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The Constant Gardner Blog Index
April 17, 2008
Waking up

Yawn, stretch. It is time to wake this blog for the gardening season.

I've actually been out in the flower gardens, cleaning up and raking out the leaves that got buried by the December snow – that snow that seemed to never want to go away.

At this time of year even a task as onerous as raking can be good, just because you are outside after being cooped up all winter. But the real fun part is about to begin. Patriots Day weekend is when Mainers plant their peas – and other such cool-weather crops as lettuce, carrots, beets and potatoes.

That is what I am looking forward to – and the weather looks good for it.

The only thing in bloom in our garden is the crocuses. They have been blooming for a couple of weeks, and it really makes me feel like spring is here.

The daffodils are getting fat buds and should be coming soon.

Here are some crocuses, in case you don't have any in your yard.

crocus feature_400x325.shkl.JPG

Posted at 05:38 PM

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Comments

It truely is the best time of year. It's amazing how fast Mother nature works. If your not observant you'll miss this magical event! I'm fond of Giant sunflowers and one year while painting in my back yard I swear I could actually watch these as they grew, witness the movement! I recorded 2.5 inches in one 24 hr. period.

Posted by bill
April 20, 2008 11:10 AM

Hi Tom,
I do not know if you know anything about
frogs eggs in ponds, but here goes.
I have a modest pond that I put a pump and fountain in every year if I am lucky. Well this year the frogs got a jump on me(ha-ha) and have laid lots of eggs clumps. Can I very carefully, by hand remove the clumps so I can clean out the pond of leaves and muck and then place them back in. It usually takes about 2 hours to remove stuff. Hope you have some advise for this problem.

Posted by Rachel Bennett
April 20, 2008 10:47 PM

Welcome back, Tom!

Posted by Angie
April 21, 2008 09:43 PM

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Tom Atwell has written the Maine Gardener column in the Maine Sunday Telegram since the spring of 2004. He has worked at the Press Herald/Sunday Telegram since 1974, about the same time he started gardening with any seriousness.

He gardens with his wife, Nancy. She not only is the better gardener of the pair, but also knows the botanical names of plants. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

Tom was born in Skowhegan, grew up in Farmington and graduated from the University of Maine with a BA in journalism. His goal each year is to have continuous compost from his three compost bins, continuous bloom in his low-maintenance garden and more fruits and vegetables on his family table than the garden pests eat in the field.



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Most Recent Comments
Waking up (3)
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