Spring is Here

Orchids are blooming again

Last weekend when I walked into the farm, I suddenly noticed all the colorful flowers. Unlike other gardens, most of my flowers will turn into food. Many years ago, a family friend gave us a pot of orchid. We have since then separated that one pot of orchids into 3 pots. I even transplanted one pot into the ground.  For a couple years, they did not bloom. Last weekend I was surprised to see the flowers in one pot and buds in the other pot that was transplanted into the garden.  That was a big happy surprise for me!

Mizuna blossom

All the mizuna plants are almost as tall as I am, and they are in full bloom. This is what happens since I didn't eat them all. I love seeing a sea of yellow flowers with a lot of bees buzzing around them. Even though I didn't eat all the greens, the bees now can collect the pollens and make honey.  Later on the flowers will produce seeds, and next year I will have mizuna again without doing any work.

Asian pear blossom

Both the pear and peach trees are blooming. A bunch of bumble bees have joined the honey bees. Thank to their efforts, I will have a tree full of peaches again in the summer. I am really looking forward to it!

Bumble bee busy at work

Home, Sweet Farm

"lucky" asparagus?

Ten days ago, we left the farm and ventured over to New York and Baltimore to visit family and friends. Prior to departure, we did as much preparation as possible. We picked as many vegetables and fruits to eat and give to neighbors. I also took several pots of plants to the greenhouse on campus which has automatic sprinkler system. Our neighbor had offered to take care of Dusty during our absence; however, I couldn't possibly ask her to manually water all the raised beds and wine barrels full of vegetables and herbs.

First honeydew melon. It's a little bigger than a golf ball now.

While we were in Baltimore, I checked the weather in the Bay Area. We had another heat wave in the high 80's and low 90's! I normally take Dusty to his cage out in the shaded area when temperature gets that high. I was a little worried about him, but I knew he would be okay. He knows to find a cooler spot when it's hot. Bunnies are not as dumb as some people think. I figured some vegetables would dry out from the heat, but as long as they didn't die off completely, I could revive them upon return.

The cocktail Asian pear tree is blooming again

We returned this afternoon, and I immediately started visiting all the edible plants. I found some asparagus with one growing like one of those "lucky bamboo" plants. It's all twisted. I found one baby honeydew melon that managed to grow to the size of a golf ball. The cocktail Asian pear tree is blooming again. It's called "cocktail" because it is grafted with 5 or 6 varieties of Asian pear. Maybe I will have a few more Asian pears this year. There is also another over grown Japanese cucumber. The bean stalk was full of green beans. Guess what we are having for dinner?

Dusty hopped out from his box and hopped over to my feet. I guess that's his way of saying "welcome home."

Another over grown Japanese cucumber