The asparagus has started. Early of course. 
Mary’s Cat thinks he is a truffle dog but with asparagus and he is not a dog. He leads me along the rows. In a week or so we might be bunching and selling asparagus. So far they are small in width though. I did not get as much compost on the beds as I would have liked last autumn. So we shall see. But I picked enough for a glorious feed last night.
Not looking.
Actually Mama has decided not to look at us either. 
Today we will have to begin to work with the bees. It is only late March, and usually I do not go into the hives until May 1st. But they have been working on the blossoms and flowers for a few weeks now. The new bees will be hatching soon and to avoid swarming (which I imagine might also be early) I need to rotate the hive bodies and add an empty one on top. If the bees have room to grow they are less likely to grow a new queen and take off with her. It is a fine line because they do not want too much room. Last year I split a hive in two and added new supers but both hives swarmed anyway. One of my early posts was of capturing an escaped swarm. (Actually it was my second post ever, about nine months ago!)
So, there are three empty supers waiting patiently on the verandah, and if I get a calm warm day with no storms around (fluctuations in atmospheric pressure, caused by storms, make the bees cranky) I shall light up the smoker and dress up and open the lids and have a look. I will need John to help with the lifting so it is a weekend job.
My Cave Cellar is finished. I will wipe it all down and seal all the old wood with linseed oil and then we are in business.
Plus I have to get the potatoes out into their plot today. We did get a lot of work done yesterday. But half of it was not even on my list!! This is a busy time. The Head Gardener thought he may throw caution to the winds and sow some zuchinni seeds today! The ground is that warm already.
Ok I am off out to feed the animals and pick the asparagus, which will be another morning chore for a few weeks! Everyone was out on grass yesterday afternoon, so no hay was necessary yesterday evening, but they have been back in their dry docks for the night so as to avoid over eating on the fresh stuff.
Good morning! Have a wonderful Sunday/Monday.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
74 responses to “Roll out the Free Green Dodge”
All seems right with your world. Long may it continue.
It is going to be one of those lovely calm days Viv, plus the visitors will get the wave goodbye which is always a relief! c
Your asparagus looks good. Good luck with the bees 😉
Morning Mad!!!c
Wow! Fresh right out of the ground you know where it came from asparagus! Cool! t
Morning Miss T.. it is good stuff.. c
Asparagus – what a beautiful sight! I’ve been checking mine daily; no sprouting yet…
Probably a good thing, since we’re going down into the 20’s tomorrow night. I knew it was too good to last…
Enjoy your warm sun, and your first harvests of the season!
TWENTIES! wow.. your weather is crazy.. weirdly ours has been kind of stable in the 70’s – 80’s in the day and the 40’s at night..you will be out there covering all your plants?.. c
Just the peas…thank goodness the apple trees have had the good sense not to bloom yet!
Anything else that has popped up is just on its own…
such a difference from here and you are only a (long) train ride away! c
I’ll be going back and reading all of your bee posts. I’ve got a friend who works in bees, and I’m researching getting a hive of our own!
great idea, you will love having bees! c
No worries about skinny asparagus. Here in Italy it’s preferred for risotto!
Ah, risotto, what a good idea!.. isn’t it interesting how different cultures have different preferences.. c
Good moning Cecilia! So happy again to wake reading your post; I feel at home again 😉 tho Florida is far from farmy life, your friendly writing is warming to my soul. Have a wonderful day; you’re a busy gal these days!
I told John about you feeling lonely on your travels and how the farmy is a familiar place for you to metaphorically touch base with.. he was very impressed.. have a good strong day! c
It never ceases to amaze me how at this time of year the list of chores rockets so suddenly! And I know we’re not looking, but that’s one lovely picture of Mama – that nose is irresistable!
Christine
It is very sweet.. and yes just out of the corner of our eye, however she did stick that long nose straight through the fence to the camera! c
I knew someone whose family grew asparagus in the Tri-Cities (Washington). I was shocked to hear that they had to cut it every day! I had no idea it grows so quickly.
I’m also hoping to get out into the yard today…although, I don’t have nearly as much work as you do! Supposed to be 56 and partly sunny today so I need to squeeze in as much work as possible. Rain and snow in the forecast for the next 9 days. Send a little of your spring weather my way!
Have a wonderful Sunday ~ April
Surely NOT! You poor thing. April i am sure youa re getting our share of the snow.. sorry! and yes we pick every day.. but i only have about 500 plants so it is not too bad! c
Ah, I’ve had skinny asparagus and strawberries in the CSA box for a few weeks now. This week the green garlic appeared.
My strawberries have not flowered yet, i need to pay them some attention today, thanks for the reminder! What is green garlic susan, is that garlic that has not been in the ground long enough? or garlic leaves?.. c
It’s the culling from the garlic patch — very young and tender. No sections have developed yet. They look very much like scallions, but the a more bulbous root end. I think some places call them garlic scapes perhaps?
Hmm, well next year i shall plant my garlic much closer together and do just that! i bet they are tasty! c
How fantastic about the asparagus, C!
And I also prefer skinny, younger asparagus for most dishes, so you – and any lucky purchasers – enjoy!
Now I feel much better about my early spears. I already have a number of people wanting some, so I hope we have enough left over for the truck! c
Freshly picked asparagus for supper – yum! Have a wonderful Sunday/Monday yourself.
I shall have to look out my Hollandaise recipe.. c
Fresh picked asparagus are the best. Skinny asparagus are so delicate and pretty, but the thicker ones have the best flavor.
And those thicker ones roasted are divine! I need to get cooking! c
Oh I am so craving fresh asparagus!
fresh and crunchy! Morning rumpy.. was appalled reading dee dee’s story this morning, good research! c
you have been busy! Meanwhile I’m busy drooling at your asparagus shoots 🙂
I picked a bucketful later this morning.. they were so good.. c