Songbird Acres

A perfect morning for harvesting herbs to dry for our cooking blends, and botanical for Soaps, salves and candles.
Harvest these things in the morning, preferably on a cloudy day while the dew is still present for the most flavor/scent. 🌿🌸
Tomatoes are different, pick them at the heat of the day when they are full of the sugars from the sun ☀️🍅

As an "old" gardener I always like to pass on what I have learned if someone is new or anxious about growing their vegetable garden. One of the most important things is not so eager to plant early! Your plants need a bit more protection from cool nights. Central Ohio will be in the 40's for the next 3 nights, starting tomorrow. Tomatoes and especially peppers don't like that and it can slow down their production for the life of the plant. So if, you have already put them in, try to protect them, maybe with a 5 gallon bucket and an old blanket over it before the heat of the day is completely gone.
I have copied and pasted part of a study from The Ohio State University that backs up what I learned by trial and error some years back.
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Ohio is well suited for tomato production, and was once ranked second in the nation for processing tomatoes. In addition, tomatoes are widely grown for fresh market by Ohio farmers and gardeners. Tomatoes are warm-season plants and should be planted only after danger of frost has passed unless you are prepared to protect them in the event of a frost. Typically, that date for central Ohio is May 20. The planting time for southern Ohio can be one to two weeks earlier, while the planting time for northern Ohio is one week later. The date does not necessarily mean it is the date when there is no danger of frost at all. There is still a 50 percent or less chance of frost on this date. The odds of a frost event will typically drop an additional 10 percent for each week past this date.

Air temperature is an important factor in the production of tomatoes, which are particularly sensitive to low night temperatures and extremely high temperatures. Blossom drop can occur in early spring when daytime temperatures are warm, but night temperatures fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

This phenomenon will occur during the summer as well, when daytime temperatures are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and night temperatures are above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

For 29 years I have had the privilege of seeing the morning sunlight come through the trees, touch the shade plants for a moment before they take the comfort of the umbrellas of nature. I catch it exposing surprises like fairy looking mushrooms in my dahlia pot that disappear by afternoon, bringing the frogs warmth on a patch of moss at the ponds edge, and bringing the birds to the feeders with a chorus of songs.
🐦🌞🌻
Going to my "job" moving, watering, potting and planting hundreds of seedlings and plants can feel like a drudge until I walk out the door and take in this greeting.
I am blessed ❤️

Time for plants! Here is the list of what is available this year and some pics of the ever growing greenhouse 😎😉

Ostrich ferns are ready to transplant! $5 each or 5 for $20. Send me a message to set up a time for pick up.
Happy Spring Gardening 🌸

Beautiful 69 degree day to put that lavender and calendula we grew to good use.

As the 2023 plant sale winds down I wanted to thank every single one of you that supports our little place here by taking a little piece of it with you each year to plant in your own garden.
I hope you know that every single seedling or plant that leaves here has my best wishes for it's success, whether as a food source, a learning opportunity or a lingering legacy.
See you next year!!