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”
I thought I’d been busy this weekend, but in comparison to you I’ve been standing still. Lovely post, but no surprise there.
Morning Roger, i stand still too!! in fact i will very shortly! with a glass of something bubbly as all the visitors are GONE! c
Asparagus fresh from the ground! Ah, nothing better! Well, that close-up of Mama is one sure way to keep TonTon out of the shot but I did get a chuckle out of the next pic of the two of them. Looks like temps are going back to normal tomorrow, for one day only. Our high is supposed to be in the low 40’s. TIme to close the windows! Have a great Sunday, Celi!
Low FORTIES! how will we cope! c
I love seeing the asparagus poke its little head up into the sunshine! I must try to grow it sometime. I think one of the things you do for me, Celi, is encourage my patience in the garden! I see how you plan year-round, always working ahead, and then waiting! You embrace cycles and seasons and I am encouraged by that myself! I did get my zucchini in the ground yesterday, and that was fun. I’m sure you’re going to have another wonderfully productive day. I am still waiting with you on those lambs! Debra
Asparagus takes a few years to establish but grows really easily from seed, so if there is a wee gap in your garden pop some in this summer, I am about to go out and look in the hives!! after that i shall certainly feel productive! c
My mother ate asparagus on toast for breakfast this morning. ‘Tis the season. I don’t touch the stuff myself — I just tell people “More for you.” Mom is on the “thick is better” side of the debate.
Ah, i do prefer them like your Mum does, there are quite a few fatties poking their heads through this afternoon so it won’t be long. I will be picking every day!! c
Such beautiful asparagus! Now that I’ve seen your asparagus spear, I will have to take a walk out to my asparagus bed to see if anything is coming up. I’ve been away for a few days and a lot of things happen in the garden in just a few days time.
a few days away from the garden leaves you with lots of lovely surprises.. enjoy your walk.. c
Everything’s early here too. Several magnolia’s out on the way home this morning. Fingers crossed no frosts….
Aren’t they beautiful, i must pop over and see your latest work! c
Mama not looking!! That one cracked me up– she absolutely looks to be turning up her nose in disdain 🙂 We’ve been eating asparagus for a few weeks now, I’m looooving the freshness of it. Only one of my kids will eat it, but she does so with vigor– “moh ‘sparagoose!” If I can ever get to the patch for some pictures I’ll have an asparagus post shortly. How old is yours? This is only the second year for our asparagus so we can’t harvest too much, but next year we’ll be covered up and selling at market.
This is their fourth year, so i can harvest for three or four weeks, though less is best at this point. They say 6 years and i can do a full season.. such a good thing to have a bed of.. a reliable crop as long as you can keep the weeds out! morning julia!
TonTon appears to be looking right at you. Oh to grow asparagus.
Can’t you fit a wee patch in the corner of your garden? morning greg.. c
I love Asparagus season… It was one of my favourite vegetables to grow when I had a huge country garden.. lovely
It kind of looks after herself which is a bonus.. c
It does as long as you prepare the bed well before first planting and keep it weed free.. I used to get really excited when I was cutting the first stems 🙂
Asparagus is much later for us here….closer to May. Love asparagus season!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Usually i am not picking until late April, we are very early! c
Love that asparagus photo! 🙂
thank you.. c
Asparagus in the garden ready to eat….beauty! I’m am SO jealous. Jacques Pepin says bigger asparagus is tastier and I agree. That Mama, now that I see her eyes so close up…she’s a very old soul I think. Happy gardening, Cecilia!
I agree Betsy, she has something that sheep, she is hard to resist.. c
What pretty little asparagus shoots.. they must have been so crisp and yummy. Your bee-tasks are confusing to me, a non-bee keeper.. I can’t wait to see new photos of all this bee stuff going on. (Also not looking.) xo Smidge
I have the whole bee thing for you tomorrow smidge, all will become clear! Not Looking! c
Sounds like you had a busy weekend! There is nothing in the world that can compare to fresh asparagus from the garden!
And it is a superfood Jim and Mary, full of very good stuff! c
I’ve been enjoying feeds of fresh asparagus – so yummy and tasty with my salad. It’s so good to have the grass growing for the wee beasties to munch.
having the animals out on grass is my passion, it is an absolute pleasure to hear that munch munch.. c