Rapini'
04 apr / 08 apr / 22 apr
"This robust & rich-tasting traditional Italian heirloom is a quick-growing cool season favourite. [It] produces an abundance of deep-green leaves & tender shoots topped with tiny bud clusters."

Greens, 'Renee's Stirfry Mix'
04 apr / 08 apr / 22 apr
A mix of Red Mustard, Mizapoona (a cross between Mizuna & Tatsoi), Pac Choi & Asian Red Kale. Baby leaves can be harvested for salads.

 

Radish, Breakfast, 'Petit Dejeuner'
04 apr / 09 apr / 22 apr
"These crunchy beauties are brilliantly bicolored with the upper two-thirds bright cherry-red & contrasting pure white tips."

Lettuce, Baby Mesclun, 'Cut and Come Again
02 apr / 07 apr / 21 apr

Lettuce, Mesclun, 'Monet's Garden Mesclun'
01 apr / 06 apr / 21 apr

 
Lettuce,  Baby Mesclun Salad, 'Paris Market Mix'
01 apr / 06 apr / 21 apr

Lettuce, Baby Leaf, Heirloom Cutting Mix
02 apr / 07 apr / 21 apr

Earth Day Dance

While I was taking photos for my next blog post, I noticed how joyful the seedlings seemed to be with "arms" outstretched to the sun -- perhaps an Earth Day salutation or dance?