...but after an intense transplanting session, helped by Sue, the gaps have been refilled and we are on target to have a really good selection of seedlings on Friday and Saturday.


Forgot to mention that hummingbirds have returned - two males seen fighting over our feeder a few days ago.  Odd that the males (with their bright shining red throats) are seen here in the spring, and either immatures or females later in years (where do the males go?)


Sara helped considerably by breaking up the clods in the garden rows that are for the potatoes (which show up any day).  Everything in the garden is taking off - lettuce nearly ready to pick, beets, chard, spinach and kale thriving.  And the squash and cukes have settled in nicely.


Now if we could only see a few figs on our tree (they would be the first ever, after planting it about 4 years ago)!

I think I used up most of my words over the weekend....so today will be a day to get back to work ("work" work!), get back to transplanting and planting later on....reflect on a great weekend, and recharge for next weekend!


Well, that's a few words....but now, let the recharge begin!


....so it is 8 PM.  Recharged?  Hardly...exhausted, actually!  But we had a nice salad tonight using our own greens, including some of the baby Asian greens, with some Pansy and Chive blossoms as well. It was wonderful to go out and just pick a bit of this and that. 


 

To Marilyn, Alex and Betsy, the incredible staff at a great venue, and all the people who attended, a sincere thanks from Sue and I.  I've not done a "to and fro" presentation (that was pretty much completely ad lib and spontaneous) before, but was so much fun.  I learned lots from Alex's many informative responses to questions and the information he shared about his experiences.  Marilyn came up with a delicious menu - a buttery, melt in your mouth leek and cheese tart, roasted beet greens and radishes over grits, grilled pizza topped with fresh, lemony spinach with duck confit, all topped off with pound cake and raspberry filling with dark chocolate coating.  Somehow I got to try (and enjoy!) everything in between sharing tomato information.  We are now talking about a July class featuring (what else...) heirloom tomatoes.  Can't wait!


Here is just a bit of video Sue took of the event...discussions about heirlooms, and Cherokee Purple.  (I wish I didn't talk so fast!)

I always enjoy participating in a Southern Seasons cooking school demo - today I get to work with someone who picked up on the quality and popularity of Cherokee Purple very early on, Alex Hitt, who runs and owns Peregrine Farms in Graham, NC with his wife Betsy.  Today we will talk spring gardening while we watch Marilyn (manager of the Cooking School at the venue) cook delicious food using some of Alex's ingredients.  I will be ready to talk about tomatoes (even though not in season, they seem to be every gardener's favorite crop!)....focusing on all of the choices available today - growing technique as well as varieties.  


But right now it is time to integrate the plants that went to market this weekend back into their proper locations, water, and select some interesting things to bring with us today.


And then....yes!....back to transplanting and preparation for next weekend!

Good early morning....I'm sitting here being serenaded by cardinals and wood thrushes - not a bad way to let the day come into focus.  Just a few thoughts about being at the market yesterday....


Spring time produce was everywhere - and the asparagus and strawberries particularly caught our attention.  Can the sugar snap peas be far behind?  Tonight will be our first Chard Tart of the year (not our chard, but a generous neighbor's gorgeous crop, thanks to his small greenhouse).  Of course all of that tomato, pepper and eggplant talk yesterday allows for daydreaming of big slabs of home grown, heirloom tomatoes layered with fresh mozzarella, drizzled with olive oil, with fresh basil, Parmesan cheese....well, it won't take too long for the dream to become a reality.


See some of you at the market today!  Looks like it will be a perfect day to dig in the garden.


Later....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


...back from the market - not as crazy as some Saturdays, but nice, mild, breezy and busy...and with loads of good things to buy (strawberries!  asparagus!)  Sue and I are humbled at the interest in our plants - as usual it was a great day of reunions, great gardening chats - thanks to all for stopping by! 


Let's do it again next week....

Thirteen years ago we headed for the Raleigh State Farmers Market with our extra seedlings in little Dixie cups.  We were astonished at the interest level.  And, today, the Dixie cups are gone, but astonishment has been replaced with delight - we will see many of our "annual friends", many repeat customers - some going back those thirteen years!


So time to repack the truck, pick out some special orders, and hit the road.  See some of you there today or tomorrow!  


Fast forward to 6:41 PM.  Tired, hot, but a nice day!  Less frenetic than Saturdays (but please make tomorrow frenetic!).  The truck is reloaded and I am about to head over to refresh the supply (which was gutted).  


We loved seeing all who came by today to talk tomatoes and get plants.  Thanks so much for your business and friendship!


One more update - 9:30 - just brought another load of plants (they all of a sudden are looking really good....clearly grew quite a bit the past two days).  Filled my truck with tomatoes and only got to the "R"s!  More of everything tomorrow...including good looking peppers and eggplant.  Hope to see lots of our friends at the market!

I just got back from claiming a space and setting up our tables and brought the first load of seedlings in preparation for tomorrow and Saturday.


We are under the white tent in the parking lot in front of the main selling areas (next to the yellow and white tent, which is where we were last year).  We are in space 4, between two people selling plants and shrubs.  Look for the small From The Vine sign on the table in the front of our area.

...work and play.  Check out the From The Vine 2010 Seedlings page for news about our seedlings for this coming Fri and Sat at the market.


I do wonder if any deer got wet by our new surprise last night?

You knew it had to happen - back to the cloudy barely 60 degree days and the 45 degree nights.  Well, the tomatoes endure it, peppers don't like it, and eggplant visibly show their displeasure - but it is great news for the spring crops.  We were beginning to worry that we would plant our lettuce one day and have 24 inch, bitter, bolted plants the next.


But fortunately we look to be in for a nice extended moderate spell that will make for plentiful, delicious salads for quite awhile.  I am relieved that we did have that unseasonal warm stretch that kick started our seedlings.  Anyone who drops by the market on Friday or Saturday should be pleased, especially when thinking back to the last few years (our peppers and eggplant, though healthy, looked quite pathetic!).


OK deer - I realize you couldn't resist biting off those three 1884 Purple plants the other night.  Well I've got a surprise for you!  Let's see what you think of the new motion-activated sprinkler!  (I hope it works...we've never had Bambi attack our seedlings before!  They usually wait until there is something good to eat, like tomatoes on the plants!)

Here is a look at the garden and plants - Monday April 12 status report.

And now for something completely different....this is Mocha (our female chocolate lab) singing to a video we made of Mocha singing to a video we made of her singing to the piano.  Yes, that's right...a Mocha trio!  (she very nearly harmonizes with herself...)