Area gardeners look forward to April, for then the last frost is likely to be over and we can look forward to consistently warm temperatures. Vegetables and flowers can be planted directly in the ground without worry about damage from the cold. Plants started in greenhouses and homes can be transferred outside and finally gardening can begin in earnest. Those with an urge to work in the soil can get their hands dirty at last.
I listened to friends who advised me to wait until after "tax day," April 15, to put my flowers outdoors; but as soon as that deadline was past I moved my pots of flowers out of the cellar and watered them well. I moved several other pots out of the house and planted three begonias, a red one, a white one and a yellow one, that I bought at Ace Hardware in Gentry. They look really nice in the wooden "Home, Sweet Home" planter on the front porch.
I visited the farmers' market on opening day and bought some nice green onions and some crunchy red radishes. The first produce of the season always tastes extra good and the radishes were almost gone before the week was over. I returned last Saturday and purchased about two dozen more radishes, some lambsquarter and a packet of poke greens to add to some I'd picked by the roadside a couple of days earlier.
Sister Nancy has supplemented our spring produce too. When she last visited us to bring us some eggs, she brought along some poke greens and some watercress from the spring on Granddad Douglas' farm. I cooked the poke a couple of days later. That was my first mess this year, and I ate them all that very same day. I made a ham and cheese sandwich a few days later and added some watercress instead of lettuce.
Jim bought 10 tomato plants on our last shopping trip in Siloam and Nancy brought us a couple more. He worked up our two raised beds and added some ashes from our burn pile. We planted the dozen tomatoes Tuesday of last week and I watered them well. A little shower later that evening and sunshine later in the week got them off to a good start. On Thursday, when out with friends in door-to-door ministry, we stopped by Sleepy Hollow and I bought a few cucumber plants. We put those in our beds later in the day. Another stop at a friend's home near Highfill netted us some lettuce, arugula and other salad greens.
We got the laundry done at midweek and Jim mowed the yard on Friday. So, after my trip to the farmers' market Saturday morning, he took me out for breakfast at Hardluck Cafe. That evening I joined several friends at the Roark home on Blackberry Lane for a spring barbecue. I took along some baked beans to add to the menu and others contributed tender brisket, barbecue ribs, grilled hot dogs, spicy chili, deviled eggs, coleslaw, potato salad and a couple of pasta salads. There were watermelon and cantaloupe cubes and rich chocolate brownies for dessert. We enjoyed games and visiting before the meal, and the youngsters had fun romping in the big grassy lawn.
We visited the kids on Sunday afternoon and got to see grandson A.J. who was home for the weekend. Jim was also anxious to see how Josiah was getting along on his bathroom remodeling project. He's installed a new bathtub, toilet, vanity and light fixtures, put new tile on the floor and the wall. He had just put up a new shower curtain and was finishing the final painting. Word is remodeling the larger master bath is the next project. All those weeks helping his dad during summer vacations have made him a pretty good do it yourselfer.
Susan Holland is a longtime Benton County resident and a reporter for the Westside Eagle Observer. Opinions expressed are those of the author. She can be reached by email at [email protected].
Editorial on 04/27/2016