This is the time of year when I love being outside. Vince will say “what were you doing outside?” and I most often say “just walking around” and that’s what I’m doing . . walking around looking for signs of spring . . even if it’s simply a blooming weed!
Despite all my fretting and worrying about the late freezes and sleet, we were so lucky. The trees were coated with ice before the temps dropped low enough to damage them and it looks like every one of our fruit trees has the potential to produce some amount of fruit this year. Well, maybe every tree except the cherry tree. There’s such a slim chance that cherry trees will produce here but . . you know what? As long as there’s any chance at all, I love cherries enough that I’m going to remain optimistic. Slim chance is quite different from no chance, right?
Most of our free trees are going into their third year so we are hopeful that we’ll get some fruit this year.
Peach Tree
This little peach tree is full of blooms.
Peach Blossom
Even if we get no peaches, at least the blossoms are beautiful. The tree shown above was already here when we moved here so it’s probably been planted for 5 or 6 years.
We have several pear trees and only one is in full bloom.
Pear Tree
All the fruit tree blooms are so beautiful!
Pear Blossom
This is the Asian Pear. I love those things and they’re so expensive, I rarely buy them. I’ll be so excited if we get a few Asian Pears this year.
Asian Pear
We had planted two crab apple and one of them died. We’ll replace it but so far, the nursery hasn’t gotten any crab apples.
Crab Apple Blossom
The crab apple blossom reminds me of a mini camellia.
Crab Apple Blossom
It’s hard to get the perspective in this photo but the plum blossoms are tiny and dainty.
Plum Blossom
The scroungy looking chickens have been penned up most of the winter and they’re not running around the yard, looking for bugs, hopefully eating lots of baby grasshoppers. They can do anything they want so long as they’re not pecking on each other!
Chickens
In the garden, the peas are the first things popping up from the seeds I’ve planted.
Snow Peas
Everywhere we’ve lived, I’ve wanted to plant asparagus. Vince would always say “You have to be here at least 3 years and we’re not going to be here that long!” In Kentucky, after we had been there about 6 years, I said . . we’re going to be here forever and I’m planting asparagus and wouldn’t you know it . . 2-1/2 years later, we moved. I hope someone is enjoying my asparagus. In MO, I planted it our second year there and 2 years later, we moved. When we moved here, the first thing I did was plant asparagus. I figured that was my best chance at ever getting to harvest any. Last spring, our asparagus was 2 years old and we harvested a few spears but this year, it’s now 3 years old and it looks like we’re going to have a lot of asparagus.
Asparagus
I really believe I could sit outside on a sunny day and watch that asparagus grow. I’m amazed at how quickly it grows. I go out every morning and count the spears I see poking their little heads through the mulch and by the time Vince gets home for lunch, I drag him outside to see how much is there and there are almost twice as many as there were that morning.
Asparagus
This time of year, when we eat those first few spears, we want more! We bought more crowns this weekend and Vince will hopefully get more raised beds for the asparagus built soon and we can double the number of asparagus plants we have.
Asparagus
We’re about to the point where we’ve had enough spinach. When it was cold, I was pick enough that we could have a spinach salad every other day but now, we’re having spinach in our omelettes in the morning, we’re having spinach salad for lunch. We’re having cooked spinach for dinner! I’m glad I didn’t plant more! I will probably start canning some of it next week.
Spinach
This is such an exciting time around here . . hope for fresh, home grown fruit, hope for a good garden crop. The work that we do is hard and tiring but so rewarding! I wouldn’t trade our life on the farm for anything. I’m not saying I wouldn’t trade the farm in Texas for a farm in Missouri . . I’m just saying . . well, you know what I’m saying. Once the fruit trees start producing, it would be real hard leave here but . . cherry trees do produce fruit in MO. 🙂
Joyce says
Those pink flowers on the peach tree are beautiful. I didn’t realize they bloomed in pink! Good luck on you cherries. You’re right they will grow in Missouri…that’s where I live and I have a cherry tree in my yard. I used to have more, but over the years they have slowly died off. I would like to plant more (to replace the ones that have died). Even if I never get any cherries from them, they are a legacy for the future!
Diana in RR,TX says
We do love Spring when everything starts to bloom and grow. If we were in PA today would be the day to plant the peas-that must have been a St. Paddy day tradition with Galen’s folks. Never thought of canning spinach. Well, it’s off to go pick out faucets and such for the new bathroom. Best get the corned beef in the crock pot before we go-Dad will be over for dinner.
Lavonna C says
Judy, I love your pictures so much! It gives us all hope for spring, wherever we are located. I set the lovely peach blossom as my desktop background, just because it makes me happy. Of course, if anyone else admires it, I’ll tell them about you, and how it’s an actual peach tree blossom from Texas! It was difficult deciding between the peach blossom and the Asian pear blossom, but since I actually have peach trees, the peach won.
I really enjoyed the Loaded Potato Soup and my son loved the Ranch Style Beans, so thanks for posting those recipes. Actually, thanks for all you do!
SaraF says
Such beautiful blossoms! I can see why you enjoy the spring. Thanks for sharing the view. I really miss the asparagus we had growing at our former home. It grew wild – lots of it just steps from the house. But here I have to buy it and I do buy a lot of it this time of year. Yum!!
Karen Sutton says
Judy, have you tried fried spinach? I’ve had it a few times and it’s a wonderful appetizer/snack. I haven’t fried it myself yet, but there’s a few recipes online.
Mary Jo says
Isn’t fresh from the garden asparagus the best thing! There is something about going outside and picking most of your lunch or dinner ingredients!
Dottie N. says
Two houses ago, I planted asparagus and we were just beginning to enjoy it when we moved…..I let the new people know where the asparagus was, as well as let them know what the various fruit trees were, as well as the different bushes/flowers, etc. we had planted. I just KNEW they’d be thrilled with all the “good stuff”. Imagine my shock/disappointment when I learned they removed trees/bushes, dug up perennials and replaced my asparagus patch with grass (they liked grass better than fruit, vegetables and flowers……I had to keep telling myself that it was no longer my house/yard and don’t “worry” about it.
Love seeing all your tree blossoms as well as the asparagus!
Rebecca in SoCal says
I appreciate your appreciation of your life.
The sharing of the beauty through photos makes it even better.