Happy Saturday!

This week saw the first tulip blooms in the garden. They are all looking a little shorter than in previous years because of the shortage of water. I believe the last time there was any rain was on the second of March, so it’s been almost a whole month since there was any rain. I have a feeling it’s going to be an even drier summer than last year.

As I’ve probably mention in previous posts, most of the plants are early this year. Even the annual tulip festival, which was scheduled to open next month had to be pushed up. I got a text on my phone that it’s already open. After two years of consecutive attendance, I think I will skip this year. There are just too much to do in the garden and not enough time to do them because I’m always being told to head into the house when I’m just getting started because my mom doesn’t like me to be outside.

I hope I can transplant all of the cool weather vegetables before the hot weather hits because those cool weather crops won’t survive the heat, especially now that I lost my only shady spot in the garden.

Oh, did I mention my mom had someone come and chop down the only shade tree in the garden? I told her I didn’t want the tree chopped as it would mean the back garden would be blasted by the strong bright sun just like the front garden, but apparently, my opinion didn’t matter because that tree is gone. There’s nothing left except for a stump. I planted cabbages and broccoli in the bed near the tree, hoping to give them the afternoon shade began wilting in the afternoon sun. The only thing that saved them was a shade cloth.

To most plants, a full-sun garden is ideal but to cool weather crops like broccoli and cabbages, they prefer afternoon shade and an UV index of below a 5 of 10. I found they begin looking sad when the UV index is above a 4. Unfortunately, it’s been somewhere in the 6 and 7 range lately and that’s quite high for March.

Looking ahead at the weather, it looks like there will be rain in April, just depends on how much. I only hope it will be enough to at least refill my nearly depleted rain barrels. I appreciate you stopping by. Thank you to Natalie for hosting WeekendCoffeeShare and have a wonderful week ahead.