My feeders have been up for weeks.  The migration maps state that they were spotted in the area weeks ago.  But no hummingbird sightings HERE yet. I'd like to think that I just miss them EVERY TIME they visit.  Either way, I'm pulling out the big guns!  The bright red table cloth.  If they can't see this, then I give up. Okay, not really.  I just need to feel like I'm trying.

I didn't have great germination with my outdoor sowing of carrots so far.  Granted I didn't try too hard like I did last season.  Last year I sowed them, watered, covered lightly with plastic wrap until germination, and had great results.  This year I was optimistic (lazy).  I just waited until the night before a rainy day, tossed them down, watered, and ignored them.  There were huge fluctuations in temperatures around this time as well.  Frosts.  Record heat.  A strange Spring.  Needless to say I had a few bare patches.  To fill in, I cut off the bottom of a milk jug and sowed some seeds on top and watered them in.  Covered with plastic wrap until germination.  I just transplanted them outside before the taproots got too long.  We'll see how this method works. Now to go and stare at the hummingbird feeders...

Strawberries and Champagne

We finally have some decent rain in the forecast.  3 inches over the next couple of days to be precise!  Okay, that's more than I really wanted, but with such dry soil, I'll take what I can get.

Earliglow Strawberry blooms are already forming berries.  These are growing outside their alloted spot, so they don't have any straw beneath them.  The rest of the plants are nestled with straw to keep soil from splashing on the berries.  Last Spring was extremely wet and rot became a problem with berries that touched the soil. 

 

My favorite clematis is in full bloom.  Cheers to Pink Champagne.