More Bees

The Beekeepers Guild had a potluck event today and we got to get in the hives.  Joanna was so excited that her jacket came in!  She was a natural, and not at all afraid of the bees.

Abby surprised me, too.  She put on a veil and got in to watch the action for a few minutes.  But then she was done!

I love these events, as it's always so interesting to talk to the veteran beekeepers.  They are very willing to help and share and I can see that it's very easy to get sucked in!  

I came home and planted up some of the tomatoes I bought at a plant sale early this morning.  I got a Cherokee Purple, an Arkansas Traveler, and an Eva Purple.  They are all indeterminates, so now I have to figure out how I am going to trellis them.  All the other trellis areas have been taken by the melons and Old Virginia Tomatoes I got in a swap with my Homesteaders League.  I also planted two Romas.  This is my first attempt at tomatoes, so we'll see how it goes.

Spring Break

It's been too long since I've posted.  Things have been a little crazy here.  The kids are on spring break.  The husband took the week off.  We had a large to-do list and I didn't get enough accomplished, but that's ok.  After a lifetime of wishing, I finally made it to Colonial Williamsburg for a couple of days.  I can't wait to go back!  The gardens were beautiful, but it was impossible to see everything in a day.

I haven't planted anything lately, but the radishes are coming in like mad and the peas are just starting, too.  Carrots won't be far behind.  I am heading to a plant sale tomorrow in hopes of scoring some heirloom tomatoes.  I'm especially hoping for Cherokee Purple.

In other exciting news, I am officially a bee-keeper!  Last week I got a swarm call from my mentor and jumped at the chance to go get it!  It was definitely one of the most thrilling things I've done in a long time, even though it was a very easy catch.  It was a damp, cold day so they were just hanging out on this pole about 5' off the ground.  The bees have been drawing comb in their Nuc box, but sometime in the next few days we'll open them up and check for the queen, and may be even move them into the actual hive. 

And, it's strawberry season... about 2 weeks early.  I haven't gone to pick yet because I'm waiting for the warm temps predicted early next week to sweeten up the berries.  In the mean time, I'm working on a canning plan and assembling all the preserving recipes I want to make this summer and fall.  I need to make sure I have enough jars and ingredients, etc.  First up is Strawberry Anise Hyssop Jam, since my rhubarb isn't going to be producing anything this year!  Fortunately, my Anise Hyssop is thriving.

Stay tuned for more posts about the projects that DID get done this week!

Violet Jelly

The other day as I was out for a jog (if you can even call it that!) I noticed that there were a bunch of violets on the side of the road.  So this morning, I went back with my youngest and we collected 2 cups worth of blossoms. 

The method for making Violet Jelly is the same as for making Rose Petal Jelly.

First, rinse well and send them for a ride in the salad spinner.

Boil 2 1/4 cups of water and poured it over the blossoms. 

It's hard to see in this picture but the water turns blue almost immediately.  Cover, and let sit on the counter overnight.

When it's time to can them up,  drain the liquid.  Squeeze the violets to get every last drop.  You want 2 cups of liquid. 

To this, add 1/4 cup lemon juice and admire how bright the juice becomes.

Add a box of pectin and bring to a boil in a sauce pan.  Then, add 4 cups of sugar and return to a hard boil.  Continue boiling for 1 minute. 

Remove from heat, fill your jars, process in a BWB for 10 minutes.

I got 4 jelly jars out of the deal.  It's got a light taste that's hard to describe.  It's good, but I think I prefer the Rose Petal.  However, this method works for any herb, so I hope to be trying several more jellies once the garden gets going!

Honey-Did

The Nuc Box is done and waiting for our bees to be ready to bring home.  One sheet of 3/4" plywood, a few cuts, and some screws... easy peasy!  We used the plans from www.beekeepersguild.org.

Hubby also surprised me with a compost sifter!  He used the wooden frame that came in the dishwasher box and some 1/2" wire/screen/whatever it's called.  Can't wait to get out there and get me some black gold!

As if these finished projects weren't enough, Mother Nature also surprised me:

Blueberry blossoms!!!  All that tulle is going to come in handy!

Tulle!

Mr. Fed Ex man dropped off my 50 yard roll of 108" tulle today.  It was so easy to put up and I love love love that it's see through!

I didn't know how intelligent the cabbage butterflies were, so I hemmed and hawed about how well to close up the bottom.  Would the butterflies try really hard to get in once they saw the plants, or would they just fly to the OTHER bed where I have a couple other broccoli plants?

Just as I was putting the last clip on, a cabbage butterfly landed on the tulle.  And she would fly and go to another spot and land on the tulle.  This happened a couple of times, and I was spewing forth evil laughter because I WON THE WAR and she couldn't get in!  Finally, she did indeed fly over to an uncovered plant (which will soon be sprayed with hot pepper/garlic spray).  Picture me jumping up and down victoriously.

Enter husband, who was mowing the lawn.  He stops and deadpans "Who's smarter than a butterfly?"

Brat.

Hoop House!

(photo from omafra.gov.on.ca)

A few days ago, while we were eating dinner on the deck, I noticed little yellow dots on my cabbage seedlings.  Immediately, I knew what they were.  Imported Cabbage Worm Eggs.

(photo from extension.umass.edu)

I've been seeing the butterflies for a few days, so I shouldn't have been surprised.  But these seedlings were little, so I wasn't expecting the butterflies would even find them.  How are they so smart?

I immediately hopped up and went to the garden to check the cabbage and broccoli seedlings I'd already transplanted.  Sure enough, almost every one had at least 2 eggs!  I battled the worms in the fall and decided to declare an early war.

I knew that at some point, I wanted to build a hoop house for next winter.  This was an extraordinarily mild winter, and I would have planted lettuce and carrots and even more broccoli and cabbage had I known how warm it was going to be.  Then it occurred to me that I *COULD* harvest these crops during the winter if I built a hoop house using greenhouse plastic.

So, back to the cabbage butterflies...  I figured it was a good time to put the hoops in and cover with tulle so that the rain and sun can reach the plants, but the butterflies can't.  The 50 yard bolt of 108" tulle is on it's way.  In the mean time, I have the generic remay cloth.

I bought one 10 foot length of 1/2" PVC pipe and had hubby cut it into 6 pieces.  He also cut three 3/4" pipes to 8 feet (the tulle is 9 feet, so this gives me 6" extra on each side to hold it down.)  Each of these pipes were about $1.50 each.

I hammered the short pieces into my raised bed and inserted the 3/4" pipe over it to form a half circle.  Then I attached the remay cloth with jumbo paperclips (12 for $6 at the office supply store.)

For now, this is what it looks like.  I'll fix it better once the tulle comes.  I love being in the garden and seeing the plants grow, so even though light does get through this cloth, it would never work for me.  The tulle will let me see everything that's going on.  The plants you see on the left are scallions, onions, and garlic.  Then there are 2 squares of peas and a couple of broccoli I just transplanted.

I am really excited about my hoop house, as it will be used for all 4 seasons.  Tulle in warm weather to keep out the birds (who like my bean seeds) and the cabbage butterflies, remay in the fall and late winter to protect against frost, and greenhouse plastic in the winter.  The clips make it very easy to open/close and change the covering.

UPDATE:  Click HERE to see what the hoop house looks like now that the tulle has arrived.

Here are my green beans enjoying it under their covering.

And here's my first tomato (Roma) that I couldn't resist planting, along with 3 sunflowers that were winter-sown and are really doing well.  (Two large rosemary bushes in the background.)

Radishes, peas, lettuce, and carrots are starting to really take off with the nice weather we've been having.

The garlic chives and chives are flourishing, as well!

This is what remains of the monster sage plant I cut way back in the fall, as well as a new thyme cutting from the old, woody plant I took out.  Both look much healthier than the overgrown heap they were in!

This week I'll be planting some more seeds and also potting up some of my winter-sown extra seedlings for a swap I have on the 31st.  There are several plant sales in April I'm looking forward to, as well.  I REALLY want a chocolate mint!!!

Three Surprises!

This morning as we were out waiting for Joanna's bus, I spotted something different in the lawn.  I'm used to seeing the purple of the henbit and deadnettles (weeds, yes, but good for the bees.  I've stopped pulling them up!) but this was a darker color, almost blue.  They looked like little hyacinths, but I guessed they were bluebells.

I was right on both accounts.  According to google, they are also called "grape hyacinth".  Needless to say, I quickly dug them up to save them from being mowed.  Haven't decided where to put them yet, but apparently they spread well, so I'm thinking may be under the holly bushes in the front of the house.  (I HATE the holly.  The leaves are pointy and sharp.)

Another surprise was this little RED jalapeno!  This is the plant that over wintered in the diningroom and has been SLOWLY producing peppers all winter (I've yet to pick any, that's how slow it's been!)

And I have an opened lemon blossom!  Smells delicious!

The leaves on the rosebushes seem to have appeared overnight, and the buds on the trees will be open soon, too.  I think I can safely say that it's spring here in Hampton Roads.

Which just means we'll be getting a cold snap at any time now!