As noted earlier, the Pacific Tree Frog nightly singing contest seems to be having some affect on Maria's behavior. She found my little Ilidi tomato seedlings sitting in the kitchen after they sprouted and were removed from the "oven."
This one had the leaves nipped off and the other in the same pot was pulled out. Fortunately, another pot was not touched. So I added seeds and stuck this pot back in the "oven," while the survivor went out to the Maria-less garage under the light.
The late March snow on the buds for these flowers in this post left some of the blossoms a little rough around the edges, but they bloomed anyway. I'm really glad that the star magnolia shrub, above, was still up for blooming.
The cherry tree photo is after today's rain, hail, lightening & thunder afternoon spree. No blue sky behind the flowers today.
The nice weather Saturday FINALLY coaxed open the blossoms on the cherry trees around the patio.
It is difficult to capture in a photo, but there is a magic feeling being underneath them. I like the pink against the blue sky and green pine tree. They look a little weathered from the snow and hail at the end of March (when they've already been blooming in earlier years). I suspect I should enjoy the show while I have it, as may not last too long this year.
I've not been a good hat or glove wearer, but that may be changing. Last year, I found some wonderful gloves that I can wear to do just about anything. I now have several pair stashed around. Really does cut down on the blisters and banged up hands. In this post, here, they are in the basket; however, I do have them on most of the time.
Last Sunday, between rain showers, we took a walk along the Soos Creek Trail. These fragrant blossoms caught my attention along the trail. I'm not sure what it is, but it was very fragrant. At our furthest point, the rain returned and we had a wet walk home.
When we returned from the walk and were taking off all of our wet things, this was the garden view from the garage.
During our on again, off again rainy Sunday, I was able to plant some more tomato seeds and put them in the "oven" to sprout. These are Ilidi tomatoes, and the best kind: shared by another gardener! Thanks for sharing, Matron! I can see we'll be doing some fine garden grazing this year. These are the type that don't always make it into the house. 
Apparently, I didn't harvest all of the rocks from last year's new garden beds. Over the winter, they multiplied! 
A closer look at the pea sprouts yesterday revealed some nice roots out the bottom of the pot... an immediate call to action! As the forecasted rain hadn't started yet, I headed out to the garden to finalize the location for peas this year. In spite of the rain last week, the soil wasn't too wet for digging so I prepared the space for tall peas, short peas and climbing beans (all needing decisions about where to place the trellises, etc.)
You can see I resisted my usual urge to go unlabeled. If it was only one type of peas I had planted, I would have not labeled. Instead, I planted two types, which I suspected I couldn't tell apart until harvest, so I labeled them Snap Peas and Snow Peas. Photo above is from today, below is from last week.
This is the second post collecting my notes on a specific vegetable. Fennel was the first one.
DH & I grow snap and snow peas because we like to stroll through the garden and eat them. Some do make it into a salad and we'll also eat them steamed. After a blanching, I'll freeze some for winter. We have never grown the shelling kind, though.
What are your favorite peas? When you do start them, and inside or outside? When?
Variety I'm growing:
(1) Sugar Snap Peas - 6 foot vines. I've used up the Cascadia Snap seeds I've grown in the past so I'm trying these. Territorial Seed Company. I picked them up from Thunder Mountain Farm on this Spring Excursion. Snaps are a favorite garden grazing menu choice.
(2) Oregon Sugar Pod II Snow Peas - 30 inch vines. Territorial Seed, left over from past years.
Seeding & Germination:
Soil temp. for germination: 40-75 F.
2008 & 2007 sown inside mid March in small but deeper pots to give the roots room. April & May, planted some directly outside to fill in gaps in the pea fence.
2006 sown outside mid March.
I had read that in our area, peas could be planted outside on Presidents' Day in Feb. Last year, I tried planting them outside early. While some sprouted, them just seemed stressed (cold & damp soil, I think) and they were not the first to produce. Plus something started eating them! See this photo. So, last year, I also started some inside and they seemed to do the best.
I do inoculate pea seeds as often recommended. I dampen the seeds and coat them in this inoculant powder that contains a rhizobial bacteria. It is supposed to help peas use and fix/share nitrogen in the soil.
Planted out:
2008 - soon, 4/5-moved outside to a cloche, and pinched back per Matron's suggestion
2007-transplanted seedlings by mid April
Trellising:
I have used fencing in the past. This year I'll need something taller if those Snaps actually grow 6 feet. Here is a photo with the 4 foot trellising I use. I didn't have much luck with the fall planting in the photo, though. I'll try again in a less shaded spot.
Harvested:
2007 - blossoms around May 20th, harvested first Snow peas in early June; vines finished up by late July. See this post on hidden peas.
2006 - blossoms in early June. See this photo.
Saving seeds:
? These say they are open pollinated varieties (not hybrids). Does this mean they can be dried and saved? Do you save pea seeds successfully & from what variety?
Memoriable Pea Moments:
I often see lady bugs on the peas, but this furry guy fascinated me. He showed up in August when the pea vines were ready to come down. So determined to get a good night's rest, so I left them in place that day. I didn't see him again after this.
